Hair Testing - A window to your overall health

Know your body inside out

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Hair Testing - A window to your overall health

Know your body inside out

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Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)

A test that provides information your blood tests can’t.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) can be a really informative test to assess your underlying core body functions.

Unlike blood tests which indicate a 'snap shot' in time, hair testing displays a 3 month average of how your health has been functioning.

If you're someone who feels like you have persistent issues, ranging from poor immune function, fatigue, acne, reflux, hormonal imbalances and more, and your blood tests are 'normal' this test could help you undercover the driving force behind your symptoms

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....but, why should you even consider hair testing at all?

When we think about 'looking under the hood' of your body, there are many different ways we can do this.

Often if you have new symptoms, or symptoms you haven't had checked, the best thing to do first is to visit your medical practitioner and exclude anything that is potentially life threatening. They will often send you for tests that range from blood tests to radiographs.

If you're someone who has been checked for serious illness, and your results have come back 'normal', then this is great news! It can seem disheartening though, when we feel like something is wrong and the tests can't give us the answer.

This is where hair testing comes in. Think of it like getting sent for a blood test when you have a broken arm. This isn’t the best test for your issue. You need an x-ray.

The same goes for assessing dysfunction in your body. Often blood test parameters are set to look for pathology or 'disease', these are highly important. When they show up as normal, and don’t align with your ongoing symptoms this is where hair testing often works to pick up imbalances before you get to that stage.

The process of assessing your function through hair testing:

Ensure you have hair that is untreated or dyed. (This can be 4cm worth of regrowth or hair underneath dyed/treated hair) You can also use pubic hair.

Book in your hair test review appointment for 3 weeks from when you will send off the hair.

An email will be sent to you with a video explaining how to collect the hair, a PDF form to fill in your information, and another PDF which can be printed and folded into an envelope.

Once you have watched the video, cut off an adequate amount of hair into the envelope and filled out your personal information. Simply post your sample and information to the address listed.

Results take approximately 3 weeks and will be delivered via zoom in your review appointment. (20 minutes)

After implementing the changes recommended from your results, it is recommended to do a follow up test 3-6 months afterwards.

“Common isn’t the same as normal. It’s important to know the difference so you can listen and trust your body.

What can Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Reveal?

MINERAL DEFICIENCIES AND EXCESSES

MENTAL HEALTH

ENERGY LEVELS & FATIGUE

HEAVY METAL TOXICITY

NERVOUS SYSTEM IMBALANCE

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

METABOLIC RATE (FAST OR SLOW)

LIVER & KIDNEY STRESS

ADRENAL & THYROID FUNCTION

IMMUNE

DIABETES AND INSULIN RESISTANCE

SPORTS ENDURANCE & RECOVERY

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Note: Hair Testing is done after an initial appointment has been completed. If you are an existing Patient contact us directly. If you are not yet a patient, the 'CLARITY Pathway' is for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I test For?

How long does it take to get my results?

Can I do it with dyed hair?

How do I prepare hair sample?

Proper collection of the hair sample is extremely important and cannot be over-emphasized. Collection should be done under professional supervision, or by someone trained in proper collection procedures within a clean environment. The following guidelines should be maintained to insure the collection of a metabolically representative sample and to avoid the introduction of external contaminants prior to, during and following the collection process.

Sample Type

Scalp hair is the only source recommended for analysis. Pubic and other body hair should only be used as a last resort if scalp hair is not available.

Note: Pubic and other body hair is only recommended for confirmation of elevated toxic metals found in the scalp hair and/or to rule out external contamination of the scalp hair.

Preparation

The portion of hair to be collected should be freshly washed with plain shampoo (definitely not medicated eg anti-dandruff), well rinsed and untreated, i.e. not permed, dyed or bleached.

If all of the hair has been chemically treated, wait until sufficient new virgin growth has emerged to allow collection. (Why not select small sections of hair at the back of the head that are hidden from view and skip doing the re-growth dye for a couple of months! )

The hair should also be free of all gels, oils and hair creams prior to sample collection. For those individuals environmentally and/or occupationally exposed to external contaminants, (welding, mining, etc…) special care should be taken to limit exposure between washing of the hair and the collection of the sampled hair.

Location

Each collected sample should be taken in small portions from at least four to five different locations of the scalp. The recommended areas for collection are the nape of the neck, posterior vertex and posterior temporal regions.

Note: All reference range correlations, dietary recommendations and interpretive report content assumes that the complete hair specimen originated solely from the above defined regions of the scalp.

Sample Length

High-grade stainless steel scissors or thinning shears should be used to cut the hair as close to the scalp as possible. The length of the collected hair should not exceed one and one-half inches. The proximal portion (one and one-half inches closest to the root) should be retained and the excess discarded.

Note: The proximal portion is reflective of the most recent metabolic activity.

Weight

The weight requested for a hair specimen is 125 milligrams (0.125 Gram). Use of the TEI Hair Weight Scale Cards will ensure the collection of sufficient sample weight. However, if a Hair Weight Scale is not available, one full teaspoon should approximate the weight requirement.

Packaging

Upon cutting the sample, the hair should be placed directly into a clean hair specimen envelope normally provided by the laboratory and then sealed with the glue flap only. Do not use plastic bags in place of the standard paper envelopes to hold the hair specimen. In addition, do not use staples, paper clips, adhesive tape, aluminum foil, or other metal and paper material of any kind to seal, secure or wrap the hair envelope and/or the hair specimen contained within.

Submittal Form

Each sample specimen must be accompanied by a standard HTMA Laboratory Submittal Form, completed in its entirety. This will be sent out to you in your booking confirmation email.

Sample Test Result

The test is a comprehensive way to assess dysfunction in your body on a functional level. If you've suffered from persistent health conditions, this test may shed light on the contributing dysfunction in your body.

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