Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is an analytical test that measures the mineral composition of hair. It is a safe and non-invasive test that reflects the level of nutrient and toxic elements in body tissue. It is regarded by integrative doctors, naturopaths and nutritional therapists as one of the most valuable screening tools available in everyday and preventative health care. Hair is a body tissue made up of mostly dead, keratinized cells fused together. The shaft of the hair is the portion that projects from the skin’s surface. The root of the hair, below the skin’s surface, contains living matrix cells from which the hair grows.  Matrix cells depend on the blood supply for nourishment and growth. As they grow and divide, minerals are keratinized into the growing hair shaft, creating a permanent record of metabolic activity and exposure to toxic elements.Research has shown that hair tissue is useful in indicating nutrient imbalances and exposure to toxic elements. If your health, diet or environment has created a mineral imbalance or toxic mineral excess, it will be recorded in the hair shaft.

Minerals are essential for growth, healing, vitality and wellbeing. They provide structural support in bones and teeth, and maintain the body’s pH, water balance, nerve activity, muscle contractions, energy production and enzyme reactions. They are the basic ‘spark plugs’ of life.Ideally we should get all the minerals we need from a balanced diet. Unfortunately today this is rarely possible. Modern farming techniques, fertilisers and depleted soils reduce the mineral content of foods. Environmental pollutants, chemical food additives, pharmaceutical medicines and stressful lifestyles also have a detrimental effect on our nutritional status.Many health conditions are aggravated by mineral imbalances and toxic metal excesses, including cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, migraines, learning difficulties and hyperactivity in children, to name just a few.Consequently, we need to test and monitor our nutritional status more than ever.  

• Safe, scientific, non-invasive pathology test.Reliable data on up to 35 nutrient and toxic minerals, and over 25 important mineral ratios.

• Discovery of nutrient mineral imbalances or toxic mineral excesses that may be affecting your health.Valuable health information often not revealed in standard blood and urine tests.Unlike blood, hair is less susceptible to the homeostatic mechanisms that quickly affect trace elements levels.

• Long term deviations of mineral retention or losses are more easily detected in hair that blood. Hair provides a record of past as well as present trace element levels, ie biological activity.

• Personalised interpretive test reports that assess your current mineral status, highlight areas of concern and recommend dietary changes and supplements for improved health and wellbeing.

NB: Supplement recommendation only available on Practitioner Report.

Hair Tissue mineral analysis provides another avenue for the exploration of your health status. Hair samples will pick up imbalances that a routine blood test can miss. HTMA is a great way to prevent the onset of health conditions as mineral imbalances are seen in the body long before these conditions become chronic.

Minerals provide structure for the bones and teeth, they maintain the body’s pH and water balance, nerve activity, muscle contraction, energy production, enzyme reaction and hormonal function. Therefore monitoring our nutritional status is important for our health.

Children

Minerals are essential for growth and development. In many cases early HTMA testing is advisable for children. It is especially advisable for behavioral issues, learning difficulties, hyperactivity and reoccurring illnesses. 

Sportspersons and Athletes

Maintaining balanced levels of essential nutrients is essential for endurance, improving performance and recovery from injury. 

Fertility and Pre-Pregnancy

When nutritional elements are out of balance it can lead to health consequences. Many minerals have a direct impact on our hormone levels and can cause issues with fertility. And when toxic elements are present they can have an effect on the health of a baby. 

Menopause

Minerals have a direct impact on our hormones. Hormonal imbalance can result in hot flushes and night sweats, problems with sleep, mood changes and other symptoms. 

Elderly

A hair tissue mineral analysis can reveal some of the reasons behind conditions suffered by the elderly. Addressing mineral imbalances and detoxifying heavy metals can considerably improve mood and quality of life. 

Health conditions

Mineral imbalances and toxic elements can aggravate many health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, thyroid imbalances, high blood pressure, blood sugar imbalances, osteoporosis and migraines to name a few.