What is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis?

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a tissue mineral biopsy. Simply put it uses hair as the sample tissue to measure your levels of over 20 minerals and toxic metals. As you will soon see though, it also provides insight into a great deal more than just your mineral status.

Why Measure Minerals?

A minerals function ranges from providing structural support in the formation of bones and teeth, to maintaining acid-base balance, nerve conduction, muscle function and much more. Of particular note they are needed for millions of enzymes as co-factors, facilitators, inhibitors and as part of the enzymes themselves. Minerals have a great deal to do with the running of and health of our bodies.

Minerals in adequate amounts are essential for optimal health and well being. However, too much or too little of a mineral leads to toxicity or deficiency within the body and a loss of health and wellness as well. However just like you are in relationship with your partner, work colleagues or kids your minerals are in relationship with each other. Too much or too little RELATIVE to another is proving to be just as important (perhaps more) than their individual levels. Toxic metals also have a negative effect on our mineral levels and need to be measured and assessed when dealing with health in the 21st century. Click here for more information.

At the end of the day we need to measure. Taking a broad spectrum multi-vitamin is extremely unlikely to address an individual's unique levels and needs and could very well slow your progress. Guessing with individual supplements can lead to toxicity or continued deficiency as well.

Measure first, take corrective action and then retest is a huge reason to use HTMA

Why use Hair?

Hair makes an excellent biopsy material for many reasons:

1. Sampling is simple and non-invasive.
2. Mineral levels in the hair are about ten times that of blood, making them easy to detect and measure accurately.
3. Hair is a fairly rapidly growing tissue.
4. Toxic metals are easier to detect in the hair that the blood.
5. Hair testing gives a three month history of time, blood an instantaneous reading. Both are valuable but you must use the right test at the right time. You wouldn't have a blood test when you need an x-ray to assess a broken leg would you?
6. It is cost-effective, accurate and reliable.
7. The American Environmental Protection Agency has accepted HTMA as an effective means for monitoring of toxic heavy metals

Benefits That a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Can Reveal

• Specific diet and supplement recommendations (take away the guessing)
• Mineral deficiencies and imbalances
• Heavy metal toxicity
• Metabolic type (rate).
• Stress and its effect on energy and health
• Screening for disease trends (prevention and early detection)
• Cellular energy levels
• Insight into the biochemistry of most diseases

How to Prepare and Cut the Hair

For detailed instructions please visit our guide on how to prepare and cut the hair.