Why Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)

As a nurse, I’ve spent years working to help people feel better. Whether in the ICU or local community clinic, I did this by completing assessments and focusing on following their doctor’s orders for medications. Over time, I realized that while medications are necessary, they rarely address the root causes of health issues (especially the chronic ones like heart disease and diabetes)—and sometimes the side effects can feel worse than the symptoms.

Not only that, taking medication doesn’t actually mean getting healthier- it usually just slows down how fast someone gets worse. I can’t tell you how many times I heard doctors tell their patients ” it’s not really your fault, it just happens to some people, there’s not much you can do.” I believe the doctors were trying to be kind and non-judgmental, but in reality, it sends the message that people are powerless over their health. Every time I heard someone say that it would just grate against my nature. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-medication, but I am anti-powerlessness. It felt like I was trying to help people put together a puzzle without all the pieces. 

 

When I learned about functional medicine it felt like I found the missing pieces and everything fell into place.

I learned that most of the medical community really underestimates the impact of a healthy diet and lifestyle.  What and how we eat actually DO have a HUGE impact on our health. Stress, emotions, and mental health 100% affects our physical health. Hormones are actual chemical compounds in our body and there are strategic ways of eating and living to support a healthy balance. Our bodies work better when we are active and moving, using and challenging our muscles, heart, and lungs. Getting good, restorative sleep CAN be your normal. There is so much we can do through diet and lifestyle to support getting healthy, and for over a year I worked with my clients on identifying where they personally could work on re-building a healthy diet and lifestyle. Through this journey, I discovered something powerful: our bodies have an incredible ability to heal when we give them the right tools and support. 

Even though everyone experienced positive changes, I noticed 2 issues:

1-Sometimes knowing what to do isn’t enough motivation to stick to these changes, and

2-The basics are a great place to start, but some people’s health is so off balance that to be strategic, testing would be helpful.

That’s what led me to Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), a game-changer in understanding and supporting health.

HTMA is a specialized test that measures the mineral and heavy metal levels in your hair. Unlike traditional blood tests, which reflect moment-to-moment changes, HTMA shows patterns of nutrient imbalances and toxicities that have developed over time. HTMA isn’t used to diagnose, but it does give us an “inside peek” into how hard the body is working in certain areas, including metabolism and energy levels, blood sugar balance, thyroid health, nutritional needs, heavy metals, and more. This means we can get a deeper look at what’s happening at the cellular level—where true health begins.

What excites me most about HTMA is its ability to catch imbalances early, before they snowball into bigger health issues. It aligns perfectly with my core values as a nurse that prevention and health promotion using diet and lifestyle are some of the most underused but powerful tools we have to rebalance and promote health. By incorporating HTMA into my practice, I can create personalized plans to address mineral deficiencies, support detoxification, and develop nutrition strategies tailored to your body’s current specific needs.

That said, HTMA is just one part of the picture. With my experience in holistic nursing and functional health, I know that no two people are the same. HTMA is just one tool in my health toolbox, and for those of you struggling with multiple health issues for years, your path to wellness might include other approaches like my comprehensive health audit and health coaching/consulting. I’m here to help walk you through whichever personalized, holistic, whole-body approach supports you feeling your best.

If you’re ready to a more functional approach to health, click below to schedule a free discovery call.