Functional Mineral Testing • Carrollton, TX & Telehealth
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis:
Your Long-Term Mineral Picture
Your hair keeps a record of your body’s mineral balance over the past few months. HTMA is a non-invasive lab test that shows mineral levels, key ratios, and possible heavy metal exposure patterns, adding a longer view to your blood work.
Non-Invasive
No Blood Draw
Minerals and Ratios
Heavy Metal Screening
In Office or Home Kit
Telehealth Available
About HTMA
What is hair tissue
What is hair tissue
mineral analysis?
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a lab test that measures the minerals and metals in a small sample of your hair. As hair grows, minerals from your body are built into it, so about 1.5 inches of hair reflects roughly the last 3 months.
A blood test shows what is circulating at one moment, which your body works hard to keep steady. HTMA offers a longer view that may show mineral imbalances, ratios between minerals, and possible heavy metal exposure. Chelsea uses it alongside your symptoms and blood work, not in place of them.
At Orchid Wellness, HTMA is ordered through your $250 functional consultation with Chelsea Asante, FNP-C. The test is billed separately. Your sample can be collected in the Carrollton office or with a home kit, and your results are reviewed live, in person or by telehealth across Texas, New York, Virginia, and Washington DC.
Book Your ConsultationHair Tissue Mineral Analysis
A Long-Term View of
Your Mineral Balance
Your Mineral Balance
A small hair sample from the back of the neck, no needles
Reflects roughly the last 3 months of mineral patterns
Essential minerals, key ratios, and possible heavy metal exposure
Collected in the Carrollton office or with a home kit
Results reviewed live with Chelsea Asante, FNP-C
Starts With Your Functional Consultation
$250
Consultation fee. The HTMA is billed separately. HSA, FSA, and Cherry payment plans accepted.
Hair vs. Blood
Hair and blood
Hair and blood
show different things.
HTMA adds a longer view to your care. It works alongside blood work, not instead of it. Here is what each one does best.
| What is assessed | Blood Test | HTMA |
|---|---|---|
| Time window | One moment in time | ✓About the last 3 months of growth |
| Collection | Needle and blood draw | ✓A small hair sample, no needles |
| Mineral ratios | Not usually reported | ✓Ratios such as calcium to magnesium and sodium to potassium |
| Heavy metals | Shows recent or current exposure | ✓May show possible exposure patterns over time |
| Iron and vitamin levels | ✓Standard way to check them | –Not reliable for these; blood work is still needed |
| Diagnosing deficiency or poisoning | ✓Used for diagnosis | –Does not diagnose; helps guide next steps |
What It Measures
What HTMA
What HTMA
measures.
HTMA looks at essential minerals your body needs and toxic metals it needs to clear. Here are the main groups on your report and why they matter.
Calcium
Supports bones, muscles, nerve signals, and heart rhythm. Hair calcium is read alongside magnesium and other minerals rather than on its own.
May reveal patterns like:
Magnesium
Involved in more than 300 enzyme reactions. Low magnesium may contribute to muscle cramps, poor sleep, and feeling on edge.
May reveal patterns like:
Sodium and Potassium
Help regulate fluid balance, nerve signals, and energy in your cells. Their ratio is often used to look at stress response patterns.
May reveal patterns like:
Zinc and Copper
Zinc and copper balance each other. An imbalance may play a role in immune, skin, mood, and hormone concerns.
May reveal patterns like:
Iron
Essential for carrying oxygen and making energy. Hair iron does not reflect iron stores, so Chelsea uses blood work to check iron.
May reveal patterns like:
Selenium and Chromium
Selenium supports thyroid function and antioxidant defense. Chromium plays a role in blood sugar balance.
May reveal patterns like:
Mercury and Lead
Metals with no helpful role in the body. Higher hair levels may point to exposure worth looking into further.
May reveal patterns like:
Arsenic and Cadmium
Environmental metals that can come from food, water, smoke, and air. Ongoing low-level exposure may affect overall health.
May reveal patterns like:
Mineral Ratios
HTMA reports how minerals compare to each other, such as calcium to magnesium and sodium to potassium. Ratios often say more than single levels.
May reveal patterns like:
Who It’s For
When symptoms keep
When symptoms keep
going unexplained.
Fatigue and Brain Fog
Ongoing tiredness, trouble concentrating, or memory lapses that rest hasn’t fixed.
Mood and Sleep
Anxiety, low mood, or poor sleep where mineral balance may be part of the picture.
Hair, Skin, and Nails
Hair thinning, slow-healing skin, or brittle nails without a clear cause.
Blood Sugar and Cravings
Energy dips and strong cravings, where minerals like chromium and magnesium may play a role.
Thyroid and Hormone Concerns
As one piece of the picture alongside thyroid and hormone blood work.
Possible Metal Exposure
Older homes, well water, certain jobs or hobbies, or a diet high in certain fish. If a significant exposure is suspected, Chelsea also orders blood or urine testing.
The Process
From consultation
From consultation
to answers.
01
Book Your Consultation
Book your $250 functional consultation and complete your intake through your patient portal. Chelsea determines whether the HTMA is right for you. The test is billed separately.
02
Collect Your Sample
About 1.5 inches of hair is cut close to the scalp at the back of the neck, either in the Carrollton office or at home with a kit. It takes about a minute and doesn’t hurt.
03
Lab Analysis
Your sample is mailed to the lab for a full mineral and metal profile. Results typically return in about 2 to 3 weeks.
04
Live Results Review
Chelsea reviews your results with you and builds a nutrition, supplement, and lifestyle plan that fits your broader care.
The MySWANS™ Connection
HTMA informs the
HTMA informs the
whole-person picture.
The MySWANS™ framework (Sleep, Water, Activity, Nutrition, and Stress Management) is at the core of Chelsea’s care. HTMA informs the Nutrition pillar and can point to mineral patterns tied to Sleep and Stress Management, so your plan is more targeted.
Before You Collect
How to prepare.
- Wash your hair with your regular shampoo the day before. On collection day, skip conditioner, oils, gels, and sprays.
- If you color, bleach, relax, perm, or straighten your hair, tell Chelsea. She may ask you to wait a few weeks after a treatment or use untreated hair.
- Braids, locs, and wigs are fine. The sample comes from your own hair close to the scalp, and other body hair can be used if needed.
- Dandruff shampoos with selenium or zinc can raise readings. Tell Chelsea if you use one, since she may ask you to pause it first.
- Keep taking your prescribed medications, and let Chelsea know about any supplements you take.
- For home kits, follow the kit instructions closely and use clean stainless steel scissors.
Good to Know
Results, cost, and safety.
- Results typically return in about 2 to 3 weeks after the lab receives your sample.
- Functional testing is direct-pay and not typically covered by insurance. HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
- Home kits are mailed to patients in Texas, New York, Virginia, and Washington DC.
Please note: HTMA shows mineral patterns and possible heavy metal exposure. It does not diagnose mineral deficiencies, heavy metal poisoning, or other medical conditions, and it does not replace blood work. If a significant exposure such as lead is suspected, Chelsea will order blood or urine testing.
Explore All Functional Tests
Other testing available
Other testing available
at Orchid Wellness.
The HTMA is one of several functional tests available through your $250 functional consultation. Learn about functional wellness
HTMA
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
Mineral levels and ratios, plus possible heavy metal exposure patterns, from a small hair sample.
You are here
DUTCH Complete
DUTCH Complete Hormone Panel
One of the most comprehensive functional hormone tests: sex hormones, cortisol rhythm, melatonin, and metabolites.
Learn more ›
DUTCH Adrenal
DUTCH Adrenal Panel
Cortisol and DHEA across the day to show how your stress response (HPA axis) is functioning.
Learn more ›
GI-MAP
GI-MAP Stool Analysis
DNA-based gut assessment covering the microbiome, pathogens, inflammation, and digestion.
Learn more ›
IgG / IgA
Food Sensitivity Panel
Delayed food reactivity that can guide a structured elimination and reintroduction plan.
Learn more ›
OAT
Organic Acids Test
Urine-based look at energy production, neurotransmitter metabolites, B vitamins, and yeast markers.
Learn more ›
Micronutrient
Intracellular Micronutrient Panel
Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids measured at the cellular level.
Learn more ›
MTHFR
MTHFR and Methylation Panel
Genetic variants in your methylation pathway, interpreted alongside homocysteine, folate, and B12.
Learn more ›
Frequently Asked Questions
HTMA FAQ
No. HTMA measures minerals and metals in your hair. It does not test for medications, drugs, or alcohol.
Yes. Coloring, bleaching, relaxers, perms, and straightening can affect some readings, so Chelsea will ask about your hair care. She may ask you to wait a few weeks after a treatment, or use untreated hair from another area.
Yes. The sample is cut from your own hair close to the scalp at the back of the neck. If there isn’t enough scalp hair, other body hair can be used.
No. HTMA adds a longer view of mineral patterns and possible metal exposure. Blood work is still needed for many things, including iron, vitamin levels, and diagnosing any deficiency or poisoning.
Yes. Your intake is completed online, your hair sample can be collected with a home kit, and your results review can be by telehealth in Texas, New York, Virginia, and Washington DC, or in person in Carrollton.
Results typically return in about 2 to 3 weeks after the lab receives your sample. Once they are in, you meet with Chelsea for your live results review.
If you are following a mineral plan, Chelsea may suggest rechecking in about 3 to 4 months to see how your patterns are changing. She will recommend timing based on your results and goals.
Functional testing is generally direct-pay. HSA and FSA cards are accepted, and Cherry payment plans are available to eligible patients.
Ready to Go Deeper
Your body keeps a record.
Let’s read it together.
Your $250 functional consultation is your starting point. Chelsea will determine whether the HTMA is right for you, and the test is billed separately. Results reviews are in person in Carrollton, Texas or by telehealth across Texas, New York, Virginia, and Washington DC.
Book your first available appointment at app.myorchidwellness.com, or call or text (469) 892-0194. Have your legal first and last name, email, and phone number ready.
Book Your $250 Consultation by state
Functional consultations and testing are direct-pay. HSA and FSA cards accepted. Payment plans are offered through Cherry and are subject to approval. Rates range from 0% to 35.99% APR based on eligibility. Cherry is not the lender.