The Holistic Center

10/01/2025

09/25/2025

09/25/2025

Why Run an HTMA?
(Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis)

Because symptoms don’t always show what’s really going on—and blood tests only give you a moment-in-time snapshot.

HTMA tells a deeper story.
It shows how your body has been coping over time—what it’s building up, what it’s burning through, and what it’s quietly sacrificing to keep you functioning.

Minerals are foundational. They fuel hormones, regulate the nervous system, drive detox, and support digestion. When they’re off, everything else struggles.

HTMA is especially helpful if you’re dealing with:
• Fatigue or burnout
• Mood swings, brain fog, or anxiety
• Poor sleep
• Sluggish metabolism
• Detox or digestion issues
• Hormonal imbalance
• A history of chronic stress or medication use

Instead of guessing, HTMA gives you a personalized path forward. No more chasing symptoms—just real data and a clear direction.

09/25/2025

09/25/2025

I rarely use lab tests as I am a very traditional Naturopath, but I do use Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) tests.

A Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is an inexpensive, safe, non-invasive test which measures the levels and comparative ratios of nutrients, and toxic minerals and metals. An HTMA is an analytical laboratory test that measures nutritional minerals and heavy metals that are incorporated into the hair shaft during its development.

An HTMA tests for 20 minerals and 9 toxic elements in the TISSUES / CELLS and reflects the biochemistry of the hair. Therefore, it does not reflect, or can be compared to blood test. Blood is a transporter, a courier, whereas tissue is a storage facility, a warehouse. The body moves an element from the blood to the tissues to run a very tightly balanced status in the blood. Calcium, for instance, is very tightly controlled in the blood, but we can see the true picture of calcium in the tissues / hair.​​ It is especially useful at showing tissue magnesium levels which are not represented in the blood (except for around 1%), as magnesium should mostly reside in the cells.

Hair tests were first developed in Victorian England by the Police, and hair is now an accepted test material widely used in other areas (drugs, alcohol). It is used by the NHS, Veterinary Medicine and Complementary Medicine. There are hundreds of research papers that validate HTMA.

The analysis reflects accumulation of metals within tissues of the body, providing a record of the long-term intake, retention and excretion of various metals. It also gives an indication of the inter-relationship among nutrient minerals as well as the effect of vitamins on nutritional minerals and the extent of heavy metal burdens.

I use Mineral Check in the UK, who represent Trace Elements Laboratory in the US. The lab is regulated by the CMS (Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services) which regulates all laboratory testing and is CLIA licensed.

Without optimum mineral levels within the body, other nutrients are not effectively utilised. A hair mineral analysis can help pinpoint metabolic disturbances, such as blood sugar imbalance, as well as indicate the appropriate corrective clinical approach. Hair analysis can assist the practitioner in assessing health and nutritional status.

Did you know that if you have a hip replacement made with vanadium, titanium and aluminium, these minerals can leach into the tissues of the body. Obviously a hip replacement restores mobility, but it comes with the metals. A hair mineral test helps determine if these minerals are high in the tissues, and can then help you to balance your minerals in the best way possible.

There are many reasons for behaviour problems, but one study revealed that all young offenders tested had high aluminium on HTMAs. This can come from drinking water (especially from wells), but also from drinking from tin cans, deodorants, aluminium cookware, occupational exposure, or passed down from earlier generations. Some IBS or endometriosis can be cause by high nickel - an HTMA can show this.

An HTMA is a tissue sample and reflects the biochemistry of the hair. Therefore, do not expect a hair mineral analysis to reflect the same information as a blood test. Blood is a transporter, a courier, and hair tissue is a storage facility, a warehouse. The body moves an element from the blood to the tissues to run a very tightly balanced status in the blood. Calcium, for instance, is very tightly controlled in the blood, but we can see the true picture of calcium in the tissues / hair.​​

A HTMA is not designed to be a ‘one off’ test, but the real value is with regular repeat tests which are recommended at a minimum of 6-8 month intervals (maybe more frequently in the start of Nutritional Therapy, in order to monitor the impact of nutritional and lifestyle changes and progress. It is a cost-effective visual tool to keep track of your improvements and health in general.

Blood tests are ideal for showing pathological disease conditions, however a HTMA looks more at the underlying issues where things that have started to go off balance show much earlier than they appear on a blood test. HTMAs are not a replacement for serology, or other pathology of course, but are an additional, very detailed look at the body's mineral stores and metabolic patterns which can help to guide Nutritional Therapy and help to see progress. When used correctly, it is a great tool we can use to understand the full picture of your health, which can be hard to determine from a blood test.

The value of HTMA is in retesting alongside a Nutritional Therapy programme, or even annually when back on track to check in on health ratios. It is a very visual test and can be most rewarding and empowering for clients to see their improvements on a follow up tests. Tests need to be professionally analysed by a trained practitioner, alongside your full case history. Interpreting HTMAs was part of my original Nutritional Therapy training and since then I have done an additional 2 separate courses on interpreting HTMAs.
​
​A Hair Mineral Test Report will give indications of the following: -

Oxidation rate (slow, mixed or fast oxidiser)
Blood sugar balance (calcium: magnesium ratio)
Thyroid function (potassium: calcium ratio)
Adrenal status (sodium: magnesium ratio)
Vitality (sodium: potassium ratio)
Stage of stress (alarm, adaptation or exhaustion)
Ability to deal with stress
Metabolic trends
Mineral levels
Toxic metal levels - mercury, aluminium, lead, arsenic, uranium, tin, titanium etc

09/25/2025

These are common symptoms of mitochondrial dysfunction, which is when your cells can’t make enough ATP (cellular energy).

When your body makes less ATP, it means there’s less fuel available for your brain, muscles, and immune system.

Over time, stress, toxins, and the natural aging process place even more strain on your mitochondria, reducing their ability to function efficiently.

Without enough cellular energy, your body’s core processes—detoxification, immunity, and healing—begin to slow down.

Supporting your mitochondria, not just the symptoms is the key to optimal health.*

*This information is educational only and not intended to diagnose or treat a specific individual or patient.

09/25/2025

https://youtu.be/ROSBRMSwW0E?si=SYSE-krTjeMT0RpP ~ DONE AT THE HOLISTIC CENTER LLC- 732 259 3721.

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08/22/2025

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Tapping
[ Adrienne Fox - Yoga ]
It is a form of alternative therapy that involves tapping on specific acupressure points on the body while focusing on emotional issues or physical pain. It combines principles from ancient Chinese medicine (like acupressure) with modern psychology. The process is simple:
Identify the issue you want to work on (stress, anxiety, pain, etc.).
Rate the intensity of the issue on a scale from 0 to 10.
Tap on specific meridian points (the same points used in acupuncture) while saying a statement related to the issue (e.g., “Even though I feel this anxiety, I deeply and completely accept myself”).
Re-evaluate the intensity after a few rounds of tapping to see if it has decreased.
The idea is that tapping on these points helps balance the energy system in the body and release emotional blockages, leading to improved emotional and physical well-being.