What is HTMA?

Hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) is a test that reflects the mineral content of your body’s tissues. Mineral excess or deficiencies can be detected in the hair as it would other tissues of your body. Although the hair is dead, the minerals remain as the hair continues to grow. Minerals and toxic metals are locked inside the hair during the growth stage as the body uses it for the storage and elimination of minerals. A HTMA will reflect metabolic activity over the course of about three months. The advantage of a HTMA is that the test results are not influenced by day-to-day variations in body chemistry due to stress, diet or other factors.

Why are minerals so important?

Minerals are the “sparkplugs” of our bodies. They are involved in almost every enzyme reaction in our bodies.  Creating a blueprint of one’s individual biochemistry, hair analysis can assist in identifying mineral pattern which may be associated with stress, blood sugar and carbohydrate imbalances, metabolic rates, biochemical energy production, and glandular imbalances.

Mineral imbalances can lead to metabolic dysfunctions, emotional problems and eventually disease. Some conditions that can result due to mineral imbalances include:

·       Depression

·       Hypoglycemia

·       Hyperactivity

·       Headaches

·       Hypertension

·       Arthritis

·       Hair loss

·       Anemia

·       Thyroid problems

·       Prostate disorders

·       Digestive dysfunction

·       Diabetes

·       Musculoskeletal disorders

·       Cardiovascular disease

·       Skin rashes

·       Emotional problems

·       Allergies

·       Menstrual issues

Not just the minerals are important, but the ratios in which they exist!

Different pairs of minerals help regulate critical psychological and physiological functions. These pairs of minerals have both psychological and physiological effects. It is by means of the ratios between pairs of essential nutrient minerals that we see more clearly the relationship between mind and body. Psychological stress factors may have a profound physical effect on the body because of the way mineral ratios are altered.

Several of the essential nutrition minerals measured in a HTMA are known to play a significant role in regulating critical functions affecting the body's capacity to produce energy. The psycho-physiological functions include the regulation of (a) blood sugar, (b) the thyroid gland, and (c) the adrenal glands. The thyroid glands are located in the throat and the adrenal glands are located above the kidneys. The two glands play a critical role in the stress response and in the body's capacity to produce energy.

The goal of a HTMA Nutritional Therapy Program is to help improve and maintain your health by addressing these three barriers to health and vitality.

·       Undernourishment. We're well fed, yet malnourished.

·       Toxicity from chronic, low-level exposures.

·       Stress, distress and traumatic experience.

When mineral deficiencies develop, toxic metals take their place and can be hidden deep within the body. The presence of metals displace minerals up or down and it can take months to years to restore mineral balance.

The goals of mineral balancing are to replace the needed minerals, so the metals are displaced and eliminated. This done by safely opening detox pathways, improving digestion, blood sugar and movement.

Anyone can benefit from a HTMA.