Perth Naturopathic Nutrition Expert Perth Western Australia | Women`s Health | Weight Loss | Detox Programs | Counselling

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a safe and non-invasive diagnostic test. It measures the levels and ratios of minerals and toxic elements found in hair. 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.

Ideally we should get all the minerals we need from a balanced diet but most often this is not the case. Depleted soils reduce the mineral content of foods and 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 heavy metals, including cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, fatigue, anaemia, thyroid problems, hormonal imbalance, high blood pressure, migraines, allergies, poor immunity, learning difficulties, and hyperactivity or behavioural problems in children. This is a small list of many health problems where HTMA can help assess the cause.

The process of collecting the hair sample involves cutting the hair close to the scalp and then retaining the 4cm or so closest to the scalp (- you need to a heaped tablespoon of hair for testing. If you colour your hair you can either let the colour grow out for a couple of months and then ask your hairdresser, or us, to cut an uncoloured sample for you, or you can use a pubic hair sample. The cost for a HTMA is about $132 which you pay directly to the pathology lab.