The scoop on Hair Tissue Mineral AnaylsisHTMA Explained
Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things … eating clean, taking supplements, trying to heal … but something still feels off?
That’s where HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) comes in.
It’s a simple, non-invasive test that shows what your body’s actually holding onto and what it’s missing. Unlike blood work, which gives you a snapshot, HTMA gives you a story of your mineral status over time.
Because when your minerals are off, everything feels off: energy, hormones, stress, sleep, even mood.
HTMA helps take the guesswork out of healing so you can finally get clear on what your body really needs.
✅ What HTMA Can Tell You
Your mineral levels (like magnesium, calcium, potassium, and zinc)
How your body is handling stress
Patterns of adrenal burnout or thyroid imbalance
Blood sugar regulation and metabolic trends
Hidden heavy metal burdens (like aluminum, arsenic, lead)
Clues about your energy production + detox capacity
Whether your supplements are actually working or just expensive
🌸 Minerals & Hormones: The Missing Link in Balance
Hormonal shifts, whether it’s PMS, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, or medical menopause, don’t happen in isolation. Your minerals are the building blocks for hormone production, detox, and balance.
🔹 Magnesium supports progesterone and stress regulation
🔹 Zinc is critical for ovulation, thyroid function, and immune support
🔹 Copper and iron imbalance can affect mood, periods, and energy
🔹 Calcium and sodium ratios impact adrenal and thyroid health
If your hormones feel off, mineral imbalance might be the root cause and HTMA is the tool to find out.
⚡ Minerals & Energy: Why You’re Still Tired
Fatigue isn’t always fixed with more sleep or another cup of coffee. Minerals are required for cellular energy production. So, if you’re depleted, your body simply can’t produce energy efficiently.
🔹 Potassium and magnesium are essential for mitochondrial function
🔹 Low sodium:potassium ratios = adrenal burnout + sluggish metabolism
🔹 Iron metabolism is mineral-dependent (especially post-cancer or postpartum)
🔹 Calcium excess can slow down thyroid activity = exhaustion, brain fog.
HTMA reveals what’s zapping your energy and helps you rebuild from the inside out
🧠 Minerals & Mood: Calm Isn’t Just a Mindset
Anxiety, irritability, brain fog, and even depression are often signs of deeper mineral imbalance, not personality flaws.
🔹 Magnesium calms the nervous system and supports GABA
🔹 Copper dysregulation is linked to anxiety and estrogen dominance
🔹 Calcium shell (too much calcium stored in tissue) can create emotional numbness
🔹 Sodium and potassium shifts impact how you respond to stress
Balancing minerals supports a more resilient mood, mental clarity, and emotional stability.
The Ultimate Roadmap
HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) is more than just a lab test. It’s one of the most insightful, underused tools in functional health. By analyzing mineral levels stored in your hair over time, HTMA gives us a long-range view of your body's internal environment: how it’s handling stress, where it's depleted, and what systems need the most support.
Unlike blood work, which captures a moment in time, HTMA reflects trends: chronic stress patterns, mineral burnout, and toxic load that build up slowly and silently. These patterns are often behind persistent fatigue, hormone imbalance, anxiety, brain fog, and slow recovery after illness or treatment.
HTMA helps us connect the dots. It shows how your nervous system, metabolism, thyroid, adrenals, and detox pathways are functioning so we can create a nutrition and lifestyle plan that’s truly tailored to you.
This isn’t a band-aid. It’s the ultimate roadmap to rebuilding from the inside out with clarity, intention, and long-term results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HTMA and why is it helpful after cancer treatment?
HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) is a simple, non-invasive test that measures the mineral content of your hair. It gives us a long-term view of your body’s mineral stores, which are often depleted from chemo, radiation, hormone therapy, and stress. It helps us create a personalized plan to restore balance and support healing without the guesswork.
Is HTMA a replacement for blood work or conventional care?
Not at all. HTMA is a complementary tool, not a diagnostic test. It provides insight into longer-term mineral trends and stress patterns that blood work can’t always capture. It works best alongside your existing care, not in place of it.
I’ve already finished treatment, am I too late to benefit from this?
Not at all! In fact, this is the perfect time. Many women feel lost once treatment ends and are left to figure things out on their own. HTMA helps fill that gap by showing where your body needs support so you can rebuild with intention.
What if I’m not a cancer survivor? Can I still work with you?
Absolutely. While I specialize in post-cancer healing, many women come to me with burnout, hormone shifts, or just a desire to feel better in their bodies. HTMA is a powerful tool for anyone looking to restore balance and energy from the inside out.
Will you recommend a bunch of expensive supplements?
Nope. My goal is to simplify, not overwhelm. We’ll look at your test results, your symptoms, and your lifestyle to create a plan that works for you. Targeted, supportive, and sustainable.
Can I use my HSA/FSA to pay for this?
In many cases, yes; especially if I provide a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN). Check with your plan to confirm, and I’m happy to guide you through the process.
How is the hair sample collected?
It’s simple and painless! You’ll receive a kit with instructions to snip a small amount of hair (about a teaspoon altogether) from the back of your head, close to the scalp. It takes just a few minutes, and I’ll walk you through it if you need help.
What if I’ve lost my hair from chemo or it’s still growing back?
If you’ve recently gone through chemo and are still regrowing your hair, I recommend waiting until you have at least 2–3 months of new growth before collecting your sample. This allows us to gather a clean section of hair that reflects your current mineral status post-treatment.
I also want to say, I understand how deeply personal and emotional hair loss can be. I’ve been there. Please know I take this part of the process very seriously, and we’ll move forward only when you’re comfortable. When the time is right, I’ll walk you through the collection process gently and with full support.
What if I dye or treat my hair?
No problem. As long as the sample is taken from new growth (ideally within 1–2 inches of the scalp), we can still get accurate and useful results. We’ll note any treatments on your intake form to factor it into the analysis.
What’s the turnaround time for results?
Once your hair sample is received by the lab, it can take anywhere from 2 - 6 weeks to get results. You’ll be notified as soon as they’re in, and we’ll schedule your follow-up session to review everything together.
How long does it take to see results with HTMA support?
Everyone’s healing timeline is different, but many women begin to notice subtle shifts in their energy, sleep, mood, or digestion within the first few weeks of starting their protocol. Minerals work at a foundational level, so while some improvements may come quickly, the deeper healing takes time.
Certain mineral patterns, especially those impacted by long-term stress or cancer treatment, can take several months (often up to 6 months or more) to fully rebalance. Healing isn’t linear, but with the right support, consistency, and patience, you’ll be building real, lasting change from the inside out.
What’s the difference between the HTMA Essentials and the Cancer Recovery Bundle?
Great question! The HTMA Essentials is a streamlined starting point for anyone looking to understand their mineral status and get a personalized plan. The Cancer Recovery Bundle includes more 1:1 calls, deeper support, and a 60-day supply of custom Vykon custom powder specifically designed to meet your body’s needs after treatment. If you're a cancer survivor or want more guided support, the bundle is for you.
Can I still purchase a custom Vykon powder without purchasing the bundle?
Yes! You always have access to Vykon through me, it would just be at a separate purchase. Additionally, you have access to Fullscript dispensary.
How do I get started?
Start by filling out the quick interest form, contact me here, or DM me on Instagram (@laurenmcranmer or @balancewithlauren) and I’ll walk you through the next steps. You don’t have to do this alone.