What is a Hair Analysis?

The Hair Analysis or Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a test that measures the mineral composition of hair as well as the Heavy Metal content such as mercury, lead and cadmium among others. It is regarded by many doctors, naturopaths and nutritional therapists as one of the most valuable screening tools available in preventative health care. 

Hair Tissue Analysis

Why test for minerals?

Minerals are essential for growth, healing, vitality and wellbeing. They provide strength for the bones and teeth, and they maintain the acid-base balance (PH balance of the body), water balance, nerve conduction, muscle contractions, energy production and enzyme functions. Minerals participate in almost every metabolic process in the body – they are the true ‘spark-plugs’ of life.

Ideally we should get all the minerals we need from a balanced diet. Unfortunately this is rarely possible in today’s world. Modern farming techniques, fertilizers 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 metal excesses, including cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, migraines, learning difficulties and hyperactivity in children, to name just a few.

Mineral concentrations in the hair can provide a reliable indicator of mineral stores in the whole body. If your health, diet or environment has created a mineral imbalance or toxic mineral excess, it will be recorded in the hair shaft. Research has shown that hair mineral levels reflect stored mineral levels in other body tissues. 

Why use hair tissue?

Hair is a body tissue made up of mostly dead, keratinized cells fused together. The shaft of the hair is the portion that projects from the skin surface. The root of the hair, below the skin surface, contains living matrix cells from which the hair grows. Matrix cells depend on the blood supply for nourish¬ment and growth. As they grow & divide minerals are keratinized into the growing hair shaft, creating a permanent record of metabolic activity & exposure to toxic elements.

Why not test blood for mineral assessment?

Measuring the mineral content of blood gives a good indication of the minerals being transported around the body. However, it cannot accurately measure the minerals stored in tissue.

Very often, the body’s balancing mechanisms maintain proper serum mineral concentrations at the expense of tissue concentrations. Unfortunately, correct serum levels often mask both mineral excesses and deficiencies in tissue mineral concentrations. Serum concentrations may fluctuate with emotional changes, the time of the day the blood is drawn or foods eaten prior to taking a sample.

For example: About 30-40 days after acute lead poisoning, elevated serum lead levels may be undetectable. This is because the body removes lead from the blood as a protective measure and deposits it into tissues such as the liver, bones, teeth and hair. Iron deficiency symptoms are present long before low serum iron levels are detected, because the body depletes stored iron in order to maintain normal serum iron levels.

What are causes of mineral imbalances?

Improper eating habits: Fad diets and diets high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt, alcohol and saturated fats can lead to mineral deficiencies and excesses. Even the mineral content of a healthy diet can be deficient if foods are grown on nutrient-poor agricultural lands.

Stress: Both physical and emotional stress can lead to mineral imbalances. B-complex vitamins, zinc and magne¬sium are lost in greater quantities when you are stressed; you also absorb less nutrients from your food..

Medications: Many deplete the body’s store of nutrient minerals and can increase levels of toxic minerals. Medications such as diuretics, the oral contraceptive pill, antacids and aspirin can all cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Pollution: Toxic minerals such as lead, mercury and cadmium can interfere with mineral absorption and increase mineral excretion. They build up in our bodies from sources such as: air pollution, car exhaust, cigarette smoke, unfiltered water, dental amalgams, copper and aluminium cookware, hair dyes and antiperspirants. Toxins have also entered the food chain, contaminating some of our foods. It is almost impossible these days to avoid some exposure to toxic minerals.

Genetic and individual factors: A predisposition towards certain mineral imbalances, deficiencies and excesses can be inherited from parents. Certain individuals can also inherit a higher requirement than normal for particular nutrients to maintain good health.

Nutritional supplements: Supplements can also lead to mineral excesses and deficiencies. For example, excess calcium intake can cause phosphorus and magnesium deficiency. Continued magnesium deficiency increases sodium levels and eventually causes vitamin A deficiency.

Laboratory testing

All hair tissue samples are analysed by Trace Elements Inc, a US federally licensed and certified clinical laboratory specializing in hair tissue mineral analysis.

Personalized reports

The reports are easy to read, comprehensive and incorporate the latest developments in nutritional therapeutics. The reports contain a wealth of clinical data that can provide an indication of nutrient imbalances and mineral toxicity. They are designed to shed light on the current health status of an individual, identify potential areas of concern and direct dietary and supplemental measures to improve patient health. It draws on all of our laboratory’s expertise and extensive experience in analysing and interpreting trace mineral patterns.

The personalized report has easy-to-read test results for at least 36 essential and toxic minerals, including reference ranges; 27 mineral ratio results; discussion of nutrient and toxic mineral levels and ratios; individual metabolic type results and discussion; and personalized therapeutic recommendations both dietary and supplementary.

It also provides a comprehensive practitioner’s report containing a summary of the above, plus: disease trends and potential health concerns; medical discussion of mineral imbalances and toxins; contraindications; dietary suggestions and vitamin and mineral supplement recommendations.

Follow-up Reports

This comparative report is available as a follow-up to the personalized, comparing current and previous test results, and providing a comprehensive discussion and revised personalized therapeutic recommendations.

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