Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)
We live in a toxin filled environment. From lipstick to your morning coffee, peak hour traffic, pesticides in foods and the stress hormones we produce, toxins are difficult to avoid.
Problems associated with heavy metal and generalised body and liver toxicity include fatigue, muscle weakness or pain, chronically recurring infections, infertility, nausea, allergies and intolerances, multiple chemical sensitivities, chronic fatigue syndrome, stress, depression, hormonal imbalances, anaemia, low zinc and other mineral deficiencies, thyroid problems, ADHD and birth defects.
What is hair tissue mineral analysis (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.
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, fertilisers 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
- Safe, scientific, non-invasive pathology test.
- Reliable data on more than 35 essential minerals, as well as toxic heavy metals, and over 25 important mineral ratios.
- Valuable health information often not revealed in standard blood and urine tests.
- Discovery of nutrient mineral imbalances or toxic heavy metal or mineral excesses that may be affecting your health.
- Personalised 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.
Who should have a HTMA
Your Remède practitioner is likely to recommend a heavy metal and toxicity profile be undertaken in circumstances where you suffer from any of the conditions listed above for which the cause is unexplained. Because of the effect of heavy metals and toxins on the developing foetus, it is also done routinely as part of a pre-conception care plan.
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 affect these heavy metals are having on your essential minerals.
Your Remède 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 either Interclinical Labororaties or Mediscan, specialist labs that conduct HTMA testing.