HTMA
(Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis)
HTMA testing is a soft mineral tissue biopsy that provides information on the mineral deposition of the cells of the hair over a 2-3 month period. Minerals are the spark-plugs of life! Every bodily function relies on minerals. Deficiencies and toxicities can have a major impact on contributing to symptoms and illness.
Learn More About HTMA Testing
How Does HTMA Testing Work?
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HTMA acquires data about your stored mineral levels and toxicities like heavy metals from taking a hair sample. Hair is exposed to the internal environment of the body, including extracellular fluids, circulating blood and lymph. As hair grows outwards, reaching the external surface of the skin, its outer layer hardens, locking in the metabolic products accumulated during the period of hair growth (about 2-3 months). Using HTMA over blood testing provides a broader and more realistic picture of the mineral status in your body. While testing via blood serum, it can be less accurate because the blood does a good job at keeping a tight balance of minerals to maintain homeostasis. Blood also only shows toxic levels of heavy metal exposure for a limited period of time. For example, when calcium levels increase or the body is exposed to mercury, it will work hard to clear this from the blood, but will store the excess in tissues.
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What Does HTMA Tell You About Your Health?
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Since hair is a tissue, the information can be inferred for other tissues in the body telling us that status of the thyroid heath, blood sugar balance, metabolic type, adrenal health, overall state of the nervous system, and more. Thirty five elements are tested, including the ratios of specific minerals to one another. This provides us with insight on the type of metabolizer you are, your body's ability to detoxify, as well as adrenal function, thyroid. function, blood sugar regulation, digestive function, stress handling, carbohydrate tolerance, and immune health.
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Who Should Do An HTMA Test?
No matter what you have going on with your health, you can benefit from HTMA testing because it provides us with foundational information about your cellular health. This is a. very cost-effective and on-invasive functional test. Mineral deficiencies are extremely common because our soils are depleted, and due to the high levels of stress and constant stimulation we endure. By knowing your mineral status we can customize your supplements and macros to fit your specific needs.
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What's Required For Testing?
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I send you a testing kit in the mail with all of the tools and instructions you need. A small hair sample, taken from the root is required. You can do this in the comfort of your home, or have it done at your next haircut! For more information on the sample collection, you can visit the Trace Elements Website.
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