Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
What Is HTMA?
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a test that measures the levels of minerals and toxic metals in a small sample of your hair. The results show what has been stored in your body over the past few months. It can reveal if you have too much or too little of certain minerals—like calcium, magnesium, zinc, or copper—and can also detect exposure to metals such as lead or mercury. Many holistic or functional health practitioners use HTMA to look at your overall mineral balance, nutrition, and how your body is handling stress.
Benefits of HTMA
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) offers several benefits for understanding your overall health and wellness. It provides a long-term view of how your body is using and storing minerals, rather than just a moment-in-time snapshot like a blood test. HTMA can reveal mineral imbalances—such as deficiencies or excesses in calcium, magnesium, zinc, and other key nutrients—and can also detect exposure to toxic metals like lead, mercury, or aluminum. The results can give insight into how well your body is managing stress, your metabolic rate, and your energy levels by looking at specific mineral ratios. Because it’s a simple, non-invasive test that only requires a small hair sample, it’s easy to do and repeat over time. Many practitioners use HTMA to help create personalized nutrition, supplement, and lifestyle plans and to track improvements in health and mineral balance over time.