HTMA

  “Trace Elements are the basic spark plugs in the chemistry of life.”
Dr. Henry A Schroeder M.D, Ph.D.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) testing

• A hair sample is used to evaluate its mineral content
• It is a window into the cell mineral activity
• Analysing hair tissue will bring to light toxicities and issues within the body. 

It is a proven and effective way to assess the long-term metabolic function of the body as well as nutrient deficiencies and toxic metal levels.  The true value of the tests lies in gaining an understanding of the metabolic and glandular patterns and dysfunction that underlie all health conditions.  

A HTMA is not designed to be a one-time test, but the real value is with regular repeat tests which are recommended at a minimum of 6-8 month intervals, to monitor the impact of nutritional and lifestyle changes.

Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a safe, non-invasive test that measures the levels and comparative ratios of nutrients and toxic minerals and metals. It is a tissue sample and reflects the biochemistry of the hair.  Therefore, do not expect a hair mineral analysis to reflect the same information as a blood test.  Blood is a transporter, a courier, and hair tissue is a storage facility, a warehouse. 

​ You will receive a graph showing minerals, toxic metals and ratios, and your current metabolic type, which I will interpret based on your symptoms, which we will discuss in a consultation. 

The test is safe, non-invasive, and easy.  It can also be a very useful guide to design a personalised diet and supplement regime specific to your individual needs.

It is not diagnostic for any medical condition, which can only be done by a medical practitioner.

Hair Tissue Mineral Test (HTMA) v Blood Serum Tests

Compared to blood or urine testing, the concentration of elements in hair is higher and less prone to fluctuation in samples. That’s why the Environmental Protection Agency uses hair as opposed to blood or urine to test for toxic metal exposure. Hair is also a more reliable indicator of tissue stores and is more hygienic and easier to store than blood or urine. 

HTMA examines a completely different set of parameters to a blood test, you cannot compare their results. Blood levels of minerals (and other markers) will be kept optimal as much as possible by the body, as narrow ranges of blood markers are vital for health. 

Blood can therefore, use minerals from bone or tissues, for example, in order to keep blood levels stable.   A hair mineral test can indicate the levels in the bone or tissues (the “warehouse”). 

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HTMA looks at the tissue and cellular minerals, and blood tests look at the serum levels – they will be different.  Blood remains outside the cells and tissues.  Energy production happens inside the cells, and it’s the imbalance of the minerals and toxic metals inside the cells and tissues that a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis looks at.  Blood tests are mainly used to confirm the presence of disease, pathology, and are not used as a preventative tool.  Health is much more than just the absence of disease.  A blood test can appear fine, despite you having symptoms, and within what doctors consider to be a normal range, whereas a HTMA can show early mineral imbalances.

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Blood is a transport medium, not a storage medium, that shows the current levels of serum minerals which fluctuate daily, with the blood working hard to keep minerals such as calcium and potassium stable, at the expense of tissue stores and bone.  The blood takes priority, and it does not reflect what is going on in the tissues or the cells. Blood serum mineral levels can be altered by exercise, inflammation, infections, and different sampling techniques.  Generally, blood tests are a very late indicator of dysfunction or disease, whereas hair tissue mineral analysis gives a much earlier representation.  A hair mineral test looks at cellular mineral imbalances and heavy metal toxicity.  

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Blood tests are ideal for showing pathological disease conditions, however, a HTMA looks more at the underlying issues where things that have started to go off balance show much earlier than they appear on a blood test.  HTMAs are not a replacement for pathology but are an additional, very detailed look at the body’s mineral stores and metabolic patterns which can help to guide Nutritional Therapy and help to see progress. 

 When it comes to checking your health, the choice between blood tests and Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a big deal. These tests reveal different aspects of your health.

Blood tests provide a quick snapshot, showing things like cholesterol and haemoglobin levels at that specific moment. On the other hand, HTMA digs deeper, giving a long-term view of what’s happening inside your cells and how your body is processing nutrients over time.

HTMA testing is quite unique versus Lab testing that exists today ( Dr. Schroeder PhD). 

What is so special about minerals?

• Minerals are “spark plug of life“ said Dr. Henry Schroeder.
• They are needed for millions of enzymes as co- factor inhibitors and as part of the enzymes themselves
• Minerals are the underbelly of what lies above, without mineral balance a cascade of metabolic chaos may ensure. 

​A Hair Mineral Test Report will give indications of the following: 

• Oxidation rate (slow, mixed or fast oxidiser)
• Metabolic imbalances 
• Blood sugar balance (calcium: magnesium ratio)
• Thyroid function (potassium: calcium ratio)
• Adrenal status (sodium: magnesium ratio)
• Vitality & Stress (sodium: potassium ratio)
• Stage of stress (alarm, adaptation or exhaustion)
• Toxic metal levels – mercury, aluminium, lead, arsenic, uranium, tin, titanium. 

A hair mineral analysis provides a picture of body chemistry including:

• heavy metal toxicity
• mineral imbalances 
• metabolic rate
• adrenal
• blood sugar
• inflammation
• adrenal fatigue
• thyroid function
• nervous system imbalances
• protein synthesis
• inflammation
• energy levels
• mental health issues
• liver and kidney stress
• carbohydrate tolerance and sugar imbalances like Diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance
• inherited mineral patterns
• It can even reveal if someone is a sociopath!