In this episode of our podcast, we had the incredible opportunity to connect with Amber MacDonald, a seasoned NTP and RWS Level 3 practitioner. She is also the first Instant HTMA Professional student we’ve had the privilege to feature on a Test Don’t Guess chat!
During our conversation, we embarked on a journey through her experience with RWS and dove deep into the world of diverse testing methodologies. She shared her profound passion for running HTMA tests on every client, shedding light on the invaluable insights it provides.
I could not rely on anyone else to heal me…
Time Stamps
1:22-2:29
MacDonald starts by sharing how she got into the functional medicine space and how her health issues and complications inspired her passion for providing health services and convinced her that she needed to be part of the healthcare sector.
3:04-5:40
Here, she talks about her experience with RWS and the hands-on help and community it provided. Further, she shares some of the prerequisites for doing RWS and her favorite parts of it.
5:42-8:19
Amber discusses the importance of HTMA tests and how she runs them on most of her clients. She also explains to us the ‘why’ behind this practice.
8:21-11:05
In this segment, MacDonald discusses thyroid, HTMA, blood work, and patterns of mineral and nutrition deficiencies particularly in cases of female clients.
13:27-16:59
Here, we address the importance of HTMA in pregnancy, and how it can be helpful as a tracking monitor for women who want to understand their bodies pre and post-pregnancy.
21:58-24:00
Amber answers a popularly asked question during this time about the kinds of tools that best complement HTMA, followed by a detailed conversation on incredibly helpful books written on human physiology.
Key Takeaways
#1 HTMA Sets The Foundation
HTMA provides a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s mineral profile, reflecting their body’s mineral retention, excretion, and overall mineral status. These findings are pivotal for evaluating mineral imbalances or deficiencies. By studying mineral patterns in hair, HTMA offers insights into a person’s nutritional status and reveals if an individual is obtaining a sufficient intake of vital minerals through their diet or supplementation.
#2 Sometimes You Need To Unlearn To Learn
When you are on a mission to gain knowledge and experience personal or professional growth, you will come across certain things that will require you to unlearn past beliefs or methods to make room for new, more accurate, and effective ones. This process of reassessment and unlearning is essential for your personal and professional development and allows you as an individual to expand your perspective. It is also important to keep in mind that in a rapidly changing world, information can quickly become outdated and in such cases, unlearning becomes necessary to let go of obsolete data.
Memorable Quotes
“I think we are just a generation of women who are not eating enough, it’s just engrained in us.”
If you loved this episode as much as I did, follow amber for more Amber MacDonald | HTMA Mentor, Functional Nutritionist (@empowered.digestive.health) • Instagram photos and videos
If you’re interested in learning more about functional lab testing, how to interpret them, and how incorporating labs can help boost your confidence, make sure to check out our podcast and stay informed about the latest developments and insights in the healthcare industry!
