What Is The HTMA Test?

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Learn about the HTMA test and how it can help you on your healing journey. The HTMA test is great whether you are just getting started, feel stuck in your healing, or if you’d like to optimize your health.

Minerals are the spark plugs of our bodies. In other words, you need minerals for every single reaction that goes on inside of you! Let that sink in for a minute. If your minerals are not in a great spot, it will have an impact of how well your body functions. The HTMA test gives us insight to see how minerals may be affecting how you show up day to day.

A Little Bit of My Story

My healing journey skyrocketed after I took the HTMA test and made adjustments according to my results. I was doing “all of the right things,” but I still felt run down and my gut health was not where I wanted it to be given the work I had put into healing.

Through the HTMA test, I found out I was tanked in almost all of my minerals. No wonder I wasn’t getting over the last hump. My body was literally running on E. This helped me to take a step back and really dig deep into my lifestyle and it allowed me to see I needed more mineral supporting than I was providing myself.

After a month into taking my custom made mineral powder through Vykon Customs and adjusting how I ran around in life (a mom of two and running a business) I started to feel like myself again, it was amazing to me! I had energy, I wasn’t a frazzled mess, and my digestion was improving. Now, I want everyone to experience the phenomenal impact that minerals can have on their lives!

Why is Mineral Balance Important?

Minerals play a crucial role in numerous bodily functions, including energy production, nerve function, bone health, enzyme reactions, and hormone regulation. The right balance of minerals is key to maintaining overall well-being. Imbalances can lead to a variety of symptoms, such as fatigue, muscle cramps, irritability, weakened immune function, thyroid issues, and hormonal disruptions. Proper mineral balance supports the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis and optimize physical and mental health.

The HTMA test is a great test to take whether you are just starting your healing journey or you’ve been spinning your wheels trying to figure out why you aren’t fully recovering. Minerals are crucial in healing. Think of them as giving you the gas you need to work optimally. Your body needs energy from minerals to heal well. You body needs mineral to work well in general.

I have seen clients do much better on the healing journey when we are supporting their specific mineral patterns. In a world where everyone could afford testing, I would always have clients do the HTMA first in order to get your mineral stores in a good spot for healing. On the flip side, if you’ve been through the healing ringer but you haven’t seen the changes you’d like to see, then it’s time to look into the HTMA test. Minerals might be the missing link.

You can also use mineral testing to help you if you just feel run down and fatigued or if you are postpartum, TTC, or pregnant. All of these seasons of life require more minerals. You CAN feel much better when you support your minerals.

What is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)?

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a diagnostic test that analyzes the mineral content of hair to provide insights into your overall health, mineral balance, and metabolic function. Unlike traditional blood tests, HTMA focuses on the minerals stored in the hair, offering a snapshot of your body’s mineral status over time (around the last three months), rather than just a momentary snapshot. Some minerals (like potassium and magnesium) are mostly found inside your cells. Taking a look at the hair is a great way to check on their status.

What Does the HTMA Test Show?

The HTMA test measures the levels of over 20 essential and toxic minerals found in the hair, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, copper, and others. It also evaluates the ratios of these minerals, which can provide critical information about how your body is functioning on a metabolic level.

The test can detect mineral imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and excesses that might not be apparent in other forms of testing. By understanding the balance between key minerals, we can assess factors like energy production, hormone regulation, and your body’s stress response.

See a sample report here.

How Does the HTMA Work?

Hair is a useful for testing because it stores minerals over time as it grows, providing a longer-term view of mineral levels than blood or urine tests. To take the test you collect a small sample of hair from the back of the head, typically about 1-1.5 inches in length. I like to take it from multiple locations so you don’t even miss it. The sample is sent to Trace Element’s lab, where it is analyzed for its mineral content. The results come back to me to interpret and provide specific recommendations to you.

Who Can Benefit from the HTMA Test?

HTMA can be beneficial for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of their health, especially those experiencing unexplained fatigue, poor digestion, mood swings, or other chronic health issues that might stem from nutritional imbalances or mineral deficiencies. It’s also useful for people who are trying to optimize their wellness, enhance energy levels, or understand their metabolic function more clearly.

Helpful times to get tested:

• GI issues like bloating, pain, & constipation (even those that aren’t resolving with gut specific protocols)
• Just starting your health journey
• You don’t feel right but your bloodwork “looks fine”
• TTC, Pregnancy, and Postpartum
• Symptoms like hair loss, skin issues, chronic fatigue, reoccurring headaches
• Hormonal issues
• And much more!

HTMA vs. Blood Work: What’s the Difference?

Blood work and HTMA are both valuable diagnostic tools, but they differ significantly in the type of information they provide:

• Blood Work: Measures the levels of minerals in your bloodstream at a specific point in time. While it provides immediate insights into your body’s current state, blood mineral levels can fluctuate due to recent diet, stress, or other factors. Blood tests typically show what’s available for immediate use, but may not reflect long-term mineral stores.
• HTMA: Focuses on mineral content in the hair, providing a snapshot of how the body has been managing its minerals over the last few months. This can help identify long-term imbalances and deficiencies that may not be noticeable in blood tests, especially those that relate to mineral storage, metabolic function, or tissue-level mineral status.

How the HTMA Shows Metabolic Function

HTMA tests offer more than just a measurement of individual mineral levels—they can highlight metabolic imbalances by evaluating mineral ratios. These ratios provide clues about your adrenal function, thyroid activity, blood sugar regulation, and stress response. For instance:

• Calcium to Potassium Ratio: A high calcium-to-potassium ratio may suggest your thyroid is sluggish due to lower potassium resources compared to calcium. Your thyroid function plays a big role in your metabolism.

HTMA Mineral Ratios That Provide Insight

Certain mineral ratios provide deep insight into metabolic and health function. Some key ratios include:

1. Sodium:Magnesium Ratio: This ratio helps evaluate stress levels and adrenal function. A high ratio may indicate stress and adrenal overdrive, while a low ratio may suggest burnout or adrenal insufficiency.
2. Sodium:Potassium Ratio: The vitality ratio. A poor balance can indicate difficulty with managing stress or maintaining a balanced metabolism.
3. Calcium:Potassium Ratio: This is key to understanding thyroid function.
4. Calcium:Phosphorus Ratio: Gives us insight to your metabolism and whether you are slow to use mineral or burning through them quickly.
5. Calcium:Magnesium Ratio: Helps us to see how well you are regulating blood sugar in your body.

Why Would Someone Choose HTMA Over Just Blood Work?

People might opt for HTMA for several reasons:

• Long-Term Insights: HTMA reflects a more extended period of mineral status, offering a broader perspective of how your body is managing minerals over time. Blood work, by contrast, only measures current levels, which can be influenced by short-term factors.
• Hidden Imbalances: Some mineral imbalances or deficiencies may not show up in blood tests but can be detected through hair analysis. This includes subtle imbalances that affect the body’s metabolic functions and long-term health.
• Better Understanding of Mineral Ratios: HTMA offers the ability to assess the balance between minerals, which is often more important than the levels of any single mineral. A great level of one mineral might be ineffective if it is out of balance with others.

How to Take the HTMA Test from Hair

Taking the HTMA test is simple and non-invasive. Here’s how to do it:

1. Collect Hair Sample: A small sample of hair (around 1-1.5 inches from the scalp) is cut from the back of the head in multiple locations. This sample is used to ensure the mineral content reflects long-term status, as hair grows at a predictable rate.
2. Send to Laboratory: The hair sample is sent to Trace Element’s laboratory where it’s analyzed for its mineral content.
3. Review Results: Once the results are returned, I will interpret the mineral levels and ratios, offering recommendations for any imbalances or deficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is the HTMA test reliable?
Yes, HTMA is a reliable test when conducted by certified labs that use accurate analytical methods. It’s a helpful tool for identifying mineral imbalances that other tests may miss.

2. How often should I take the HTMA test?
It’s generally recommended to take the test every 3-6 months to monitor changes in mineral status.

3. Can the HTMA test detect heavy metals?
Yes, HTMA is often used to detect toxic metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can accumulate in the body and impact health over time.

4. Can HTMA replace blood work?
HTMA can provide a deeper look at your mineral status, but it doesn’t replace blood work. Blood tests are important for assessing immediate conditions, whereas HTMA offers long-term insights into mineral imbalances.

5. What are the limitations of HTMA?
While HTMA offers valuable insights, it’s not a comprehensive diagnostic tool. It should be used in conjunction with other assessments and clinical evaluations to get a complete picture of your health.

The HTMA test is a powerful tool for uncovering hidden mineral imbalances, helping you make informed decisions about your health and wellness. It’s especially useful for those looking to optimize their nutritional intake, energy levels, and metabolic function.

Ready to get started?

Head to my Services Page to sign up for the HTMA Package.

Let’s get your spark back!

-Laura