Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
A different way of looking at your nutritional health.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is one of several assessment tools that may be used to provide additional insights into your mineral status and patterns that may be relevant to your nutritional health. When considered alongside your symptoms, health history, lifestyle and, where appropriate, pathology, it can help build a more complete picture of your health.
What is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis?
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a laboratory assessment that measures the levels and relationships of minerals and selected toxic elements in a small sample of hair.
Unlike blood tests, which provide a snapshot of what is circulating in the bloodstream at a particular point in time, HTMA may provide additional information about longer-term mineral patterns. Both assessments have different purposes and can complement one another when appropriate.
HTMA is interpreted within the context of your overall health and is never used to diagnose or exclude medical conditions.
How Does HTMA Work?
Collecting a sample is simple and non-invasive. A small amount of hair is cut close to the scalp and sent to a specialised laboratory for analysis.
Once your results are available, I review them alongside your symptoms, health history, lifestyle and any relevant pathology. This helps identify patterns that may assist in developing personalised nutrition, lifestyle and supplement recommendations where appropriate.
Not everyone requires HTMA. Whether it is recommended depends on your individual health concerns and clinical assessment.
Lauren Michel is a Certified Practising Nutritionist and Police Veteran specialising in personalised clinical nutrition for people experiencing burnout, persistent fatigue, poor sleep and insomnia, brain fog, metabolic challenges and digestive issues particularly police emergency services and other caring professionals. Telehealth consultations available Australia-wide.
"No single test tells the whole story. I use HTMA because it can provide another piece of the puzzle when trying to understand a person's health. It's never interpreted in isolation, but alongside your symptoms, health history and other clinical information to help personalise your nutrition and lifestyle plan."
Read more about the Operation Recovery Program here ➡
Could HTMA Give You Better Understanding of Your Health?
Every person's health story is different. If you'd like to learn whether Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis may be appropriate for your individual circumstances, I'd be happy to discuss it with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can HTMA tell us?
HTMA provides information about mineral levels and patterns within the hair, which may offer additional insights into your nutritional status. When interpreted by a qualified practitioner and considered alongside your health history and symptoms, these patterns may help guide personalised nutrition, lifestyle and supplement recommendations.
Is HTMA better than blood tests?
HTMA and blood tests measure different things and provide different types of information. Rather than replacing pathology, HTMA is considered one of several assessment tools that may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of your health. I like to do both to get a wider range of information to inform your treatment plan.
Will everyone need HTMA?
HTMA is recommended when I believe it is likely to provide additional information that may be helpful in understanding your health concerns. Whether it is appropriate depends on your symptoms, health history, previous investigations and individual circumstances.
Still have questions?
If you are unsure whether nutritional support is right for you, or would like to learn more about how I work, book in your strategy call for a no-obligation free chat.