What Is Integrative
Mineral Balancing (InMB)?

Integrative Mineral Balancing (InMB) is a clinical approach developed by John Bumpus that uses Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) to guide personalised support for long-term health. It’s not about treating diagnoses or chasing deficiencies; it’s about restoring your mineral reserves and improving your body’s adaptability to stress.

InMB focuses on what your body needs to rebuild, not simply what it lacks on paper. It’s a whole-person model that respects your body’s inner priorities and natural pace of recovery. Because every human body depends on the same fundamental mineral processes, this approach can benefit almost anyone, from those seeking to maintain good health to those addressing long-standing imbalances. The focus is always on building a stable foundation, regardless of age or current health status.

Here’s how InMB takes a structured, whole-person approach to mineral balancing:

This approach helps you work with your body’s intelligence, not against it.

The Principle Behind It:

Biological Replacement of Elements Theory

Mineral wheel diagram showing antagonistic relationships between elements like calcium, lead, zinc, cadmium, and mercury, based on the Biological Replacement of Elements Theory (BRET).

Click image to learn more about the BRET Nutrient-Toxic Metal Antagonism Wheel

One of the core scientific foundations behind InMB is the Biological Replacement of Elements Theory (BRET).

BRET explains how the body substitutes preferred minerals with less preferred (often toxic) elements when nutritional resources are lacking. These substitutions may keep us alive in the short term but come at the cost of long-term health and resilience.

For example:

  • Lead can replace calcium in bones

  • Cadmium can replace zinc in enzyme systems

  • Mercury can occupy sites normally reserved for selenium

Rather than forcefully removing these elements through chelation or harsh detox methods, InMB works to replenish the preferred elements so the body can release the substitutes on its own terms, guided by its innate intelligence.

This model forms the basis for how we approach detoxification, mineral balancing, and the restoration of health.

👉 Read the full BRET article on mineralbalancing.org →

🎙️ Watch John’s YouTube interview explaining the BRET concept

Supporting, Not Suppressing

Recognising Healing Reactions

Another key part of the InMB approach is understanding that true recovery is rarely linear. As the body rebalances, it may temporarily reprocess stored toxins, metabolic waste, or even old symptoms. These shifts are called healing reactions and are a sign that the body’s innate processes are re-engaging, not that things are going wrong.

InMB supports you through these moments by:

  • Helping you distinguish between a healing reaction and an adverse effect

  • Offering adjustments or guidance where needed, not suppressing the process

  • Teaching you to listen to your body rather than fear it

This phase can be uncomfortable at times, but it’s often where the most meaningful transformation happens. We encourage all clients to stay curious, track their experiences, and ask for support when needed.

The body’s innate healing process isn’t always calm waters, but it’s navigable when you understand what’s happening.

Mineral Balancing vs InMB

How We Use the Terms

We use both terms to describe different levels of the same work.

Mineral balancing describes the broader clinical area we work within — a subject area focused on supporting the body's mineral systems through test-guided care, often using Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA).

Integrative Mineral Balancing (InMB) is the specific method John developed to bring structure, clinical consistency, and broader context to that process. It draws from the core concepts of mineral balancing but integrates them into a wider natural medicine framework.

You’ll see both terms used across our site. The clinic is named for the field. The method is what defines the work.

Neither Mineral Balancing nor InMB is a complete healthcare system on its own. Like all subject areas, they rely on the practitioner’s broader training, scope, and clinical judgement to be applied responsibly and effectively.

Read a brief history of Mineral Balancing

Ready to take the next step?

  • How the Program Works

    Curious what’s involved? Explore the structure, timeline, and tools we use to support lasting change; one cycle at a time.

    Learn about the Program

  • Becoming a Client

    Ready to take the first step? Learn what’s involved before your first session, how to express interest, and what to expect as you move forward.

    How It Works

  • Your First Year of Care

    Thinking long-term? See how a full year of structured support and retesting can help you build momentum and real change.

    Explore the Foundational Year