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...

My favorite Dan quote of the episode: "Who eats first = the microbes eat first (the microbes are the people in your colon)."

The Nutrient Density Connection: Dan Kittredge on Soil Health and Human Wellness

In this episode of Rewilded Wellness, I had the privilege of speaking with Dan Kittredge, a lifelong farmer, educator, and founder of the Bionutrient Food Association. Our conversation delved into the often-overlooked connection between the quality of our soil and the epidemic of health challenges we face today.

The Hidden Crisis in Our Food System

Dan opened our discussion with a stark reality that many of us intuitively sense but may not fully understand: truly nutrient-dense food has become increasingly difficult to find. Despite grocery stores brimming with visually appealing produce, the nutritional content of today's conventionally grown foods pales in comparison to what our ancestors consumed.

"The nutrition labeling system we rely on is both inaccurate and woefully outda...

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...

The Dirt on Humic Supplements: A Rewilded Perspective

Do You Really Need Those Spendy Humic/Fulvic Supplements? My Rewilding Journey

Scrolling through my social media lately, I couldn't help but notice the explosion of trendy humic and fulvic acid supplements promising everything from gut healing to cellular repair. With price tags often starting at $30-40+ per bottle, I had to wonder: are we paying premium prices for something our ancestors got for free?

What Are These Magic Dirt Molecules?

Humic and fulvic acids are complex compounds created when bacteria break down plant matter in soil. They're essentially the "communication network" of healthy soil - helping nutrients move between plants, bacteria, and fungi in that rich underground ecosystem we rarely think about.

Our ancestors consumed these compounds daily through unwashed vegetables, drinking from springs, and their generally closer relationship with the earth. Today, with our filtered water and triple-washed produce, we've ...

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...

Spring Equinox & Mineral Foundations: The Missing Link in Your Wellness Journey

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

As the spring equinox approaches, nature is revealing one of its most powerful teachers – the perfect balance point between darkness and light. This isn't just a date on the calendar; it's nature's New Year, a crucial transition that affects every living thing, including your body.

While many of us associate spring with cleansing, renewal, and fresh starts, there's a fundamental aspect of this season that modern wellness approaches often overlook: the critical need for mineral foundations.

This post accompanies my latest podcast episode,"Spring Equinox Wisdom: How to Build Mineral Foundations That Last" where I dive deep into this connection. Here, I'm sharing some key insights and visual tools to complement what you'll hear in the episode.

The Mineral Orchestra: How Elements Work Together in Spring