Many consider food to be the best medicine: What you put into your body through your digestive system has an effect on the whole, whether positive or negative. That means you can literally eat your way to better health by finding out what you have in excess and what you’re lacking in your system, and balancing your nutrition to bring your entire body into harmony.
From her medical office in Columbia, Missouri, Bonnie S. Friehling, MD provides hair mineral analysis and nutritional balancing to help you live a healthier, more holistic lifestyle.
The basics of hair tissue mineral analysis
The concept of using hair tissue mineral analysis, or hTMA, for nutritional benefits was developed by Dr. Paul Eck and Dr. David L. Watts during the ‘70s and ‘80s. Together, they came up with the complete guide to nutritional balancing, and after Dr. Eck’s death, Dr. Watts went on to establish the Trace Elements Laboratory.
Since then, hTMA has been used for hundreds of thousands of patients to accurately identify which trace minerals are present in their bodies and in what concentrations. Dr. Friehling conducts sampling and arranges for testing of your own hair follicle, to determine your body’s:
- Individual chemistry
- Stress-handling process
- Oxidation rate
- Energy production
- Digestive issues
- Adrenal and thyroid activity
- Toxin levels
Once your hair analysis test is complete, we have a baseline for you. We document your deficiencies or overabundances of different minerals, and Dr. Freihling moves onto the next step in your nutritional balancing plan.
Customized nutritional therapy
Once you know what your levels are and where they need to be, you can start eating the right foods in the right amounts to optimize your health.
Fertility and pregnancy
Nutrition is crucial when you’re trying to get pregnant and during your months of pregnancy and/or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, Dr. Friehling highly recommends a hair mineral test and nutritional balancing program. As part of a balanced lifestyle with appropriate exercise and mental health, you can optimize your overall wellbeing and prepare your body for pregnancy. Your growing baby will also benefit from your holistic dietary plan.
Children’s gut health
Researchers think a good diet helps children manage gastrointestinal symptoms associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder as well as ADHD or ADD. You can also bring your child in for a hair mineral analysis to help identify nutritional deficiencies and toxicities and create a nutrition balancing plan for their ongoing health.
To learn more about hair mineral analysis and nutritional balancing, call the office at 573-446-1200, or book an appointment online today.