Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) provides a long-term information of how your tissues process electrolytes. It accurately evaluates sodium stored in the body’s cells and tissues. Tissue sodium acts as a key indicator of adrenal gland activity and the body’s stress response, rather than a direct measurement of your dietary salt intake.

Sodium is a very important mineral considered in HTMA. It plays a significant role in the body, often paired with potassium. Stress increases sodium levels in acute situations, but sodium may later drop if stress persists and becomes chronic. High sodium levels relative to potassium are also a strong indicator of inflammation. Both excess sodium and severe sodium deficiency are linked to heightened stress and altered cortisol levels.

Blood pressure is also regulated by the adrenal glands. The hormone aldosterone, released by the adrenal glands, regulates blood pressure by managing sodium and potassium levels in the blood. Blood pressure is a complex disorder and not all cases of high blood pressure are caused by high sodium intake, as is commonly thought. It’s possible to have high blood pressure with low blood sodium levels, as well as low sodium on an HTMA. Finding out both your blood and HTMA sodium levels is vital, providing additional, significant information that blood sodium levels alone do not.

Symptoms of High Tissue Sodium Levels:

• Excitability and heightened stress response
• Fluid retention and edema
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Fast oxidation (burning through energy and nutrients quickly)
• Inflammation
• Increased blood pressure
• Sodium may be elevated by toxic metals, particularly mercury (you can find this out through HTMA testing)
• Headaches

Symptoms of Low Tissue Sodium Levels:

• Exhaustion due to depletion of the body’s primary electrolyte resource
• Weakened adrenal function
• Slow oxidation and sluggish metabolism (the body is burning energy at a reduced rate)
• Dizziness, muscle weakness, brain fog
• Chronic stress
• Fatigue
• Low stomach acid
• Low blood pressure
• Headaches

Important Mineral Ratios

In HTMA, the relationship between sodium and other minerals is just as important as the sodium level itself.

• Sodium / Potassium Ratio (Na/K): This is a primary indicator of stress. A higher than ideal ratio signals acute stress and inflammation, while a heavily inverted or low ratio typically points to chronic exhaustion.
• Sodium / Magnesium Ratio (NA/Mg): This is referred to as the adrenal gland ratio. An optimal ratio is essential for maintaining cellular health, metabolic function, and physiological balance. A higher than ideal ratio can point to conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular issues and stress, whereas a low Na/Mg ratio may indicate adrenal insufficiency and exhaustion.

Diane Bousquin of Vital Changes has been offering acupuncture, functional medicine, and nutritional therapies to the La Jolla, CA community since 2003. She has become an expert in HTMA and considers it a significant diagnostic tool in her practice, running it for 80% of her acupuncture patients.

For more information on HTMA and hair mineral analysis testing in La Jolla, CA, check out our additional blogs.

Interested in testing your sodium levels using HTMA? Text or call Diane at 619-808-2364 for more information or book an appointment online.