HTMA Testing (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis)

Minerals are the sparkplugs of life! No function in the body happens without minerals. Essential minerals cannot be created in the body and must be consumed. Deficiencies or toxicities can have huge effects on the overall health of the body and can be the root cause of countless symptoms and illnesses. Hair mineral analysis can pinpoint these areas of need foundationally within the body. 

During the growth phase, hair is exposed to the internal environment of the body, including the extracellular fluids, circulating blood, and lymph. As the hair reaches the surface of the skin, its outer layers harden, locking in the metabolic products accumulated during this period of hair formation. Because of this, hair may provide a permanent record of metabolic activity occurring within the body during its period of growth which can be uncovered with hair mineral analysis.

The information gathered from HTMA testing can tell us a lot about the internal terrain of the body. 35 different elements are tested, including essential minerals the body needs to function and toxic heavy metals. Hair testing can indicate mineral deficiencies before they are ever caught on a blood test. HTMA can also give us insight into the body's ability to detoxify, as well as digestive function, adrenal health, thyroid health, immune health, mental functions, stress handling, carbohydrate tolerance, and metabolism.

Everyone can benefit from hair mineral analysis. The good news is it is cost-effective, convenient, and non-invasive. Mineral deficiencies are all too common in today's society. Stress and medications can deplete the body, and our food has fewer essential minerals than it did 100 years ago. By knowing your mineral status, you can customize your supplements and the food that you are eating to fit your specific wellness needs. Supplementing with singular nutrients can do more harm than good without the knowledge of what is currently happening within the tissues of the body. When you have more information, you can make better decisions for your health instead of using generic guidance. We recommend the HTMA as a starting point for every new client of Ella Wellness, paired with a GI-MAP for a more complete picture of what is going on within their internal terrain. 

*Please note residents of New York State are not eligible for HTMA testing.

While there are minerals in blood serum, it may not be an accurate test for determining the mineral status of the body. Blood works very hard to keep a tight balance of minerals and is homeostatic. For example, when calcium levels in the blood drop, the parathyroid releases hormones that stimulate the release of calcium from our bones. In this instance, the blood would not reflect the potential deficiency within our bones, where the calcium is needed. Blood will also only show toxic levels of heavy metal exposure for a limited period of time. After exposure to lead, for example, the blood will work to quickly remove the lead, either out of the body or settled into other tissues.

No. Hair mineral analysis is not intended to diagnose or treat any form of disease. We use this test to see how we can best support the body as a whole with holistic health protocols and infer potential root causes of systemic dysfunction. 

Yes! While certain supplement protocols would be off the table, it is always a good idea to know your mineral status before, during, and after pregnancy. However, it is always advised to try to correct mineral imbalances before becoming pregnant. For this reason, we would recommend running this test at least 6 months to a year before trying to become pregnant. Correcting imbalances can be a lengthy process so the more time you give yourself, the better.

A small sample of hair, from the root, taken from several locations in the back of the head. You can do this in the comfort of your own bathroom! A small price to pay for invaluable information and insight into your health. For more information on sample collection, you can visit the Trace Elements website.

Depending on your metabolic type, hair mineral analysis should be rerun between 3 and 6 months. Even in the absence of symptoms, these tests can be very insightful, and we recommend running them regularly for general holistic health maintenance. This can provide guidance when it comes to your supplements and making sure you are using the correct essential minerals in your routine.

After your test results are back, we will put together a holistic health protocol for you with dietary, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations. Dietary recommendations may be to eliminate certain foods or increase others. There will almost always be a supplement protocol provided depending on the testing results that come back unless we feel the protocol can be done entirely with food, which would be extremely rare. We will see what essential minerals may need to be increased or reduced, or if there is a need for various digestive or other systemic supports. Protocols will vary between 3 and 6 months depending on your test results, with hair mineral analysis retesting at the end so we can monitor progress and reevaluate the plan as needed. Reach out today to learn more!