What are Tissue Salts?

Tissue salts are heavily diluted inorganic salts which are used in a form of alternative therapy. Also known as biochemic tissue salts, the tissue salts consist of 12 inorganic salts which are supposed to be capable of promoting balance in the body on a cellular level. Natural food stores and stores which carry natural remedies sometimes stock tissue salts, including blends which have been developed for the treatment of specific conditions, and some also carry guides to utilizing biochemic salts in therapy.

These compounds were identified by a German physician, Dr. William Schüßler, in the late 1800s. Schüßler originally trained as a homeopathic practitioner, but felt that the diversity of homeopathic formulas was far too complicated, and that it should be possible to develop a system of therapy which was much simpler. He conducted a number of studies, identifying 12 salts in human tissue which he thought could be manipulated to maintain health or treat specific disease.

The salts identified by Dr. Schüßler were: potassium sulfate, sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium fluoride, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, ferric pyrophosphate, silicon dioxide, sodium sulfate, and potassium phosphate. He believed that these salts played a critical role in cell function, and that disease could be explained as an imbalance of salts. By making highly dilute preparations of the salts, Schüßler developed tablets which could be administered to prevent or treat disease in his patients.

For prevention, tissue salts are recommended in varying dosages, depending on the specifics of the individual. People may take preventative doses of certain salts at various points during the day with the intent of promoting balanced cell function. When the symptoms of disease appear, references which link different tissue salts to different conditions can be utilized to determine which salt should be administered, and in what dosage. Patients can also consult a practitioner who is experienced in working with tissue salts.

It is important to note that these salts are naturally present in a balanced human diet. Some people believe that imbalanced diets and changes in farming techniques have reduced the amounts of salts available, and that tissue salts must be administered for this reason. However, the dosages in the tablets are so dilute that they actually have no functional dietary effect. People who are interested in using tissue salts are part of their wellness program should consult their doctors and locate an experienced practitioner to get information.