HairTissue Mineral Analysis Case Study: Uncovering Hidden Vagus Nerve Patterns

In this detailed case study demonstration, I analyze how specific mineral patterns revealed through hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) directly impact vagus nerve function and can explain persistent, complex health challenges that don't respond to standard protocols.

What You'll Discover in This Video:

I walk through a real client case showing the connection between mineral imbalances and chronic symptoms, particularly focusing on:

- How a "Fast Four" pattern (depleted calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium) creates a sympathetic dominant state that undermines vagus nerve function

- The critical relationship between copper metabolism, molybdenum, and proper neurotransmitter signaling

- Why elevated sulfur-to-copper ratios can significantly impair detoxification after mold exposure

- The direct correlation between mineral imbalances and menstrual cycle irregularities

- How tracking speci...

The Vagus Nerve Connection: Beyond Simple Exercises

Highlights from my latest podcast episode exploring the functional approach to vagus nerve health

*Listen to the episode on the Rewilded Wellness podcast, available on: 

iTunes HERE 
Spotify HERE
On YouTube HERE 

While there's a lot of buzz about vagus nerve exercises lately - from cold plunges to humming - this podcast episode explores a deeper perspective. What if those simple exercises are only scratching the surface? What if your mineral patterns, gut dysbiosis, mold exposure, or even physical misalignments are blocking your vagal function?

Let's dive into the functional testing approaches that can reveal why your vagus nerve might be struggling, and what you can do about it.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis: The Mineral Connection

Your vagus nerve functions like your body's electrical system, and minerals are the conductors. Here's what we look for on an HTMA:

- Calcium/Magnesium Ratio: When calcium dominates excessively ov...

Whole Food B Vitamins: Beyond Supplements

After analyzing a recent client's HTMA results and learning about their homozygous MTHFR gene mutation, it became clear why synthetic B vitamins weren't the right fit. For those with methylation challenges, the full spectrum of nutrients that accompany whole food B vitamins offers significant advantages over isolated synthetic versions. Honestly, I think we all would do best to avoid synthetic supplements in the name of holistic health & wellness. 

The Microbiome Connection to B Vitamins

What many people don't realize is that our gut microbiome produces approximately 30-40% of our B vitamins. This remarkable fact highlights why prebiotic foods are essential for optimal B vitamin status. By nourishing our beneficial gut bacteria, we enable them to produce these vital nutrients for us.

Wild Foods: Nature's B Vitamin Powerhouses

Wild foraged foods offer significantly higher B vitamin content than their cultivated counterparts. Wild greens lik...

Arsenic in Rice: Testing, Safer Brands, and Preparation Methods

Recent hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) results from a client showed increased arsenic levels alongside decreased selenium. This pattern emerged after they increased their rice consumption during winter months, using both a premium brand and bulk rice from Costco. This case study illustrates the importance of understanding arsenic exposure through common foods and how to mitigate risks.

Understanding Arsenic Forms and Rice Exposure

There are two primary forms of arsenic found in our environment:

Inorganic arsenic (arsenite and arsenate) is the predominant form found in rice. This form is classified as a Class 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and poses significant health concerns with long-term exposure. Inorganic arsenic is more readily absorbed by the body and more difficult to excrete.

Organic arsenic compounds (like arsenobetaine and arsenocholine), commonly found in seafood, are g...

The Cell Membrane Revolution: A Cautionary Note

In recent years, we've witnessed a welcome shift in health optimization circles—attention has turned toward cellular health, particularly the integrity of cell membranes. As practitioners and health enthusiasts recognize that healthy cells create healthy bodies, phosphatidylcholine (PC) supplements have gained tremendous popularity.

The trend began gaining serious momentum around 2017-2018, but has exploded since 2020 as functional and integrative medicine increasingly focused on root-cause approaches. Companies like BodyBio, with their PC liquid and softgels, have been at the forefront of this movement, along with other brands like Quicksilver Scientific, Pure Encapsulations, and Designs for Health. The rise of lipid-replacement therapy as a concept has pushed these supplements from specialized clinical settings into mainstream wellness spaces.

And for good reason: phosphatidylcholine is a crucial component of every cell membrane in y...

Mineral Foundations: Horsetail, Silica & Your Structure 

Listen to the full episode on iTunes 
Listen to the full episode on Spotify 
Find the episode on YouTube 

*The following blog is a summary of what I shared in the podcast, there is much more depth in the episode you won't want to miss. 

The Ancient Wisdom of Horsetail: A Silica-Rich Foundation for Structural Health

There's something truly magical about working with a plant that dinosaurs once walked among. Horsetail (*Equisetum arvense*) has remained virtually unchanged for over 300 million years, making it one of our most ancient plant allies and a living fossil connecting us to Earth's primordial wisdom.

In my practice and personal healing journey, horsetail has become a foundational herb I return to again and again, particularly for its exceptional silica content. As the tissue salt traditionally associated with Sagittarius energy, silica provides that perfect balance of flexibility within strong boundaries—something many o...

 Season 2: Episode #3: Vitamin E: The Seasonal Key to Cellular Repair and Mineral Balance

Listen on iTunes HERE
Listen on Spotify HERE
YouTube HERE

In today's world of processed oils and year-round food availability, we've lost touch with one of our ancestors' most crucial nutritional patterns: seasonal consumption of complete vitamin E complex foods. As a mineral balancing practitioner, I've discovered that returning to these ancestral eating patterns provides powerful support for cellular repair, particularly for clients recovering from years of damaged fat consumption—just one of the many modern challenges we face, but the one I'm highlighting today.

As we transition into spring, I'm adjusting my own food and supplements based on my latest HTMA results—a practice I follow each season. This approach aligns with my personal rewilding journey and the core philosophy of rewilded wellness: slowing down, creating space, and restoring connection to what truly matters.

Many of us...

The Missing Piece: How Mineral Imbalances Impact Sensory Processing and Development in Children

For years as a nutritional therapist, I've watched parents struggle to find answers for their children with sensory processing challenges and developmental delays. They've tried occupational therapy, behavioral approaches, and countless interventions—all valuable pieces of the puzzle, but often missing a fundamental component: the biochemical foundation that influences how a child's sensory system functions and how they develop cognitively and physically.

Looking Beyond Behavior to Biochemistry

What I've discovered in my practice is that sensory processing and developmental delays aren't just about neural pathways—they're about the cellular environment those neural pathways exist in. When a child seems overwhelmed by tags in clothing, has trouble meeting physical milestones, struggles with language acquisition, or can't regulate their responses to the world around them, we need to ask: wh...

 Season 2: Episode #2: Spring Clean Your Health: Transitioning from Winter to Spring

Listen on iTunes HERE
Listen on Spotify HERE
YouTube HERE

As we stand just two weeks away from the official start of spring, I find myself in the midst of a familiar dance – transitioning away from winter habits and embracing the freshness of the upcoming season. This shift isn't just about changing our wardrobes; it's a full-body recalibration that affects how we eat, move, and feel.

Every time we enter a new season, our bodies need time to adjust. Spring, in particular, offers a beautiful opportunity to shed the heaviness of winter and embrace lighter, cleansing foods. It's nature's way of hitting the reset button, and I'm here to guide you through this transition.

In my household, we're in the thick of this winter-to-spring dance. On cold, rainy days (like today on the East Coast), we still crave those warming winter foods. But there's also an undeniable pull towards freshness – those vibrant g...