They often come up when we feel tired, when our skin or hair changes, or as the seasons turn. Yet it isn\u2019t always clear what trace elements are, what they do and why they have such a particular place in naturopathy. I\u2019ll try to explain it simply.<\/p>\n
Trace elements are minerals present in our body in very small quantities: their Italian name, oligoelementi, comes from the Greek oligos<\/em>, “little”. But little doesn\u2019t mean of little importance. Many of them work together with enzymes and take part every day in a great many reactions in the body, from producing energy to defending cells.<\/p>\n The body can\u2019t produce them: they come from what we eat. That\u2019s why variety in your diet counts for more than any single food.<\/p>\n Naturopathy\u2019s interest in trace elements has a specific history. From the 1930s, the French doctor Jacques M\u00e9n\u00e9trier developed oligotherapy, an approach that uses trace elements in very low doses, on the idea that they may support the body\u2019s functions rather than make up for a shortage. M\u00e9n\u00e9trier also described a number of constitutional profiles, called diatheses, each paired with different elements.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to say this clearly: oligotherapy belongs to the naturopathic tradition and its effectiveness has not been demonstrated by solid scientific studies. What I bring from it into my work is above all a way of looking: observing the person as a whole, their terrain and their habits, instead of stopping at a single complaint.<\/p>\n For most people the first step is a varied diet, made up as far as possible of simple foods. Supplements aren\u2019t sweets: many trace elements can do harm if taken in excess and over a long period, and some interfere with each other or with medicines.<\/p>\n If you suspect a deficiency, of iron for example, the right path is to talk to your doctor, who can assess it with the appropriate tests. The same applies before starting a supplement during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, if you have a thyroid problem or if you\u2019re following a course of treatment.<\/p>\nThe main trace elements and where to find them<\/h2>\n
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Why naturopathy talks about them<\/h2>\n
Food first, and caution with supplements<\/h2>\n
How I consider them in a naturopathic programme<\/h2>\n