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The HTMA is a non-invasive tissue test of the hair. While blood tests show what is happening in our body at this moment in time, the hair test gives an insight into what has been happening in the body, on a cellular level, over the past three months.

HTMA tests look for macro, micro/trace minerals as well as toxic metals stored in the body.  Minerals are vital for survival and act as spark plugs to activate vitamins, whereas toxins can inhibit this process so it is important that they are removed from our systems.

The HTMA is performed on a small sample of hair and gives a good indication of the following:

• how well the thyroid and adrenals are functioning.
• information on carbohydrate imbalance, metabolic rate and whether a person personally thrive on protein, fat or carbohydrates.
• mental and emotional wellbeing such as anxiety, depression and mood swings.
• tendencies for over 30 common health conditions even before they cause any symptoms.
• detoxification pathways, such as liver and kidney function
• if there are any digestive problems, such as not having enough stomach acid,
• immune system health

We are all exposed to toxic metals such as arsenic, aluminium, lead, mercury etc. in our immediate environment – the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the toiletries we use and the air we breathe. In order for our body to deal with this poisonous load, it will deposited into the hair and joints, away from vital organs, so it won’t cause substantial damage. If your liver or kidneys are impaired, there will be health issues as your body is not able to excrete those toxic metals.

The HTMA gives you an insight into your individual health:

• Toxic metals
• 20 different minerals
• Adrenal and thyroid activity
• Detoxification impairment
• Blood sugar tolerance/carbohydrate tolerance
• Lifestyle imbalances such as stress
• Hormone imbalance
• Vitality and energy levels
• Immune system health
• Emotional health

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. What is hair tissue mineral analysis ?

A. Hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA), is an analytical test which measures the mineral content of the hair. The sampled hair is obtained by cutting the first inch of growth closest to the scalp. This sample is then prepared in a licensed clinical laboratory through a series of chemical and high temperature digestive procedures. Testing is then performed using highly sophisticated detection equipment and methods to achieve the most accurate and precise results.

Q. Why use the hair? Why not use the blood?

A. Hair is ideal tissue for sampling and testing. First, it can be cut easily and painlessly and can be sent to the lab without special handling requirements. Second, clinical results have shown that a properly obtained sample can give an indication of mineral status and toxic metal accumulation following long term or even acute exposure.

An HTMA report reveals a unique metabolic world: intracellular activity, which cannot be seen through most other tests. This provides a blueprint of the biochemistry occurring during the period of hair growth and development.

Examples:

Thirty to 40 days following an acute exposure, elevated serum levels of lead may be undetectable. This is due to the body removing the lead from the serum as a protective measure and depositing the metal into such tissues as the liver, bones, teeth and hair.

Nutrient loss from the body can become so advanced that severe health conditions can develop without any appreciable changes noted in those same nutrient levels in a blood test. Symptoms of elemental deficiency can be present long before low levels can be detected in the serum.

Hair is used as one of the tissues of choice by the Environmental Protection Agency in determining toxic metal exposure. A 1980 report from the EPA stated that human hair can be effectively used for biological monitoring of the highest priority toxic metals. This report confirmed the findings of other studies in the U.S. and abroad, which concluded that human hair may be a more appropriate tissue than blood or urine for studying community exposure to some trace elements.

Q. Why test for minerals?

A. Trace minerals are essential in countless metabolic functions in all phases of the life process.

• Zinc is involved in the production, storage and secretion of insulin and is necessary for growth hormones.
• Magnesium is required for normal muscular function, especially the heart.
• Potassium is critical for normal nutrient transport into the cell.
• Excess sodium is associated with hypertension, but adequate amounts are required for normal health.

In the words of the late author and noted researcher, Dr Henry Schroeder, trace elements (minerals) are "...more important factors in human nutrition than vitamins. The body can manufacture many vitamins, but it cannot produce necessary trace minerals or get rid of many possible excesses."

Q. What can cause a mineral imbalance?

A. There are many factors to take into consideration, such as:

• Diet - Improper diet through high intake of refined and processed foods, alcohol and fad diets can all lead to a chemical imbalance. Even the nutrient content of a "healthy" diet can be inadequate, depending upon the soil in which the food was grown or the method in which it was prepared.
• Stress - Physical or emotional stress can deplete the body of many nutrients while also reducing the capability to absorb and utilize many nutrients.
• Medications - Both prescription and over-the-counter medications can deplete the body stores of nutrient minerals and/or increase the levels of toxic metals. These medications include diuretics, antacids, aspirin and oral contraceptives.
• Pollution - From adolescence through adulthood the average person is continually exposed to a variety of toxic metal sources such as cigarette smoke (cadmium), hair dyes (lead), hydrogenated oils (nickel), anti-perspirants (aluminum), dental amalgams (mercury and cadmium), copper and aluminum cookware and lead-based cosmetics. These are just a few of the hundreds of sources which can contribute to nutrient imbalances and adverse metabolic effects.
• Nutritional Supplements - Taking incorrect supplements or improper amounts of supplements can produce many vitamin and mineral excesses and/or deficiencies, contributing to an overall biochemical imbalance.
• Inherited Patterns - A predisposition toward certain mineral imbalances, deficiencies and excesses can be inherited from parents.

Q. Is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis supported by research?

A. Hair tissue mineral analysis is supported by an impressive body of literature in a variety of respected national and international scientific publications. Over the past fifteen years, hair mineral testing has been extensive. Each year in the United States alone, federally licensed clinical laboratories perform over 150,000 hair mineral assays for health care professionals interested in an additional screening aid for a comprehensive patient evaluation. This does not take into consideration the thousands of subjects used in numerous continuing research studies conducted by private and government research agencies.

Further Information

Please click on the link below to view a sample Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis report. Sample HTMA Report - Profile 1.pdf

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