Understanding Your Adrenals, Thyroid, and Body's Stress Response

The HTMA test breakdown ✂️🧪💇🏼‍♀️ why minerals are at the herat

I hope you’re soaking in the beauty of early Spring 🌸

Lately, we’ve seen a wave of clients coming to us with things like:

• acne

• hair loss or thinning

• cold hands and feet

• constipation

• irregular cycles

• loooowwww energy

• difficulty losing weight

…yet their blood work? Comes back “normal.”

And we’re like—errmmm, nope.

If your body has these symptoms, it’s trying to communicate something. So why does blood work say it’s okay?

Here’s the thing:

Nutrient levels in the blood are tightly regulated by the body’s drive for homeostasis. What you see on a standard blood panel is just a snapshot—it doesn’t always reveal what’s going on beneath the surface.

To get a deeper look at how your body is actually functioning? how cells are responding? how tissues are utilizing minerals?

Enter: the HTMA Test 👇🏼

WHAT IS THE HTMA TEST?

The HTMA is a hair test offered through Trace Elements that gives us a deeper lens into your mineral status and metabolic function.

While most doctors will order standard blood work to assess nutrient levels, the HTMA goes farrrrrrr beyond a snapshot in time and actually gives us a good idea of the last 3 months

It shows how your body is storing and utilizing minerals like magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, and zinc— key in metabolism 🔥 thyroid and adrenal function 🦋 and hair/skin/nail health 💅🏻

and even gives insight into hidden imbalances that may be driving fatigue, anxiety and weight gain & it also picks up on heavy metal exposure (like mercury or aluminum).

And the best part? You do it from home

• no needles

• no lab appointments

• no running across town

A snip of hair and pop it in the mail. Easy, informative, and way more aligned with how the body actually works.

erm how much hair?

We know that for many of us, hair is tied to identity, confidence, even femininity. So the idea of cutting any amount, especially from the root, can feel weird or uncomfortable. We totally get it.

But here's the good news: All in all—it’s just about 1 teaspoon of hair.

And in exchange? you get a cellular-level look into your mineral status.

It's a tiny bit of hair, but it tells a big story.

WHO SHOULD DO THE HTMA TEST?

In my practice, we’re primarily utilizing an HTMA test when we see symptoms of…

• acne or skin issues (even psoriasis)

• difficulty losing weight or weight fluctuations

• irritability, anxiety, fatigue and exhaustion (what a fun combo)

• sleep issues

• thinning/day hair/nails/skin

• brain fog

but since we know minerals are like the sparkplugs of the cells, it actually can influence soooo much more, including

• bloating and digestive issues

• painful periods

• low iron and “anemia” symptoms (a whole post on this to come)

• slow skin healing or illness recovery

So I’ve had allllll kind of clients.

one who had all the symptoms of a slow thyroid but their thyroid panel comes back normal…. only to discover on the HTMA test that their potassium was sooooo low.

another who had such painful periods and was told she was anemic - only to find out through the HTMA test that both were actually a result of high free copper and low vitamin A

and sooo many others with unexplained bloating, acne and PMS to realize that minerals were behind it all

Ready to do one ASAP?

ERM, BUT WHY DO MINERALS MATTER?

Minerals are often called the spark plugs of the body 🔥 and for good reason. They activate enzymes, support nerve signaling, keep your heart beating rhythmically, and play a vital role in detox, mood, metabolism, and hormone balance.

Without adequate minerals, your cells can’t do their job.

It’s not just about drinking water or taking vitamins—your minerals make those things work. They’re foundational, and if they’re depleted or out of balance, it’s like trying to run a car with no ignition.

So Why Are Minerals Depleted ?
Here’s the kicker: modern life is basically designed to deplete minerals.

• Stress (a biggie)

• Birth control/SSRI/antacids

• Coffee + alcohol

• Overexercising

• Depleted soil

• and even filtered water (yep, it can remove minerals along with contaminants)—t

they all drain your reserves. The HTMA gives us a map of what’s been lost, so we can thoughtfully rebuild and move the needle on symptoms.

ALRIGHT, SO WHAT DOES IT SHOW ME?

okay, so this test is actually super duper complex but it tells us SO much

This test is detailed into all the different minerals, heavy metals, and their ratios - and we really zone in on 4 main areas:

SECTION 1: YOUR METABOLIC TYPE