Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)
Olga Mandic | Bachelor of Science in Naturopathy & Qualified Naturopath in Melbourne’s Bayside
What Is HTMA?
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a safe, non-invasive test that analyses a small sample of hair to assess your body’s mineral balance and overall biochemical health.
At My Natural Clinic, we use HTMA to gain a more stable, long-term view of how your body is functioning, beyond what standard blood tests can reveal. While blood tests provide only a brief snapshot, blood itself must maintain a tightly regulated pH (7.35–7.45).
To keep this balance, the body will draw minerals and vitamins from tissues to buffer any changes, masking underlying fluctuations. This is why blood tests often miss subtle or chronic imbalances in minerals and heavy metals. HTMA, on the other hand, offers a broader perspective.
Your hair follicles are constantly supplied by blood, and over time, hair captures a record of what minerals and heavy metals have been present in your body. This “bird’s-eye view” allows us to detect trends and patterns that reflect your deeper health status, insights that are simply not possible with blood alone.
Why Are Minerals Important?
Minerals are essential for:
- – Energy production
- – Mood regulation
- – Detoxification
- – Hormonal balance
Even subtle shifts in mineral balance can have a significant impact on your wellbeing. HTMA helps us uncover these trends, forming the foundation for a more personalised, natural treatment plan designed to restore balance and support your long-term health.
Book Your Naturopath Telehealth Consultation
Booking a consultation is the first step toward a clearer understanding of your health and a plan that’s completely tailored to you. Sessions are easy to schedule and available at times that suit your lifestyle, with flexible options to meet from the comfort of your own space.
What Can HTMA Reveal?
HTMA provides valuable insights into a wide range of underlying health factors, including:
- Mineral Deficiencies – such as magnesium, zinc, calcium, or selenium
- Mineral Excesses – which may impair absorption or create toxicity
- Heavy Metal Toxicity – including lead, mercury, arsenic, aluminium
- Metabolic Typing – slow or fast oxidation patterns affecting energy, stress, and weight
- Stress Patterns – adrenal function indicators
- Thyroid Health - thyroid function indicators
- Hidden Imbalances – that may contribute to fatigue, anxiety, hormonal issues, or immune dysfunction
By interpreting your HTMA results through a naturopathic lens, we can tailor your care to meet your body’s unique needs, empowering you to take meaningful steps toward lasting wellness.
Who Is HTMA For?
HTMA is ideal for anyone experiencing:
- – Persistent fatigue or burnout
- – Mood swings, irritability, or brain fog
- – Chronic stress or poor sleep
- – Difficulty losing weight
- – Digestive discomfort
- – Skin or hair issues
- – Long-term exposure to environmental toxins or metals
It’s also an excellent preventative tool for those wanting to optimise their health and performance.
Our Process
At My Natural Clinic, we make the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) experience personal, informative, and easy to navigate. Here’s how we guide you through each step:
1. Consultation & Assessment
We start with a one-on-one consultation to understand your health history, current symptoms, and wellness goals. This ensures your care is personalised from the beginning and helps determine if HTMA is the right fit for you.
2. Hair Sample Collection
You’ll receive clear instructions for collecting a small hair sample at home, or we can assist in the clinic. The process is quick and non-invasive, requiring only a small amount from the scalp.
3. Laboratory Testing & Interpretation
Your sample is analysed by a specialised laboratory to assess mineral levels and heavy metal exposure. Once results are in, we interpret them through a naturopathic lens, looking for patterns that reflect your overall health.
4. Personalised Wellness Plan
Based on your results, we create a tailored plan that may include nutritional advice, lifestyle changes, mineral support, and natural therapies to help restore balance and support long-term wellbeing.
We go further by identifying the core sources of excess minerals or heavy metals that may be preventing you from absorbing other nutrients, since minerals compete for absorption, supplementing blindly can be a waste of money.
At My Natural Clinic, we act as detectives to eliminate possible harmful sources and design a supplementation scheme that ensures your body can actually absorb and benefit from the nutrients, rather than excreting them unused.
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Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that starting a new type of testing can bring up a lot of questions, especially when it comes to something as unique as Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions our clients ask about HTMA and how it works at My Natural Clinic. If you’re still unsure about anything, we’re always here to help.
How do I know if HTMA is right for me?
If you're experiencing fatigue, stress, poor sleep, mood changes, or simply want a deeper understanding of your health, HTMA may be a valuable next step. During your initial consultation, we’ll determine if HTMA is suitable based on your symptoms, history, and goals.
Do I need to come into the Bayside clinic to do the test?
No, HTMA can be done entirely from home. We’ll provide detailed instructions for collecting a hair sample yourself, and we can mail the kit to you. If you prefer, we can also assist with collection during an in-clinic appointment at our Bayside nautopathic clinic in Melbourne.
Can I book HTMA without a consultation?
HTMA is only offered as part of a naturopathic consultation at My Natural Clinic. This ensures your results are interpreted within the full context of your health and that any recommendations are personalised, safe, and effective.
How long will it take to get my results back?
Once your hair sample reaches the lab, results usually take around 10–14 business days. We’ll schedule a follow-up consultation as soon as they’re available to review your results and discuss your personalised plan.
What kinds of recommendations will I get from the test?
Your wellness plan may include mineral supplementation, dietary adjustments, detox support, and lifestyle strategies—all designed specifically for your body’s needs, based on both your HTMA results and your broader health picture.
Is HTMA covered by Medicare or private health?
HTMA is not currently covered by Medicare. Some private health funds may provide rebates for the consultation portion depending on your coverage. We can provide an invoice for claiming if eligible.
What other health issues can HTMA find out?
- Detox Pathways
- Allergies
- Depression
- Blood Pressure
- Immune Function
- Fatigue
- Sleep Patterns
- Sugar Handling and Insulin Resistance
- Fluid Retention
- Hormonal Balances
- Skin Issues
- Early Stages of Osteopenia (leading to osteoporosis)
- Iron Deficiency
- Quality of Digestion
Meet Olga Mandic
Hello! I’m Olga Mandic, a naturopath, passionate wellness advocate, and founder of My Natural Clinic here in Melbourne’s Bayside. With a deep respect for both natural and evidence-based medicine, I help individuals and families reconnect with their health in a way that feels clear, empowering, and sustainable.
My approach to naturopathy is grounded in science, guided by compassion, and tailored to you. I believe in listening first, truly understanding your health history, lifestyle, and goals, and then designing a treatment plan that fits your unique needs, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
As a mother of three, I know firsthand how hard it can be to put your own health first, and how powerful it is when you do. I work with a wide range of clients, supporting everything from chronic fatigue, gut health, and hormonal imbalances, to everyday stress and preventative wellness, using nutrition, herbal medicine, and lifestyle support to bring balance back to the body.
Other Functional & Diagnostic Testing we offer
At My Natural Clinic, we offer a range of functional and diagnostic tests to uncover the root causes of your symptoms and guide your personalised wellness plan.
Evaluates gut bacteria, inflammation, digestion, and nutrient absorption.
Organic Acids Test (OAT)
A urine test that reveals metabolic function, gut overgrowth, detox status, and nutrient deficiencies.
Neurotransmitter Testing
Measures levels of brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine that affect mood, energy, and sleep.
DUTCH Hormone Test
Advanced analysis of adrenal and sex hormones and their metabolites (ideal for adrenal fatigue, PCOS, and oestrogen dominance).
Comprehensive Thyroid Testing
Includes TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies for a full picture of thyroid health.
Food Sensitivities & Allergy Testing
Identifies food or environmental triggers behind digestive issues, fatigue, or skin conditions.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
A blood test assessing glucose, electrolytes, kidney/liver function, and early signs of metabolic dysfunction.
Standard & Advanced Pathology Testing
Blood testing for nutrient levels, hormone balance, inflammation, and organ health—interpreted through a naturopathic lens.
Gain a more stable, long-term view of how your body is functioning, beyond what standard blood tests can reveal.
