What is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)?
Hair tissue mineral analysis is a test that measures the levels of minerals and metals in your hair. You take a small hair sample, post it to the lab, and once the test is complete, they send back a report showing the levels of all your minerals.
Why is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Controversial?
Mainly because research into the use of HTMA for health purposes has shown mixed results.
Dr Paul Eck, the man who created mineral nutritional balancing, discovered early on in his use of HTMA that you have to be very careful in the way you process hair samples. Even something as simple as washing the hair can affect the results greatly.
Added to which, not all labs use the same equipment. Most of the research to date has not accounted for these factors, so comparing results from one lab to another is like comparing apples and pears.
Is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Reliable?
Yes. As Dr Eck found in his original research, when hair samples are processed in the correct manner, results are reliable.
Dr Eck discovered that not only can hair washing procedure and hair products affect the results of the test, so can washing the hair sample once it reaches the laboratory. In order to ensure an accurate result, Dr Eck developed clear
guidelines on how to treat the hair before the sample is collected and how the sample should be processed once it reaches the lab. Following these guidelines results in accurate and reliable test results time and time again.
Which Lab Should I Use?
There are very few labs in the world that process hair samples in the correct manner.
If you have not purchased a HTMA yet, you should use Analytical Research Lab in Arizona. ARL processes samples correctly, regularly calibrates their equipment, and presents
their results in the correct format. You cannot order directly from ARL as they understand the importance of working with a qualified practitioner to interpret the results.
How Does HTMA Compare With Other Tests?
Different tests measure different things. Not that any test is better or worse than any other, it really just depends on your goal. Here is an overview relevant to MNB:
Blood Tests
Urine Tests
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
HTMA tests should never replace standard medical testing. HTMA cannot be used to diagnose medical conditions. Please ensure that you continue to attend your primary care provider and complete regular medical checks.
What Is the Role of HTMA in Mineral Nutritional Balancing?
Dr Eck developed a system of supplementation and dietary interventions tailored to the mineral patterns that he observed on HTMA. So HTMA forms the basis of our customised suggestions in MNB.
After you get your HTMA, your practitioner will identify the mineral patterns and create an MNB programme suited specifically to those patterns, including diet, lifestyle, and supplement suggestions.
What Can I Learn About My Health From HTMA?
Dr Eck did not view the body as a collection of organs, rather a self correcting system that functioned as a whole. From this viewpoint, HTMA is a reflection of the effects of everyday life on your body, including everything that you are exposed to internally and externally. For example:
Dietary intake
Physical stress
Emotional stress
Hormonal balance
Chemical exposure
It’s also fascinating to discover that Dr Eck also identified various emotional and behavioural patterns that were associated with mineral patterns, which may sound radical until you learn that there is now a huge growing field of science called psychoneuroimmunology, dedicated to studying the effect of the mind on health and resistance to disease.
