The basic foundation of biochemistry is also the foundation of tissue salts – that we must feed our cells the essential nutrients that they are comprised of to be well. This theory impacted largely on Dr Wilheim Heinrich Schuessler in the 19th century, who understood that twelve essential minerals within our cells can be thought of as the workers who are helping to build the healthy cells our body is so reliant on.
Schuessler’s theory had simple logic – that proper balance of twelve vital minerals was necessary for normal cell function and to maintain good health. When that balance is disturbed, ailments can follow. By providing the body these minerals in an easy to absorb tissue salt form, normal balance can be re-established.
Tissue salts are micro doses of 12 minerals, prepared homeopathically, that are important for the normal functioning of the body. Schuessler would finely grind the minerals and supply them at a minute dose, seeing time and time again through patients that their body seemed to become stimulated to regulate its absorption of minerals via the food they were eating. In addition, because they combine the material properties of each mineral salt with the energetic properties of homoeopathic dilution and trituration, tissue salts support balance and well-being.
Minerals create our physical foundations, they are the building blocks of your body, upon which all other nutrients depend on for healthy absorption and function. Mineral deficiencies are understood by naturopaths to be the lowest common denominator in human disease processes.
There’s a tendency in our fast-paced, market driven culture for people to take large quantities of assorted vitamins and minerals in the mistaken belief that ‘more is better’. This ignores the essential requirement that all minerals are needed by the body in a balanced ratio. If your cell chemistry is deficient and you don’t have the capacity to absorb excessive levels of supplements, the bulk of them are excreted without giving you much benefit. The beauty of tissue salts is that they are highly bioavailable, so none is wasted.
Another great advantage is that they carry very little risk of adverse effects or possibility of overdosing. Tissue salts are usually formulated in a lactose base, however only people with extreme lactose intolerance are at risk of a reaction. Alternatively, they are also available in an alcohol base as a spray.
It’s best to work out which specific salts your body needs to best relieve your symptoms. Tissue salts can be fast-acting and people can notice subtle differences very quickly when they take them. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children can also take them.
What are the 12 Tissue Salts?
The original 12 tissue salts formulated by Schuessler, with their main physical actions, are:
- Iron Phosphate (Ferr Phos or IP): reduces swelling & pain, 1ststage of inflammation
- Magnesium Phosphate (Mag Phos or MP): muscles and nerves
- Potassium Phosphate (Kali Phos or PP): nerve nutrient
- Potassium Chloride (Kali Mur or PC): congestion removal, 2ndstage inflammation
- Potassium Sulphate (Kali Sulph or PS): cell oxygenator, 3rd stage inflammation
- Calcium Sulphate (Calc Sulph or CS): blood cleansing
- Calcium Phosphate (Calc. Phos or CP): cell building
- Calcium Fluoride (Calc. Fluor or CP): connective tissue elasticity, strengthens blood vessels
- Silicea (Silica or S): calcium organiser, tissue strengthening
- Sodium Phosphate (Nat Phos or SP): metabolic acid removal
- Sodium Chloride (Nat Mur or SC): fluid balance
- Sodium Sulphate (Nat Sulph or SS): detoxifiy
More than one tissue salt can be taken at a time, and to get the best response it is useful to talk with a practitioner who has had in-depth training in this area. A regular diet of nutrient-rich foods, will also be needed to successfully support the body.
If you suspect you are not absorbing dietary nutrients very well, or suffer from an increasing number of seemingly unrelated symptoms, your cells may be under-functioning because you are lacking the right balance of tissue salts.
-The HealthPost Naturopaths
The full range of quality Schuessler and Martin & Pleasance Tissue Salts are available for secure online purchase from our shopping site, along with reviews and more info.
We’d Love Your Feedback
Have you tried biochemic tissue salts?
Did you get good results?