HTMA Explained

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis

HTMA testing provides valuable insights into the root causes of your symptoms and guide my personalized approach to restoring balance and vitality.

We live in a toxin-filled world. From the chemicals in personal care products to your morning coffee, rush-hour traffic fumes, pesticides in our food, and even the stress hormones our bodies produce — toxins are all around us. They’re in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the products we use, and often in work environments, making them nearly impossible to avoid completely. Many of these toxins rob the body of the vital nutrients and minerals we obtain through our diet and supplementation.

Problems associated with mineral imbalances and toxic buildup of heavy metals include persistent fatigue, muscle or joint discomfort, recurring infections, hormonal shifts, allergies or sensitivities, mood changes, and difficulties with focus or memory. Toxicity can also play a role in anemia, thyroid problems, infertility, digestive issues, skin conditions, headaches, and unexplained changes in weight or energy. Because these symptoms often overlap with other health concerns, they can be difficult to pinpoint — which is why identifying and addressing the root cause is essential for lasting improvement.

What is HTMA?

HTMA is a safe and non-invasive pathology test. It measures the levels and comparative ratios of nutrient and toxic minerals found in hair. HTMA is one of the most valuable screening tools available in preventative health care.

What does a HTMA test for?

A hair tissue mineral analysis will test for the presence and level of any toxic heavy metals in the body and will show what effect these heavy metals are having on your essential minerals.
Your practitioner will advise you on hair sample collection, which involves taking a small sample from the nape of the head, which is then sent to Trace Elements Lab. Since 1984 Trace Elements has been recognized internationally as a leading provider of HTMA laboratory services in nutritional metabolic products for doctors and health professionals of all specialties worldwide.

Why test for minerals and heavy metals?

Minerals are essential for growth, healing, vitality, and wellbeing. They provide structural support in bones and teeth, and they maintain the body’s pH and 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, in today’s world, this is rarely possible. Modern farming techniques, fertilizers and depleted soils reduce the mineral content of foods. Environmental pollutants, chemical food additives and stressful lifestyles also have a detrimental effect on our nutritional status.

Many health conditions are aggravated by mineral imbalances and toxic heavy 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.

What are the benefits of having a HTMA test?

o Safe, scientific, non-invasive pathology test.

o Reliable data on more than 35 essential minerals, as well as toxic heavy metals, and over 25 important mineral ratios.

o Valuable health information often not revealed in standard blood and urine tests.

o Discovery of nutrient mineral imbalances or toxic heavy metal or mineral excesses that may be affecting your health.

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

Why HTMA Can Reveal More Than a Standard Blood Test

Blood tests are useful and have their place — but they only show part of the picture. They measure what’s happening in your blood at the exact moment of the test. They can’t always detect deeper imbalances or the root causes hiding beneath the surface.

Here’s an example:
Let’s say you get a blood test for iron, and the results show your levels are low. The standard approach would be to prescribe an iron supplement. But with Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), we can see a lot more.

Your HTMA will also show copper levels — which is critical because your body needs copper to properly absorb and use iron. Or we might see a different scenario: your blood test says “low iron,” but your HTMA reveals your tissues are saturated with iron.

Why would that happen? One reason could be an underlying bacterial infection. Certain bacteria thrive on iron and will hold it in the tissues, preventing it from entering the blood where it’s needed. Without that insight, you might be prescribed more iron, which could in turn make the root problem worse.

HTMA provides a stable, long-term view of your body’s mineral status, toxic metal exposure, and the relationships between minerals that drive your overall health. Unlike blood, which can fluctuate with stress, diet, or time of day, hair tissue reveals your body’s trends and hidden patterns over several months.

What HTMA Can Reveal That Blood Tests Often Miss

o Long-term mineral balance and toxic metal exposure.

o Signs of hidden bacterial or viral activity affecting mineral availability.

o Subtle patterns indicating adrenal function, thyroid health, and metabolic type.

o A clear roadmap for restoring balance without guesswork.

o Ratios between key minerals (e.g., calcium-magnesium, sodium-potassium) that influence energy, mood, blood sugar, muscle function, and stress response.

Why I Always Include HTMA in My Work

If you want to get to the root cause of what’s going on in your body — or simply want a powerful, proactive health check — HTMA is one of the most effective tools available.

In your private one-on-one consultation, I interpret your results in depth — uncovering the secrets your body has been holding and identifying the root of your symptoms. From there, I create a personalized 8-week plan based entirely on your results, so we are not guessing, trying random approaches, or just chasing symptoms — we are restoring balance from the inside out.

Problems linked to heavy metal accumulation and overall body or liver toxicity can include:

Persistent fatigue and low energy

Muscle weakness, joint pain, or body aches

Chronically recurring infections or slow healing

Hormonal imbalances (including menstrual irregularities, PMS, or menopausal symptoms)

Allergies, food intolerances, or chemical sensitivities

Heightened stress response and anxiety

Depression, mood swings, or irritability

Cognitive issues such as brain fog, poor concentration, or memory problems

ADHD or other attention and focus challenges

Anemia and other blood-related imbalances

Low zinc and other mineral deficiencies