About Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis
Your hair is a living tissue at the root that uptakes and stores various essential and trace mineral levels. Those minerals are the same ones used in your cells' ~1 billion biochemical reactions per second (1,2).
Hair can also uptake toxic heavy metals (2)!
A Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) test uses a sample of your hair to discover the unique levels of minerals and other elements, such as heavy metals, present in the hair sample over the last several months of hair growth.
Minerals are the building blocks to:
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Produce energy
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Transmit nerve impulses
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Contract muscles
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Defend the body from illness
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Build hormones
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And more (3,4)!
All of these processes are an important part of maintaining "homeostasis" or the state of being where your body is able to function optimally for its environment (5). If you don’t get enough minerals in the right balance, then your cells might struggle to perform all the chemical reactions they need to at the right time, in the right amount, with the right substances, possibly contributing to a disruption in homeostasis (5). For example, the body must prioritize a certain level of potassium in the blood so that the heart will beat. If the blood level drops below normal levels, then the body will take potassium from cellular stores to keep blood levels normal for as long as possible, potentially creating a deficiency pattern if not eventually corrected (6). Similar issues can occur with the body pulling calcium from bones, potentially creating weakness, to keep blood levels steadier (7). If you are also exposed to certain metals, these metals can “act” like a mineral and displace the essential minerals in critical processes, causing damage and stress. For example, the body can mistake lead for the essential mineral calcium, resulting in lead being deposited in the bones or soft tissues like the liver (8) and creating toxicity. Issues at the cellular level can then potentially scale up to affect the larger body, contributing to disruptions of homeostasis and laying the groundwork for possible medical conditions (5). Like an increasingly tangled knot, the body can lay down layers of compensation strategies to “keep the lights on” as it paces toward burnout (7). The more time you’ve spent trying to compensate for an imbalance, the more knots to untangle.
Get HTMA Testing Done Right
Select each tab to learn how our HTMA testing uses advanced tech, standardized sample collection, and next-level data analysis for a comprehensive review.
The Credentials
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We work with a certified vendor, Analytical Research Labs, which was founded by Dr. Paul C. Eck, who put hair tissue mineral analysis and mineral balancing on the map.
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Our partner lab has been performing hair tissue mineral analysis for over 50 years.
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ARL is a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) Certified Laboratory (CLIA #03D0641886) and works only with licensed healthcare practitioners (8).
The DOC Difference: Medicine, Nutrition, and the Holistic Approach
It's not just the testing that makes us different:
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The licensure:
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Dr. Davis is an internal medicine physician.
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She combines the best of Western medicine and precision technology with timeless integrative medicine.
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The nutritional education:
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Dr. Davis was a registered dietitian before she became a physician.
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This experience gives her further insight into lifestyle and nutrition that many licensed doctors do not have.
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The 360-degree approach:
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Dr. Davis reviews your hair mineral analysis results alongside (if provided) your medical records and known prescriptions/supplements.
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Lindsey Davis, D.O., MBA, RD
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The comprehensive follow-up:
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Our approach is fully personalized to you. Dr. Davis can also order labs or make referrals as part of your consultation follow-up.
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The recommended supplements:
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When appropriate to prescribe supplements, we partner with supplement companies that are third-party verified for purity and quality.
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Our HTMA Packages
Whether you're a new or established patient with Dr. Davis, our HTMA package always includes:
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40-60 page report including graphed results for your mineral and metal levels
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Integrative Internal Medicine Consult with Dr. Davis (in-person or telehealth options available) to review results and discuss recommendations (55-min for new patient, 30-min for retests)
Any supplements recommended as a result of your individual hair analysis can be purchased at an additional cost. Some supplements may contain animal-derived ingredients, so please share any dietary restrictions.
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FAQs
1. How do I pay?
You can pay in-person, online, or over the phone (if you ask our AI agent for the "front desk" during the call). Our HIPAA-compliant online payment link requires you to enter the amount you're paying and some basic identifying information to connect that payment to your chart.
2. If I pay online, what happens next?
The front desk will typically email you the official hair analysis order forms and instructions within 1 business day. If you have any questions or have not heard back after 1 business day, please call and ask our AI Agent for the "front desk." Purchases made over the weekend will be addressed no later than Tuesday morning (barring special holidays).
3. How is my consult scheduled once I pay?
All HTMA consults are scheduled manually by the front desk to account for your time to get a hair sample sent, and for our partner lab to complete testing. The front desk will use the phone number you provide during payment to schedule with you via a text and/or a call.
4. If I am a new patient (never seen Dr. Davis before), what can I expect after paying?
We're excited to welcome you to our clinic! In addition to the hair analysis order forms and instructions, you will receive a second email with our e-sign digital intake forms. Please complete those prior to your consult with Dr. Davis.
5. Do I get a copy of my results?
Yes! Once we receive your report, we email you a copy. We typically send it ahead of your consult so you can review and prepare any questions for Dr. Davis.
6. Can I purchase if I live outside of Indiana or Ohio (where Dr. Davis has a license to practice)?
You can purchase an HTMA package, but Dr. Davis would need to see you in-person for the consult.
7. Can I start with an HTMA consult and receive other services later?
Absolutely! We are still accepting patients for other services, and the HTMA package is a great way to get real-time care from Dr. Davis to determine whether you'd like to receive other forms of care.
Have other questions? Give us a call at 317-576-3211 and ask our AI Agent for the "front desk." If our front desk is not available, please leave a voicemail. We'll get back to you as soon as we can during standard business hours.
Mineral Educational Research and Sources
1. Living Cell as a Self-Synchronized Chemical Reactor: J Phys Chem Lett. 2024 Mar 25;15(13):3559–3570. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00190
2. Namkoong S, Hong SP, Kim MH, Park BC. Reliability on intra-laboratory and inter-laboratory data of hair mineral analysis comparing with blood analysis. Ann Dermatol. 2013;25(1):67-72. doi:10.5021/ad.2013.25.1.67
3. Minerals. MedlinePlus. Updated April 2, 2026. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/minerals.html
4. Weyh C, Krüger K, Peeling P, Castell L. The Role of Minerals in the Optimal Functioning of the Immune System. Nutrients. 2022;14(3):644. Published 2022 Feb 2. doi:10.3390/nu14030644
5. Libretti S, Puckett Y. Physiology, Homeostasis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; January 2026. Updated May 1, 2023. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559138/
5. Gramala Z, Kalus O, Maćkowiak J, et al. Essential and Toxic Elements in Cardiovascular Disease: Pathophysiological Roles and the Emerging Contribution of Hair Mineral Analysis. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(24):12145. Published 2025 Dec 17. doi:10.3390/ijms262412145
6. Essential nutrients your body needs for building bone. Harvard Health. Published January 1, 2022. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging-and-longevity/essential-nutrients-your-body-needs-for-building-bone
7. Rădulescu A, Lundgren S. A pharmacokinetic model of lead absorption and calcium competitive dynamics. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):14225. Published 2019 Oct 2. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-50654-7
8. What is a hair tissue mineral analysis? Analytical Research Labs. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://arltma.com/faq/
9. Mineral patterns: calcium/phosphorus ratio. Analytical Research Labs. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://arltma.com/newsletters/mineral-patterns-calcium-to-phosphorus-ratio/
10. Shamberger RJ. Validity of hair mineral testing. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2002;87(1-3):1-28. doi:10.1385/BTER:87:1-3:001
11. Analytical Research Labs. The validity of hair analysis. Analytical Research Labs website. Accessed September 10, 2026. https://arltma.com/newsletters/the-validity-of-hair-analysis/
12. Seidel S, Kreutzer R, Smith D, McNeel S, Gilliss D. Assessment of commercial laboratories performing hair mineral analysis. JAMA. 2001;285(1):67-72. doi:10.1001/jama.285.1.67
The preceding statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. Referenced articles are provided for educational and informational purposes.