Introduction
Cell salts have been used in medicine since time immemorial. However, while the concept that a dysfunction due to a cellular imbalance may be corrected by supplying the deficient salt, is all very well and good, in general terms, specific prescriptions were first codified by Dr. W. H. Schuessler in Germany during the late nineteenth century. A classic series of seven articles appeared from 1873. This work has been continued by others, since his death in 1898.
This work has often involved individuals with established reputations in homeopathy, such as Hering, Luyties and Boericke. Indeed, the salts were included in the homeopathic materia medica prior to Schuessler.
Schuessler salts are even prepared homeopathically, by trituration and have a lactose base.
Dr. Schuessler's biochemistry may be summarized in five principles:
1. Disease cannot occur if cell metabolism is normal.
2. Normal cell metabolism depends upon cell nutrition.
3. Cell nutrition is either organic (protein, fats etc.) or inorganic (e.g. mineral salts).
4. Cell metabolism depends upon adequate levels of minerals (tissue salts).
5. Mineral levels can be restored by supplying tissue salts in a finely divided, assimilable form.
The Elements:
The 12 tissue salts are actually a combination of only 10 elemental (8 minerals and 2 nonmetals) constituents:
Calcium (Ca)
Chlorine (Cl)
Fluorine (fluoride) (F)
Iron (Fe)
Magnesium (Mg)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K)
Silicon (Si)
Sodium (Na)
Sulfur (sulphur - S)
Dr. Bunge of Germany has estimated that every kilogram of blood cells has the following mineral constituents:
| Calcium phosphate | 0.094 gms |
| Iron phosphate | 0.998 gms |
| Magnesium phosphate | 0.060 gms |
| Potassium chloride | 3.079 gms |
| Potassium phosphate | 2.343 gms |
| Potassium sulfate | 0.132 gms |
| Sodium phosphate | 0.633 gms |
