Nature is all about balance, and the human body is no different. When one system is out of balance, it causes a reaction in the body that can cause illness or disease. Unfortunately, traditional medicine tends to view each system separately and treat the symptoms presented, instead of looking deeper to find the root cause(s) and restore balance to the entire body. The proper balance of minerals is essential to the function of the body, and a mineral imbalance is one of those things often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
Approximately 99% of the body is composed of minerals, and it is well known that it requires at least 60 minerals in order to maintain a disease- and ailment-free state. They work together synergistically, and certain minerals “pair up” to effect different functions in the body.
What is a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis?
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), is a non-invasive biopsy that measures the element content of a hair tissue sample. It is a standard test used worldwide for the biological monitoring of trace elements and toxic metals in human and animal species. This same technology is used for the testing of rock and soil for mineral levels in the agriculture industry. HTMA has proven invaluable over the last 80 years as a screening test in the preventative healthcare field.
As a screening test, HTMA measures the levels and ratios of elements found in the hair tissue with scientific precision and accuracy, including both the essential nutrient minerals as well as toxic elements, commonly referred to as "heavy metals". It is one of the most economical tests when you consider all of the information that can be gleaned from the results.An HTMA that is performed properly at the lab can greatly assist in the assessment of a person’s nutritional status. Providing important information about mineral imbalances, excesses, and deficiencies of both the essential and toxic elements.
When used in conjunction with other tests, HTMA can provide a more wholistic and comprehensive picture to develop the most effective nutritional approach for the individual.
What's Your Hair Trying to Tell You?
The hair follicle is formed in the dermis from a cluster of matrix cells. During the growth phase of hair when metabolic activity is greatly increased, the hair is exposed to the internal metabolic environment. This metabolic environment includes circulating blood, but also extracellular fluids and lymph.As hair reaches the surface of the skin, the outer layers harden, locking in metabolic products accumulated during this period of hair formation.
As the second most metabolically active tissue, hair is by its very nature of its formation, capable of providing a permanent record of metabolic activity that occurs during its growth.
The first inch to inch and a half of hair that is closest to the scalp provides a good representation of nutritional and toxic element exposure over the previous six to eight weeks. A mineral deficiency or excess revealed on a hair test can indicate a possible deficiency, excess, or biounavailability if that mineral within the body.
Hair can be effectively used for the biological monitoring of the highest priority toxic metals and is the tissue of choice for determining toxic element exposure by the EPA Confirming that human hair is more appropriate than blood or urine for studying community exposure to some trace metals.
Researchers from around the world have shown that concentrations of elements in hair provide an accurate and permanent record of exposure, with a close correlation between trace element levels in the hair and internal organs.
Why Test for Minerals?
Minerals are involved in nearly every metabolic process in the body – which means they are absolutely necessary for growth and development. Minerals are essential to the human body, but unlike vitamins, minerals cannot be made by the body and must be obtained from the environment through our nutrition. In fact, minerals are required to utilize vitamins and enzymes properly.
Minerals are literally the "sparkplugs" of life. They are involved in virtually all enzyme reactions within the body. Without enzyme activity, life ceases to exist! In living organisms, minerals function as co-enzymes and catalysts, which enable the body to perform its natural functions such as energy production, growth, regeneration and development.
The human body, just like all other expressions of organizations in nature, must maintain its proper chemical balance. This balance depends on adequate mineral levels and ratios. The level of each mineral in the body affects every other mineral, and if these mineral imbalances or inadequacies are not acknowledged, there is a chain reaction of imbalances and deficiencies that lead to illness, undernourishment and toxic element accumulation.
“You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to mineral deficiency." ~Linus Pauling 2x Nobel Prize Winner.
Benefits of Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis* (HTMA)
The best and most cost effective way to balance your unique body chemistry is through Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. However, a hair tissue mineral analysis is much more than a test for minerals as mineral deficiencies and elevations of toxic elements both can impair metabolism and result in a multitude of symptoms. Different patterns of mineral deficiency and excess indicate malfunction of various bodily processes. Allergies, select vitamin deficiencies, weakened detoxification and antioxidant defense systems, glandular activity, maldigestion and malabsorption, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, metabolic rate, energy levels and stage of stress are a few of the metabolic imbalances that are alluded to by various results of hair analysis.
HTMA is a good test for investigating underlying causes of fatigue, chronic pain, cognitive/memory/emotional problems, violent behavior, learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, neurological disorders, weakened immunity, hypoglycemia, diabetes, weak finger nails, unhealthy skin and hair, and accelerated aging.
HTMA indicates potential health and nutritional imbalances by pinpointing mineral levels and ratios at the cellular level. These nutritional elements are the "raw materials" that cells require to function. Cells are the fundamental living units of our body. The nourishment of cells is essential to support and promote the optimal function, structure and development of our body’s as a complex whole and living cellular organism.
A properly interpreted hair analysis can reveal various mineral imbalances that indicate a tendency for various conditions. A hair mineral analysis provides a picture of body chemistry including:
The results of HTMA when combined with a properly designed mineral balancing program may impact development, weight and body composition, genetic expression (through nutrigenomics), glucose tolerance, nutrient metabolism, microorganism diversity, organ and glandular vitality, poor mineral absorption, and heavy metal exposure.
What Can Cause a Mineral Imbalance?
There are many factors to take into consideration, such as:
Symptoms of Mineral Imbalance
Trace Elements Inc.
For those who are familiar with hair mineral analysis testing, we use Trace Elements Inc (TEI) exclusively as our hair testing laboratory. This is for two main reasons: 1) they do not “wash” the hair with certain chemicals that negatively affect the levels of multiple minerals in the hair sample, primarily sodium and potassium, and 2) they test more minerals than Analytical Research Labs. ICP-Spectrometry testing is then performed to achieve the most accurate and precise results.
TEI provides accurate and precise laboratory services for hair testing. We are an authorized provider of hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) through this lab. All hair tests are done at TEI Clinical Laboratory, License No.: 45-D0481787 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, State of Texas Department of Health, CLIA 1988.
Please note that the hair tissue mineral analysis test is for informational and educational purposes only! It is not intended to be used for forensic evidence or for use in a court of law!
“Nutrient mineral levels and their comparative relationships (ratios) determine how well your cells function and impact physical and cognitive performance.” ~Dave Asprey
About The 36 Elements of Hair And The Comprehensive HTMA Report:
Who Should Get a HTMA Test?
Everyone! It doesn’t matter if you have symptoms or not. This is a wonderful tool you can use to prevent disease. Use it as your 6 months physical exam!
*Not Available in New York state
Approximately 99% of the body is composed of minerals, and it is well known that it requires at least 60 minerals in order to maintain a disease- and ailment-free state. They work together synergistically, and certain minerals “pair up” to effect different functions in the body.
What is a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis?
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), is a non-invasive biopsy that measures the element content of a hair tissue sample. It is a standard test used worldwide for the biological monitoring of trace elements and toxic metals in human and animal species. This same technology is used for the testing of rock and soil for mineral levels in the agriculture industry. HTMA has proven invaluable over the last 80 years as a screening test in the preventative healthcare field.
As a screening test, HTMA measures the levels and ratios of elements found in the hair tissue with scientific precision and accuracy, including both the essential nutrient minerals as well as toxic elements, commonly referred to as "heavy metals". It is one of the most economical tests when you consider all of the information that can be gleaned from the results.An HTMA that is performed properly at the lab can greatly assist in the assessment of a person’s nutritional status. Providing important information about mineral imbalances, excesses, and deficiencies of both the essential and toxic elements.
When used in conjunction with other tests, HTMA can provide a more wholistic and comprehensive picture to develop the most effective nutritional approach for the individual.
What's Your Hair Trying to Tell You?
The hair follicle is formed in the dermis from a cluster of matrix cells. During the growth phase of hair when metabolic activity is greatly increased, the hair is exposed to the internal metabolic environment. This metabolic environment includes circulating blood, but also extracellular fluids and lymph.As hair reaches the surface of the skin, the outer layers harden, locking in metabolic products accumulated during this period of hair formation.
As the second most metabolically active tissue, hair is by its very nature of its formation, capable of providing a permanent record of metabolic activity that occurs during its growth.
The first inch to inch and a half of hair that is closest to the scalp provides a good representation of nutritional and toxic element exposure over the previous six to eight weeks. A mineral deficiency or excess revealed on a hair test can indicate a possible deficiency, excess, or biounavailability if that mineral within the body.
Hair can be effectively used for the biological monitoring of the highest priority toxic metals and is the tissue of choice for determining toxic element exposure by the EPA Confirming that human hair is more appropriate than blood or urine for studying community exposure to some trace metals.
Researchers from around the world have shown that concentrations of elements in hair provide an accurate and permanent record of exposure, with a close correlation between trace element levels in the hair and internal organs.
Why Test for Minerals?
Minerals are involved in nearly every metabolic process in the body – which means they are absolutely necessary for growth and development. Minerals are essential to the human body, but unlike vitamins, minerals cannot be made by the body and must be obtained from the environment through our nutrition. In fact, minerals are required to utilize vitamins and enzymes properly.
Minerals are literally the "sparkplugs" of life. They are involved in virtually all enzyme reactions within the body. Without enzyme activity, life ceases to exist! In living organisms, minerals function as co-enzymes and catalysts, which enable the body to perform its natural functions such as energy production, growth, regeneration and development.
The human body, just like all other expressions of organizations in nature, must maintain its proper chemical balance. This balance depends on adequate mineral levels and ratios. The level of each mineral in the body affects every other mineral, and if these mineral imbalances or inadequacies are not acknowledged, there is a chain reaction of imbalances and deficiencies that lead to illness, undernourishment and toxic element accumulation.
“You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to mineral deficiency." ~Linus Pauling 2x Nobel Prize Winner.
Benefits of Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis* (HTMA)
The best and most cost effective way to balance your unique body chemistry is through Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. However, a hair tissue mineral analysis is much more than a test for minerals as mineral deficiencies and elevations of toxic elements both can impair metabolism and result in a multitude of symptoms. Different patterns of mineral deficiency and excess indicate malfunction of various bodily processes. Allergies, select vitamin deficiencies, weakened detoxification and antioxidant defense systems, glandular activity, maldigestion and malabsorption, disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, metabolic rate, energy levels and stage of stress are a few of the metabolic imbalances that are alluded to by various results of hair analysis.
HTMA is a good test for investigating underlying causes of fatigue, chronic pain, cognitive/memory/emotional problems, violent behavior, learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, neurological disorders, weakened immunity, hypoglycemia, diabetes, weak finger nails, unhealthy skin and hair, and accelerated aging.
HTMA indicates potential health and nutritional imbalances by pinpointing mineral levels and ratios at the cellular level. These nutritional elements are the "raw materials" that cells require to function. Cells are the fundamental living units of our body. The nourishment of cells is essential to support and promote the optimal function, structure and development of our body’s as a complex whole and living cellular organism.
A properly interpreted hair analysis can reveal various mineral imbalances that indicate a tendency for various conditions. A hair mineral analysis provides a picture of body chemistry including:
- Heavy Metal Toxicity
- Mineral Deficiencies and Imbalances
- Metabolic Rate (fast or slow)
- Adrenal Fatigue
- Thyroid Function
- Nervous System Imbalances
- Protein Synthesis
- Inflammation
- Energy Levels
- Mental Health Issues
- Liver & Kidney Stress
- Carbohydrate Tolerance & Blood Sugar Imbalances like Diabetes and Insulin resistance
The results of HTMA when combined with a properly designed mineral balancing program may impact development, weight and body composition, genetic expression (through nutrigenomics), glucose tolerance, nutrient metabolism, microorganism diversity, organ and glandular vitality, poor mineral absorption, and heavy metal exposure.
What Can Cause a Mineral Imbalance?
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.
Symptoms of Mineral Imbalance
- ADHD
- Adrenal Dysfunction
- Allergies
- Anemia
- Anxiety
- Brain Fog
- Diabetes
- Digestive Issues
- Fatigue
- Food Intolerances
- Headaches/Migraines
- Heart Problems/Palpitations
- High Blood Pressure
- Hormonal Imbalances
- Infertility
- Kidney Stones
- Lack of Concentration
- Low Energy Levels
- Thyroid Issues
- Weight Problems
Trace Elements Inc.
For those who are familiar with hair mineral analysis testing, we use Trace Elements Inc (TEI) exclusively as our hair testing laboratory. This is for two main reasons: 1) they do not “wash” the hair with certain chemicals that negatively affect the levels of multiple minerals in the hair sample, primarily sodium and potassium, and 2) they test more minerals than Analytical Research Labs. ICP-Spectrometry testing is then performed to achieve the most accurate and precise results.
TEI provides accurate and precise laboratory services for hair testing. We are an authorized provider of hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) through this lab. All hair tests are done at TEI Clinical Laboratory, License No.: 45-D0481787 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, State of Texas Department of Health, CLIA 1988.
Please note that the hair tissue mineral analysis test is for informational and educational purposes only! It is not intended to be used for forensic evidence or for use in a court of law!
“Nutrient mineral levels and their comparative relationships (ratios) determine how well your cells function and impact physical and cognitive performance.” ~Dave Asprey
About The 36 Elements of Hair And The Comprehensive HTMA Report:
- Hair tissue analysis as the most thorough and comprehensive way of charting your detoxification process and getting a detailed blueprint of your nutritional metabolic activity.
- Comprehensive Analysis Report: includes detailed graphed results for 8 toxic metals, 15 nutritional minerals, 15 additional elements, 7 significant mineral ratios and 9 toxic metal ratios.
- 8 Toxic Heavy Metal Elements: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, mercury, and uranium. These heavy metals are well-known for their interference upon normal biochemical function and causing numerous imbalances in the body.
- 15 Essential Minerals: boron, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, sulfur, and zinc. These nutrients play significant roles in such metabolic processes such as muscular activity, endocrine function, reproduction, skeletal integrity, and overall development.
- 15 Additional Elements: barium, bismuth, rubidium, germanium, lithium, nickel, platinum, strontium, thallium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and zirconium.
- 6 Significant Mineral Ratios: the report includes calculated ratios for: calcium/phosphorus, sodium/potassium, calcium/potassium, zinc/copper, sodium/magnesium, calcium/magnesium, and iron/copper. If the relationship between certain minerals in the body is disturbed, normal biological functions and metabolic activity can be adversely affected.
- 9 Toxic Mineral/Metal Ratios and 11 Additional Ratios: individuals with elevated toxic levels may not always exhibit clinical symptoms associated with those particular toxic minerals. However, research has shown that toxic minerals/metals can also produce an antagonistic effect on various essential minerals, leading to disturbances in their metabolic utilization.
- Reference Ranges: The reference ranges in the report should be considered as guidelines for comparison with the reported test values. These reference ranges have been statistically established from studying an international population of “healthy individuals”. The reference ranges should not be considered as absolute limits for determining deficiency, toxicity or acceptance.
- Supplement recommendations based upon age, sex, metabolic type, mineral patterns and specific need as seen on the tissue mineral analysis and other accompanying clinical test data and history (Subject to additions or changes by the HTMA Practitioner.
- Diet Recommendations: Lists of specific foods and food groups, along with an explanation of why each food is suggested.
Who Should Get a HTMA Test?
Everyone! It doesn’t matter if you have symptoms or not. This is a wonderful tool you can use to prevent disease. Use it as your 6 months physical exam!
*Not Available in New York state
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)
HTMA+ (includes lab results + personalized interpretation and guidelines; both sent to you via our secured system), $225 (for retests, please use code RETEST25 to receive $25 off)
HTMA++ (includes lab results + personalized interpretation and guidelines + a 45-minute lab review consultation), $360 (for retests, please use code RETEST25 to receive $25 off)
Note: following your online order, you'll receive a welcome email with an intake form to fill out, along with instructions on cutting & sending your hair sample; for HTMA++ package, once your results are in, you will be contacted by our staff to schedule your phone consultation.)
HTMA+ (includes lab results + personalized interpretation and guidelines; both sent to you via our secured system), $225 (for retests, please use code RETEST25 to receive $25 off)
HTMA++ (includes lab results + personalized interpretation and guidelines + a 45-minute lab review consultation), $360 (for retests, please use code RETEST25 to receive $25 off)
Note: following your online order, you'll receive a welcome email with an intake form to fill out, along with instructions on cutting & sending your hair sample; for HTMA++ package, once your results are in, you will be contacted by our staff to schedule your phone consultation.)
