Sschussler’s 12 tissue salts are a great way to support your family.
I would heartily recommend trying one to start with for a particular issue you might have (I seem to remember starting with Ferrum Phos when I was much younger to boost my energy levels and found it worked very well and I used it instead of iron tablets).
There are only twelve of them and so buying the set is fairly inexpensive and they are readily available online and at health food stores.
In order to make full use of them, do get a good reference book. There are many.
A popular one that is simple to use is “Homeopathic Cell Salt Remedies: Healing with Nature’s Twelve Mineral Compounds” by Nigey Lennon and Lionel Rolfe.
What are cell/tissue salts?
Dr. Schuessler was a medical doctor and also a physiological chemist and a physicist. He managed to create this unique system of cellular therapeutics in the nineteenth century by establishing what the main organic salts are that that the body needs.
The twelve biochemic remedies of Schuessler are more often referred to as mineral salts/tissue salts/cell salts. They are not drugs. They simply provide the system with any deficient inorganic elements, prepared homeopathically, in an extremely finely subdivided form – a form which ensures their ready assimilation and a speedy response from the body.
We often think of ‘salt’ as what we put on our food. This salt that we know as sodium chloride is one of the twelve tissue salts and known by its Latin name — Nat. Mur.
Tissue salts are great to use for our general health, including very young babies. They are compounded in a simple maltose or lactose base that dissolves rapidly in the mouth, and are safe even if accidentally taken in a larger dose. (As with all therapeutic substances, keep them out of reach of young children and do not treat them as ‘sweets’ though.)
Below is a very high-level summary of some of all twelve with examples of things that the cell salts can be used for (this is only skimming the surface of the topic though!).
Nat Mur (Sodium Chloride)
Use this tissue salt when there are watery symptoms such as tearing, running nose or urinating too much. It’s also great for bringing up a sweat in hot weather. Symptoms are worse in hot weather and the evening. Symptoms may be too dry in some places and too wet in others.
Nat Phos (Sodium Phosphate)
Look for yellow excretions particularly in the eye or dripping out the nose. This is also the remedy for acidic conditions such as a sour stomach.
Nat Sulph (Sodium Sulphate)
This is the remedy for symptoms that are worse in the morning no matter what they are.
Kali Mur (Potassium Chloride)
This remedy is for white secretions. Think pimples with white stuff inside. It’s also for clear, egg white, slimy secretions. The difference between Nat Mur and Kali Mur is whether the substance feels watery (NM) or slippery (KM). Symptoms are worse from motion or rich and fatty foods.
Kali Phos (Potassium Phosphate)
This is the ultimate cell salt remedy for ‘nerves’. You can bang your thumb and get nerve pain or perhaps have a headache and experience pain (these are nerves) or you can feel nervous or stressed. Those with nerve/pain issues should try Kali Phos. Symptoms are relieved by gentle motion, eating, rest, excitement, or anything that diverts the mind.
Kali Sulph (Potassium Sulphate)
This remedy is used for all symptoms that are worse in the evening. It’s also a great skin remedy when there are yellow secretions. Symptoms are also worse in a warm room and better from cool, fresh air.
Calc Phos (Calcium Phosphate)
We have 57% of this salt in our bones so it’s great for bone aches and growing pains (here a combination of two can help – for pain/nerves = Kali Phos plus Calc Phos for bones). It’s also good for teeth. Symptoms are relieved by rest, warmth and lying down.
Calc Fluor (Calcium Fluoride)
This remedy is great for the tissue that holds us all together, called connective tissue. It’s great for strained backs, varicose veins and hemorrhoids. It’s part of the enamel of the teeth. The symptoms are worse in damp weather and relieved by rubbing.
Calc Sulph (Calcium Sulphate)
Along with Kali Sulph, this is a great skin remedy. This one is used when healing of skin is slow. This also means the skin constantly has problems. Symptoms are worse by getting wet, washing or working in water.
Ferrum Phos (Iron Phosphate)
This is the remedy you take when there is any inflammation or anything that gets red like sore throats or fevers with red face. It builds blood, so it’s great when you’re tired, some use it instead of iron tablets with success. Symptoms are worse by motion and relieved by cold.
Mag Phos (Magnesium Phosphate)
This is a great remedy for cramps, spasms or convulsions. It can be taken with Kali Phos (nerves/pain). Symptoms are worse from cold air, water and by touch. They get better from heat, firm pressure, friction and bending double. Sometimes putting it in warm water increases its effectiveness.
Silicea (Silica)
This remedy is found in hair, nails, skin and the covering of bones and nerves. It’s a great skin remedy. For example if you have boil or pimples that haven’t come to a head then Silicea is the remedy. If the skin problem isn’t healing, then use Calc Sulph.
Combinations
These days it is also possible to purchase combinations of these salts that have been found to commonly be useful for specific purposes. I have listed them below.
It is convenient to have the combination rather than juggle several containers of pills but you can, of course, combine pills from the original 12 to achieve the same results.
A – Sciatica Neuralgia Neuritis – contains:Ferr. Phos, Kali Phos, Mag Phos.
B – Nervous Exhaustion & General Debility – contains:Calc. Phos, Ferr. Phos, Kali. Phos.
C – Acidity, Heartburn & Dyspepsia – contains:Mag. Phos, Nat. Phos, Nat. Sulp., Silica
D – Minor Skin Ailments – contains: Calc. Sulph., Kali. Mur., Kali. Sulph., Silica
E – Indigestion, Colicky Pain & Flatulence – contains: Calc Phos, Mag Phos , Nat. Phos , Nat. Sulp.
F – Migraine Nervous Headache – contains: Kali. Phos, Mag. Phos, Nat. Mur.
G – Backache and Lumbago – contains:Calc. Fluor., Calc. Phos., Kali. Phos ,Nat. Mur.
H – Hayfever; Allergic Rhinitis – contains:Mag. Phos,Nat. Mur.,Silica
J – Coughs, Colds & Chestiness – contains:Ferr. Phos , Kali Mur., Nat. Mur.
K – Brittle Nails & Falling Hair – contains:Kali. Sulph., Nat. Mur.,Silica
L – Varicose Veins Circulatory Disorders – contains:Calc. Fluor., Ferr. Phos, Nat. Mur.
M – Rheumatism – contains:Calc Phos, Kali. Mur., Nat. Phos, Nat. Sulph.
P – Aching Feet and Legs – contains:Calc. Fluor.,Calc. Phos., Kali. Phos, Mag. Phos.
Q – Catarrh; Sinus Disorders – contains:Ferr. Phos,Kali Mur,Kali Sulph., Nat. Mur.
R – Teething Pains – contains:Calc. Fluor.,Calc. Phos.,Ferr. Phos, Mag. Phos,Silica. This one is sometimes taken by post menopausal women as a calcium boost.
S – Sick Headache, Stomach Upsets, Biliousness – contains:Kali. Mur.,Nat. Phos,Nat. Sulp.
