After working with 10 plus functional medicine tests over the years, I have settled on hair tissue mineral analysis as being the most accurate and actionable for targeting the root cause of someone’s symptoms. One of the biggest reasons I rely on HTMA is that it reveals two foundational issues that sit beneath almost every chronic symptom pattern: low cellular energy and hidden toxicity.
Energy is the currency that runs every process in the body. When energy drops, detoxification slows down, hormones lose their rhythm, digestion weakens, and the nervous system becomes unstable. At the same time, accumulated toxins place additional stress on the body, further lowering energy and creating a cycle of fatigue, inflammation, and dysfunction.
This is a common presentation. People in their 20s, 30s, and even teenagers are already experiencing a relative level of burnout due to the stressors of modern living. Their bodies are running in a kind of adaptive survival mode, just enough energy to keep going but not enough to truly heal. Early signs of this pattern often include feeling tired in the morning, an afternoon crash between 2 and 5 p.m., and a growing reliance on caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and chocolate to get through the day. Other subtle signs include growing apathy and a lack of “zest” for life. Over time, this low-energy state sets the stage for more significant health issues.
The physiological basis for this has been well described for decades. Hans Selye, often referred to as the “father of stress research,” outlined what he called the General Adaptation Syndrome, which describes how the body moves through alarm, resistance, and eventually exhaustion when stress becomes chronic. At first, the body speeds up metabolism and hormone output to meet demand. But as stress persists, energy reserves become depleted, and the body begins to downshift to conserve what remains.
This is where the work of Dr. Paul Eck becomes especially relevant. He recognized that we can measure how the body is adapting to stress through a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA). He observed that mineral ratios correlate closely with Selye’s stages of stress. Dr. George Watson and later Dr. Lawrence Wilson expanded on this by showing that people can be classified into different oxidation types, which reflect how fast or slow their metabolism is burning fuel. These oxidation patterns mirror adrenal and thyroid activity and give us deeper insight into how stress is being expressed physiologically.
HTMA and oxidation rate patterns provide valuable guidance on ideal dietary and lifestyle strategies, as well as targeted nutritional support. This is where mineral balancing comes in. By restoring key ratios and improving metabolic efficiency, people often begin to experience more stable energy, better sleep, and an overall improvement in their sense of well-being. In my practice, I use HTMA as a foundation for most clients, alongside protocols to heal the gut and support detoxification pathways.
• Identifies metabolic type (fast, slow, or mixed) and stress stage.
• Reveals mineral imbalances and heavy metals before blood tests do.
• Guides personalized dietary, lifestyle, and nutritional strategies.
• Forms the foundation of tailored mineral balancing programs.
• Affordable and accessible for long-term use.
• Non-invasive and provides a longer-term view of body chemistry.
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