About How HTMA Works Why HTMA
Services 4-Month HTMA Programme Low Oxalate Coaching Carnivore Coaching Wellness Review
Where we Operate Blog FAQ Free Discovery Call

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis:
unlock the story your minerals
are telling you

A gentle, non-invasive window into your body's mineral balance — and a roadmap back to lasting vitality. Start with a free discovery call.

Rooted in science,
guided by nature

My name is Elza, and I am a certified HTMA practitioner. My path to this work was not a straight one — it was forged through years of personal struggle, searching for answers that conventional medicine could not give me.

Years ago, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. What followed was an exhausting and often demoralising journey through treatments, relapses, and a body that seemed to have forgotten how to heal. Fatigue, brain fog, hormonal chaos — I tried everything the medical system offered, and yet I remained stuck.

It was not until I discovered Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis that things began to shift. My first HTMA results were a revelation — they revealed deep mineral depletions and toxic metal burdens that were quietly sabotaging my recovery. For the first time, I had a clear, biochemical picture of what was happening inside my body, and a precise roadmap to address it.

Following a targeted mineral balancing protocol, I experienced a recovery I had stopped believing was possible. Today, I bring that same rigour, hope, and personal understanding to every client I work with. Whether you are navigating a chronic condition, unexplained fatigue, hormonal issues, or simply want to optimise your health from the inside out — I am here to help you read the signals your body is sending.

How HTMA Works

A window into your
inner terrain

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis is a safe, non-invasive laboratory test that measures the mineral content of your hair — revealing patterns in your body's biochemistry over the past 4 months.

Collect a hair sample

A small sample of hair is taken from the nape of your neck — completely painless and non-invasive.

Laboratory analysis

Your sample is sent to a certified lab and tested for 35+ minerals and toxic metals using mass spectrometry.

4-month personalised protocol

I create a personalised protocol covering diet, targeted supplementation, and lifestyle — then a new HTMA test every 4 months to track progress.

Interpret the results

I translate the raw data into meaningful insights — mineral ratios, metabolic patterns, and imbalances.

Why minerals matter

Minerals are the spark plugs of life. They activate enzymes, regulate hormones, support detoxification, and govern every cellular process. An imbalance can quietly undermine your health for years before appearing in standard blood tests.

You have been treating symptoms.
HTMA finds the cause.

Most people who come to me have spent years — sometimes decades — chasing symptoms. They have tried popular supplements, followed trending protocols, and consulted multiple practitioners, only to find that relief is temporary. Symptoms return. New ones emerge. The body never quite gets there.

This is not a failure of willpower or effort. It is a failure of method.

The body does not work in isolated parts. Every mineral, vitamin, amino acid, enzyme and hormone is in constant biochemical conversation with every other. You cannot change one without affecting all the others — this is the Law of Biochemical Individuality, and it governs every cell in your body. Ignoring it, as most popular supplement protocols do, guarantees further imbalance.

What HTMA reveals that standard tests cannot

A single strand of hair contains a precise biochemical record of your body's mineral status over the past four months — far longer than any blood snapshot can capture. HTMA measures over 35 minerals and toxic metals at the tissue level, revealing the true root cause of your symptoms, not just their expression.

  • Mineral imbalances and antagonisms — where one mineral is suppressing or displacing another
  • Toxic metal burden quietly disrupting hormones, energy, and nervous system function
  • Your metabolic type and whether your body is in a state of chronic compensation
  • Electrolyte patterns reflecting adrenal and thyroid function that standard panels frequently miss

Blood tests tell you what is circulating. HTMA tells you what is actually happening inside your cells.

The precision that separates results from guesswork

A hair test is the most biochemically complex laboratory report in functional medicine. Reading it accurately requires understanding the ratios between minerals, the metabolic patterns they form together, and the cascade of consequences each imbalance sets in motion.

Even a single unnecessary supplement — or a single missing one — can send your biochemistry further off course. This is not an exaggeration. It is biochemical law.

This is why HTMA works only when it is interpreted correctly. Every protocol I design is derived from a rigorous, multi-layered analysis of your unique biochemical profile. Not from a template. Not from a popular protocol. From your results.

What correct HTMA practice looks like

  • Identifies your biochemical individuality — because no two people share the same mineral pattern, and no two protocols should be identical
  • Traces every symptom back to its biochemical origin — fatigue, brain fog, hormonal disruption, immune dysfunction, and mood instability all have mineral roots
  • Designs a protocol in the correct order — minerals must be introduced in a sequence the body can accept without triggering compensatory imbalances
  • Monitors progress with repeat testing — every four months a new test reveals how the biochemistry is shifting and where the protocol needs to be refined

The result: genuine, lasting recovery

When you correct the biochemistry rather than suppress the symptoms, the body does what it was designed to do — it heals itself.

Not temporarily. Not with ongoing dependency on a long list of supplements. But progressively, measurably, and in alignment with how nature actually works.

This is what HTMA makes possible. And it is what I am here to help you achieve.

All interpretations and protocols are designed individually based on your HTMA results, health history, and clinical picture. HTMA is not a standalone diagnostic tool and does not replace medical assessment.

Client Experiences

Real people. Real results.

"
Two years of dermatologist appointments and nothing resolved the irritation or the anxious low hum I felt constantly. Within my first HTMA cycle with Elza, I had a clearer picture of what was driving both than I'd ever had. Six months on, my skin is the clearest it's been since my twenties.
MK
Marta K. Poland
"
The weight loss almost felt like a side effect. What I noticed first was that I stopped waking up exhausted. Then my digestion settled. Then the weight started shifting. I didn't change my life dramatically — my body just started working the way it should.
LM
Laura M. Ireland

Your
4-month mineral rebalancing

One focused offering: a complete 4-month mineral balancing programme, anchored by a new HTMA test every 4 months to measure your progress and refine your protocol as your body rebalances.

★ Recommended Programme 🌿

4-Month Mineral Balancing

A complete, personalised programme built around your unique mineral patterns. Includes one HTMA test every 4 months, a bespoke supplement protocol, and ongoing support throughout your rebalancing journey.

€525
per 4-month cycle · 1 HTMA test included
  • 1 × HTMA laboratory test (every 4 months)
  • 35+ minerals & toxic metals analysed
  • Personalised supplement protocol
  • Diet & lifestyle recommendations
  • 60-minute consultation included
  • Ongoing support for 4 months

Not sure if this is right for you? Book a free discovery call — no commitment, no pressure. Just a conversation.

Where the journey begins

Specialist coaching — your first step

Your health is not a problem to be solved overnight. These coaching programmes exist to meet you where you are — and to walk alongside you as you move, at your own pace, towards genuine restoration.

Not everyone is ready to dive straight into a full mineral balancing programme — and that is completely fine. These sessions are available on request: a focused, one-hour consultation you can book when you need it, with no long-term commitment required. A practical way to begin making real changes, reduce your symptom load, and build the foundation that makes deeper work possible.

Think of each session as the entry point to natural health restoration. Many clients start here, notice genuine shifts, and choose to go deeper with a full HTMA programme once they are ready.

🌱 Entry-Level · 1-Hour Session

Low Oxalate Coaching

Oxalate sensitivity is frequently overlooked as a driver of chronic pain, kidney issues, gut problems, and neurological symptoms. In a single focused session, we map your current diet, identify your highest-oxalate exposures, and build a practical reduction plan tailored to your symptoms — at a pace that avoids the "oxalate dumping" reaction many experience when reducing too quickly.

  • Personalised low-oxalate food protocol
  • Symptom review & reduction pacing
  • Education on hidden oxalate sources
  • HTMA programme introduction
🥩 Entry-Level · 1-Hour Session

Carnivore Coaching

Starting carnivore without guidance is where most people go wrong. In one session we identify where you currently are, build a transition plan that works with your body rather than against it, and address the specific hurdles — fatigue, cravings, digestive shifts — before they become reasons to quit.

  • Structured transition plan & timeline
  • Electrolyte & mineral optimisation
  • Troubleshooting fatigue, digestion & cravings
  • HTMA programme introduction
⚖️ Entry-Level · 1-Hour Session

Wellness Review

Struggling with symptoms that don't seem to have a clear cause? Persistent fatigue, low-grade anxiety, unexplained weight resistance, skin reactions, allergies, or a general sense of not feeling well despite doing everything right — these are rarely random. In this session, we take a broad look at your current symptoms, lifestyle, and diet to identify patterns, reduce the load on your system, and map out a practical starting point for recovery.

  • Symptom review across energy, mood, weight & immunity
  • Dietary & lifestyle assessment
  • Identifying key stressors & imbalances
  • Practical first steps tailored to your picture
  • HTMA programme introduction

Each of these sessions is a natural stepping stone into the full 4-Month HTMA Programme — for clients who feel ready to go deeper and address the root cause through mineral testing.

Select a service

Where we operate

Fully online — no boundaries

All consultations and protocol delivery are conducted entirely online. No matter where you are in the world, we can work together — all sessions via video call, all materials delivered digitally, no travel required.

Fully Online

Consultations, reports, and follow-up support are all delivered remotely. Distance is no barrier to receiving a precise, evidence-based mineral protocol.

International

Clients from any country are welcome. If you can join a video call, we can work together — wherever you are in the world.

Legal

Terms & Conditions

Read full Terms & Conditions
Last updated: May 2026

Please read these Terms & Conditions carefully before booking or purchasing any of my services. By making a payment or booking a consultation, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to be bound by everything set out below.

1. Your Commitment to the Process

My work is most effective when you come to it with genuine commitment. By engaging my services, you confirm that you are serious about your health and ready to actively participate in your healing journey. I am equally committed to supporting you with care and professionalism throughout our work together.

2. Agreement to These Terms

By purchasing any service or making any payment to me — whether through this website, a payment link, invoice, or any other channel — you confirm that you have read and agree to these Terms & Conditions in full. If you are unsure about anything before purchasing, please get in touch with me before completing your order.

3. Understanding What You Are Purchasing

By placing an order you confirm that you understand what is included and what is not. Each service is self-contained and does not include anything beyond what is explicitly stated in its description. Previous purchases or conversations do not alter what is included in a new order.

4. Each Service Is Independent

Every service you purchase from me is a standalone engagement, independent of any previous services. The results, expectations, or experiences from a prior service do not carry over to a new order unless explicitly agreed in writing.

5. Delivery & Timelines

I work with a limited number of clients at any given time to ensure the quality of my service. There may be a waiting period before your lab results, written report, or consultation are delivered. I will always aim to keep you informed of expected timelines.

6. No Refund Policy

All purchases are final. Due to the nature of my services — which involve laboratory testing, personalised analysis, and dedicated time — I am unable to offer refunds once a service has been purchased. If you choose not to proceed, any payment made will be held as credit applicable to any of my services at any point in the future.

7. Working Exclusively Within the Programme

My HTMA protocols are individually designed and biochemically precise. To protect the integrity of the programme, I ask that during our work together you do not simultaneously follow other practitioners' protocols, use supplements outside of what I have recommended, or undertake other diagnostic programmes without discussing it with me first.

8. Medical Disclaimer

I am not a medical doctor, and nothing I provide constitutes medical advice, medical diagnosis, or medical treatment. My services are offered for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the advice of a licensed medical professional. Any action you take based on information received from me is taken entirely at your own discretion and risk.

9. Website & Content Copyright

All content on my website — including text, images, and any other materials — is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without my prior written permission.

10. Confidentiality & Privacy

I take your privacy seriously. Any personal information and health data you share with me will be kept strictly confidential and used only to deliver the services you have requested. I will not share your information with third parties except where required by law or necessary to fulfil your service.

11. Changes to These Terms

I reserve the right to update these Terms & Conditions at any time. Any changes will be posted on my website and take effect immediately upon publication.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, I shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, or consequential loss or damage arising from your use of my services, your reliance on any information I provide, or any other matter connected with our work together.

13. Your Agreement to Indemnify

By using my services, you agree to indemnify and hold me harmless from any claims, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses — including reasonable legal fees — arising from your breach of these Terms & Conditions or your use of my services.

14. General

These Terms & Conditions represent the entire agreement between us with respect to the services purchased and supersede any prior communications. If any provision is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force.

If you have spent years
looking for answers,
this is where they start.

Fill in the form and Elza will be in touch to schedule your free discovery call — a no-commitment conversation to understand your situation and explore whether HTMA is the right next step for you.

Nutrition & Health · Hair Mineral Analysis

What Your Hair Can Reveal About Your Mineral Health

Inside every cell of your body, minerals are at work. Calcium contracts your muscles. Magnesium regulates hundreds of enzyme reactions. Zinc drives protein synthesis and immune function. Potassium controls fluid balance and nerve signalling. When these minerals are present in the right amounts and the right ratios, the body performs as it should. When they are not, the effects ripple outward in ways that can be surprisingly hard to trace.

The challenge is that conventional approaches to mineral assessment have real limitations. A blood test gives you a snapshot of circulating levels at a single moment — a moment influenced by what you ate that morning, how well you slept, how stressed you are, and what time of day it is. Urine tests are similarly short-term. Neither can tell you what has been quietly accumulating in your tissues over months, or what has been slowly leaching away.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) takes a different approach. Because hair grows continuously and incorporates minerals from the bloodstream as it forms, a sample of hair carries a record of your body's biochemistry over the preceding weeks and months. Analysed in a laboratory, it reveals a picture that blood and urine simply cannot provide.

Why Minerals Matter More Than Most People Realise

Vitamins often attract more public attention than minerals, yet minerals are arguably the more fundamental building blocks. While vitamins act primarily as catalysts for biochemical reactions, minerals are the raw structural materials that make those reactions possible in the first place. Many vitamins cannot even function without the right mineral cofactors present.

Consider iron alone: it is central to the production of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen to every tissue in the body. Without adequate iron, cells cannot produce energy efficiently, muscles fatigue more quickly, and cognitive performance begins to suffer. Yet iron deficiency remains one of the most common nutritional shortfalls in the world — frequently going undetected for months because the early signs, persistent tiredness, difficulty concentrating, and a general sense of low vitality, are easily attributed to the pace of modern life rather than a measurable biochemical gap.

The same principle applies to zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, and the many other trace elements the body depends upon. Each has specific roles. Each interacts with and influences the others. And each can be disrupted by the demands of modern life — poor diet, environmental exposure, chronic stress, infections, medications, and the cumulative burden of toxins we absorb without realising it.

Minerals are essential for maintaining your existence. Hair mineral analysis reveals and explains how chemical toxicity, mineral imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies can influence your health in ways that other tests may simply miss.

The Hidden Problem of Toxic Metals

HTMA does not only measure the minerals your body needs. It also screens for the ones it most definitely does not. Heavy metals — mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminium, and others — are ubiquitous in the modern environment. They enter the body through food, water, air, dental materials, household products, and occupational exposure. Once inside, they tend to accumulate in tissues over time, where they can interfere with the uptake of beneficial minerals, disrupt enzyme function, and contribute to a wide range of health problems.

Common Sources of Heavy Metal Exposure

  • Mercury from oily fish and from amalgam dental fillings
  • Lead from old painted surfaces, certain ceramics, and some imported foods
  • Cadmium from cigarette smoke, fertilisers, and some food crops
  • Arsenic from groundwater, rice, and certain seafood
  • Aluminium from cookware, antiperspirants, and food additives
  • Geographic location — where you live can affect your level of exposure significantly

Because toxic metals are stored in organs, bones, and soft tissues — often far from where a blood test would detect them — HTMA can be a particularly useful tool for anyone who suspects they may have been exposed, or who is undertaking a detoxification programme and wants to track their progress over time.

Is It Right for You?

HTMA is not a diagnostic tool in the clinical sense, and it is not intended to replace a conversation with your GP or any other medical professional. It is a screening and monitoring tool — one that can provide insights about your body's biochemistry that other methods cannot, and that can help you make more informed decisions about nutrition and supplementation.

It is particularly well-suited to anyone who feels that something is not quite right but cannot pinpoint what — those experiencing fatigue, low mood, recurring infections, poor concentration, or any of the other symptoms that tend to be attributed to "stress" or "busy life" without much further investigation. It is also useful for athletes seeking marginal performance gains, practitioners looking for objective data to inform their recommendations, or anyone who wants to track the effects of a nutritional or detoxification programme over time.

The test is suitable for adults and children alike. No appointment is needed. No clinic visit. Just a small hair sample taken from the nape of the neck and posted to the laboratory. Your report will arrive within two to three weeks, ready for interpretation and follow-up through an online consultation, following which an individual supplementary protocol will be developed.

Ready to find out what your minerals are telling you?

Start with a free discovery call — or book a specialist coaching session if you already know where you want to begin.

Please note: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test. If you have any health concerns, please consult a qualified medical professional before making changes to your diet, supplementation, or treatment. Individual results from HTMA will vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)?

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis is a laboratory test that measures mineral and toxic metal levels in a small hair sample. Because hair grows continuously, it reflects your body's mineral status over the preceding 2–4 months, rather than a single moment in time like a blood test.

Is HTMA accurate?

HTMA results are generally consistent when hair is properly collected and analysed at an accredited laboratory using validated methods (typically mass spectrometry). Accuracy depends heavily on correct sample collection, avoiding contamination, and interpretation by someone trained to read mineral ratios rather than isolated values. HTMA is a screening and monitoring tool, not a clinical diagnostic test.

Is HTMA scientifically proven?

HTMA is an established method for detecting heavy metal exposure and tracking mineral trends over time, and it's widely used in functional and holistic health practice. It is not currently part of mainstream diagnostic medicine, and conventional healthcare providers generally rely on blood and urine testing instead. It should be used to complement, not replace, standard medical assessment.

How much does an HTMA test cost?

A full 4-month mineral balancing programme — including one HTMA lab test, a personalised supplement protocol, and a 60-minute consultation — costs €525.

How is HTMA different from a blood test?

A blood test shows what's circulating in your bloodstream at the exact moment it's drawn. HTMA shows what's been deposited into tissue over several months. Blood levels of some minerals are kept artificially stable by the body even when tissue stores are deficient, which is one reason HTMA can pick up patterns a blood panel misses.

How do I collect a hair sample for HTMA?

You have 3 separate options for submitting a sample, and only one can be submitted — do not mix hair from different options: scalp/head hair, or pubic hair, or body hair (facial hair, armpits, arms, legs, chest, back — or any mixture of these, but not pubic).

Dyed or highlighted hair can still be submitted and will give accurate results, since the lab only measures minerals. Permed or bleached hair with a high concentration of ammonia or peroxides is damaged and cannot be submitted — wait several weeks for it to grow out about half an inch, choose one of the other sample options, or get in touch for help.

How to cut and how much to collect: Avoid conditioners, gels, sprays, or other hair care products on the day you cut the sample, and cut at least 6 hours after washing. Cut as close to the skin as possible. The sample should be about 0.5 to 1 inch long from the skin — discard the rest of the length beyond 1 inch. Cut from various locations to collect a sample that fills a heaping tablespoon, compressed. The more hair you provide, the better — this helps ensure the lab doesn't reject your sample and cause delays.

How long does it take to get HTMA results?

Most laboratories return results within 2–3 weeks of receiving the sample. After that, a practitioner interprets the raw data and builds a personalised protocol before your consultation.

Can HTMA detect heavy metal toxicity?

Yes — this is one of HTMA's core strengths. Heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, and aluminium are often cleared from the blood quickly and stored in tissue instead, which means a blood test can miss chronic low-level exposure that a hair test can pick up.

Does hair dye or hair products affect HTMA results?

Dyed or highlighted hair can still be submitted and will give accurate results, since the lab only measures minerals. Permed or bleached hair with a high concentration of ammonia or peroxides is damaged and cannot be submitted — wait several weeks for it to grow out about half an inch, choose one of the other sample options, or get in touch for help.

What does "HTMA certified practitioner" mean?

Elza is certified as a Mineral Biochemistry Analyst, with core competencies covering: advanced analysis of mineral biochemistry and human physiology for correct HTMA interpretation; applying critical thinking and biochemical analytics in determining the root cause of health disorders; analyzing mineral dynamics, molecular biology, toxicity, and pathophysiology in correcting human biochemistry; designing custom protocols which activate the body's intrinsic natural healing forces that regenerate and restore health; and deploying incremental biochemical interventions that detox, repair tissues, and regenerate enzymes, hormones & cellular processes.

Is HTMA suitable for children?

Yes, HTMA is non-invasive and can be used for both adults and children, since it only requires a small hair sample rather than a blood draw.

What can HTMA tell me that a doctor's blood panel can't?

HTMA can reveal mineral ratios and metabolic patterns (for example, signs of chronic stress response or slow metabolism) and longer-term toxic metal accumulation — trends that a single blood snapshot isn't designed to capture.

Do I need a referral or doctor's order to get an HTMA test?

No. HTMA is typically ordered directly through a certified practitioner, without needing a GP referral, since it's a screening tool rather than a clinical diagnostic test.

Is HTMA covered by insurance?

Generally no. HTMA is usually an out-of-pocket wellness/functional-health service rather than a standard covered medical test, though policies vary by provider and country.

What coaching services do you offer?

Alongside the 4-month HTMA mineral balancing programme, three entry-level, 1-hour coaching sessions are available on request, with no long-term commitment: Low Oxalate Coaching, which maps your diet and builds a paced reduction plan to avoid "oxalate dumping"; Carnivore Coaching, which builds a transition plan covering electrolytes and troubleshooting fatigue, digestion, or cravings; and a Wellness Review, a broad look at symptoms, lifestyle, and diet to identify patterns and map a practical starting point. Each session costs €70 and serves as a natural stepping stone into the full 4-Month HTMA Programme.

How much does coaching cost?

Each 1-hour coaching session (Low Oxalate, Carnivore, or Wellness Review) costs €70. The full 4-month HTMA mineral balancing programme, which includes a lab test, personalised protocol, and consultation, costs €525.

Do I need to do a coaching session before starting the HTMA programme?

No. Coaching sessions are an optional starting point for people who want to make changes before committing to a full mineral testing programme. You can go straight into the 4-Month HTMA Programme, or book a free discovery call first to discuss what fits your situation.

How often should I repeat an HTMA test?

Most protocols retest every 4 months, since that roughly matches how long it takes for a mineral-balancing protocol to show up in new hair growth and for meaningful trend comparisons to be made.