The standard Pathology testing for mineral deficiencies/excesses is blood testing. But what if there was a more accurate way of testing? Although blood tests can show us a lot about what is happening in our body, when it comes to testing minerals (and also vitamins), the testing is often not accurate. It shows what is happening in our blood but how do we know that what is being tested is actually getting into cells where it is needed? With blood testing we don’t know but with HTMA we do.
I have completed the HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) studies and am a Certified HTMA Practitioner. Below is detailed information on what the HTMA tests for and why it is a more accurate diagnostic test than blood tests. If you are interested in further discussing the HTMA to make sure it would be a valuable test for you, please feel free to contact me.
What is an HTMA?
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a diagnostic test that measures levels of minerals and toxic metals in the body. As hair grows, minerals are absorbed into the hair shaft, creating a permanent record of metabolic activity and exposure to toxic elements. If your body has an imbalance of minerals or excess toxic metals it will be recorded in the hair shaft. Research has shown that HTMA is an accurate way of measuring minerals and toxic metals.
Why Test for Minerals?
Minerals are literally the building materials for our bones, they regulate the body’s water and pH balance, nerve activity, energy production and enzyme reactions and are essential for growth, vitality, wellbeing and healing. Every single body organ or system relies on minerals to function properly. They are the basic ‘spark plugs’ of life.
In an ideal world we would get all the minerals we need from our diet. But unfortunately this is rarely possible. Modern farming techniques, fertilisers and depleted soils have reduced the mineral content of foods. Our fast paced and stressful way of life depletes our body of nutrients, as do pharmaceutical medicines. Our digestive systems are damaged from antibiotics, alcohol, sugar and processed foods so we are unable to absorb nutrients as efficiently.
Every single body organ and system is affected by a mineral imbalance (high levels can be just as detrimental as low levels) leading to problems such as digestive dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, depression, inability to cope with stress, anxiety, learning difficulties and many more.
Consequently, we need to test and monitor our nutritional status more than ever.
Why Test for Toxic Minerals?
More and more we are being exposed to heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, aluminium and many more. The HTMA tests for a total of 22 different heavy metals. A lot of these metals are dangerous in high levels, some of them are carcinogenic, some of them cross the blood brain barrier. A high load of toxic metals has been linked to many health conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Muscular dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Liver and Kidney disease and many more. If our liver and kidney function is not optimal our body cannot detoxify these metals, causing a build up.
What can an HTMA Reveal?
By revealing deficiencies and excesses in minerals and your level of toxic heavy metals, the HTMA uncovers a whole world of information about…
- Adrenal and thyroid function
- Digestive health
- Immune health
- Energy production
- Liver and kidney stress
- Enzyme activity
- Mental health
- Nervous system imbalance
- Energy levels and fatigue
- It can determine if you are at risk of certain conditions like Osteoporosis, Depression, Adrenal depletion, Hypothyroidism, Gallstones, Liver Dysfunction, Allergies and many more conditions.
Why not Just get a Blood Test?
Blood tests are often not an accurate way of measuring mineral status. For example, a Calcium blood test could show that levels of Calcium are adequate but if your body is in an acidic state, it will draw Calcium into the blood from the bones to buffer the acidity. So even though it may show your blood has good levels, your bones and other cells won’t. A blood test gives you a snapshot of what is happening at that precise moment in time. If you had a meal the previous night that was high in Zinc (think oysters) then your Zinc levels are likely to be higher the next day.
Every blood Pathology report will have a reference range which is supposed to indicate a “healthy” range of whatever is being tested. These ranges are determined by working out an average level amongst the thousands of people tested – but the people being tested were unhealthy! (that is why they were tested in the first place) so the ranges are often completely inaccurate. The HTMA reference ranges were determined from healthy people, so their ranges indicate the levels that a healthy person should have, not an unhealthy person.
Simple and Non Invasive
It is simply a matter of cutting a small amount of hair and sending it off for testing. HTMA is a particularly good test for children, as it does not involve painful needles. A hair sample can be taken during an appointment and sent off, the results usually received within 2 weeks.
How to Book a Test?
Simply email or phone Southern Health & Wellbeing.
Email: andreasouthern@yahoo.com
Phone: 0412 791 705
