Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis - HTMA
11 Reasons to have a HTMA test
- Hair specimens can be collected more quickly and easily than blood, urine, or any other tissue, using a non-invasive method.
- Hair analysis is more cost-effective than mineral testing through other means.
- Unlike blood, hair is less susceptible to the homeostatic mechanisms that quickly affect trace element levels.
- Long-term deviations of mineral retention or losses are more easily detected in hair than blood.
- Hair testing reveals key information about your level of metabolic activity.
- Concentrations of most elements in the hair are significantly higher than found in the blood and other tissues.
- Hair provides a record of past as well as present trace element levels, i.e. biological activity.
- Hair provides information of substances entering the hair from the blood serum as well as from external sources.
- Hair is invaluable in the assessment of toxic metal levels.
- Hair testing measures mineral imbalances that can directly affect related vitamin activity.
- Hair testing helps with early detection and prevention of conditions, as mineral imbalances are often seen before symptoms occur.
Why test for Minerals?
Minerals are essential for growth, healing, vitality and wellbeing. They provide structural support in bones and teeth, and they maintain the body’s acid-base balance, water balance, nerve conduction, muscle contractions and enzyme functions. Minerals participate in almost every metabolic process in the body – they are the true ‘spark-plugs’ of life.
Ideally we should get all the minerals we need from a balanced diet. Unfortunately this is rarely possible in today’s world. Modem farming techniques, fertilisers and depleted soils reduce the mineral content of foods. Environmental toxins, chemical food additives and stressful lifestyles also have a detrimental effect on our nutritional status. Consequently, we need to test and monitor our nutritional needs more than ever.
Our health and wellbeing may be aggravated by mineral imbalances and toxic metal excesses, aggravating conditions including cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, migraines, learning difficulties and hyperactivity in children, to name just a few.
Causes of Mineral Imbalances
- Improper eating habits: Fad diets and diets high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt, alcohol and saturated fats can lead to mineral deficiencies and excesses. Even the mineral content of a healthy diet can be deficient if foods are grown on nutrient-poor agricultural lands.
- Stress: Both physical and emotional stress can lead to mineral imbalances. B-complex vitamins, zinc and magne- sium are lost in greater quantities when you are stressed; you also absorb less nutrients from your food. Sports people often have a higher requirement of certain nutrients.
- Medications: Many deplete the body’s store of nutrient minerals and can increase levels of toxic minerals. Medications such as diuretics, the oral contraceptive pill, antacids and aspirin can all cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
- Pollution: Toxic minerals such as lead, mercury and cadmium can interfere with mineral absorption and increase mineral excretion. They build up in our bodies from sources such as: air pollution, car exhaust, cigarette smoke, unfiltered water, dental amalgams, copper and aluminium cookware, hair dyes and antiperspirants. Toxins have also entered the food chain, contaminating some of our foods. It is almost impossible these days to avoid some exposure to toxic minerals.
- Genetic and individual factors: A predisposition towards certain mineral imbalances, deficiencies and excesses can be inherited from parents. Certain individuals can also inherit a higher requirement than normal for particular nutrients to maintain good health.
- Nutritional supplements: Supplements can also lead to mineral excesses and deficiencies. For example, excess calcium intake can cause phosphorus and magnesium deficiency. Continued magnesium deficiency increases sodium levels and eventually causes vitamin A deficiency.
Conditions affected by Mineral Imbalances
Allergies
Anxiety
Arthritis
Digestive problems
Hair loss and poor nails
High blood pressure
Insomnia
Learning difficulties
Mood swings
PMS
Prostate disorders
What can a HTMA test reveal?
How It Works
1. First step in the HTMA process
The laboratory requires a half a gram (0.15 gm) or about one tablespoon of head hair for testing.
Taking a hair sample is quick and easy. Cut hair close to the scalp in 2 – 3 locations. Use the first 4cm of hair, as this reflects the body’s most recent metabolic activity. The hair needs to beclean, well-rinsed, untreated and uncoloured. If hair is treated or coloured, wait six to ten weeks and take a sample from the freshly grown untreated hair.
Head hair is best for testing. If head hair is not available pubic hair can be used. If there is no hair, clean fingernail clippings can be tested. These alternative tissue samples can be used to monitor toxic mineral levels, but may not always provide nutrient mineral data that is as reliable as head hair. Do not mix different types of tissue samples, eg. head hair with pubic hair.
2. Personalised Guidance
Once your test is ready, you will receive an email copy of the results. I will then set up a meeting for a short online or phone chat to go over the results with you. There will be a list of dietary recommendations for your metabolic type, as well as suggested supplements to get your minerals balanced and to remove any heavy metals if that is part of your findings.
3. When to repeat a HTMA test?
You are usually advised to have a repeat test done 3-4 months after your first HTMA test. This is important so everything can be assessed to see all the improvements in minerals etc, and also what else is now revealed as a priority to balance and heal.
Metabolic Type
How to Take a Hair Sample!
