What are Tissue Salts?
- Caroline Greene
- Jun 17
- 5 min read
Tissue Salts Explained: What They Are, How They Work, and Why You Might Need Them
I get asked “what are tissue salts?” a lot! And I always tell this story: Apparently Wilhelm Schuessler examined the cremated remains of different people of varying ages, colours and sexes and discovered we are all made of the same twelve minerals. What he found interesting is that people who died of one thing had more or less of certain minerals - and people who died of another, of different balances of minerals. In living people he saw that when the harmony of these minerals in the body was disturbed symptoms would arise. He set about documenting these observations creating a system of what he called "biochemistry"
Trituration
He knew Dr Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), founder of homeopathy. Hahnemann had just developed the precise standard operational procedure for the process of “trituration”. This is a method of grinding up a mineral so very small that it can be diluted and allowed him to turn minerals into liquids he could then dilute and succuss to make homeopathic remedies.
I have often noticed in appointments that people who are eating what I would consider to be a reasonable or even fantastic diet are surprisingly unwell. It’s as if the food is going in but coming straight out again without nourishing them.
Sometimes they have had tests which prove levels of say calcium or iron are low but can’t understand it because they are on supplements.
When the body is stressed the permeability of cell walls is compromised. This means it is harder for vital nutrients to enter and waste products to pass out.
Each mineral in the body is found in different quantities in different tissues for example calcium in bone and iron in blood. Where there is a problem with a tissue, taking the relevant mineral as a tissue salt can remedy the problem remarkably quickly because the mineral is diluted to a small enough size that it can pass through the cell wall.
How are Tissue Salts different to homeopathic remedies?
Tissue salts are made in the 6x potency as many homeopathic remedies are - but these are only made from minerals whereas other homeopathic remedies are made from a vast range of other sources. The lower potencies which 6x is considered to be are better when the energy of the patient is low or the complaint is more physical than emotional.
This potency contains a tiny amount of the original substance which could be dangerous with some of the more poisonous homeopathic remedies. Hahnemann invented homeopathy - a system of diluting and succussing substances to reduce side-effects. Micro-dosing is something that is being increasingly used today in conventional medicine, like the use of ritalin - or speed to treat ADHD. Succussing where the water is shaken to imprint the pattern of the substance onto the water - is the step Hahnemann took in order to dilute these substances until they were safe.
Fast action
It’s incredible how fast these little pills can act. When my children had growing pains, taking the Calc phos tissue salt stopped their aches almost on the spot. I’ve treated a few guitarists with soft nails over the years and they’ve reported back that within a week their nails are hard and strong.
When I was in the last weeks of my daughter’s pregnancy my iron levels were measured because I wanted a home birth. They had to be a certain level in order to go ahead with this and mine were too low. The last thing anyone needs just before a birth is constipation and I was anxious the big chunky iron tablets would give me this common side effect. I asked my midwife if I could try the homeopathic iron before going down that route and she gave me 24 hours. I took the tissue salts 4 times that day and when she came back the next day my iron levels were perfect.
My most remarkable experience in practice using the tissue salts was after seeing a teacher towards the end of the Christmas term. I have a list of systems in the body I go through when I see people and normally people have issues with a few of these, for instance their bowels, skin and headaches. This poor harrassed teacher had problems with them all. It took me so long type up her notes afterwards it was after her I switched to using a laptop for appointments. I find homeopathic remedies work more quickly if the body is well-nourished so I sent her away with a bottle of all 12 tissues salts in a combination. When I came to work out a remedy for her I decided I didn't know where to start so I phoned her up to ask what she would like me to prioritise. By this time she had been taking the tissue salts for a week and told me she didn't need a remedy - she felt completely better! I think she was so stressed she wasn't getting the nutrition she should from her food which was causing all the symptoms. Simply restoring that balance in the cells was all it took to get her back on an even footing.
Chart showing the twelve tissue salts and their general sphere of action in the body
Tissue Salt | Primary Function | Common Uses |
Calc Fluor | Connective tissues, joints & skin | Elasticity tissue builder, muscular weakness, impaired circulation, haemorrhoids, varicose veins and muscular soreness |
Calc Phos | Bones and teeth | General tonic and nutrient, impaired digestion and chilblains. |
Calc Sulph | Joints and draining of infected matter | Blood purifier, minor skin ailments, pimples and slow healing wounds. |
Ferr Phos | Immune system | Oxygen carrier, coughs, colds, chills, fever, headaches, inflammations. |
Kali Mur | Mucous membranes | Blood conditioner, congestion, coughs, colds, bronchitis. |
Kali Phos | Nerves, muscles and emotions | Nerve nutrient, nervous exhaustion, depression, irritability. |
Kali Sulph | Detoxification, chronic inflammation & skin conditions | Oxygen exchanger, bronchial catarrh, minor skin eruptions with scaling, brittle nails, poor hair condition. |
Mag Phos | Muscles, nerves, aches and cramps | Nerve stabilizer, spasmodic pains, cramps, neuralgia, flatulence. |
Nat Mur | Fluid and electrolyte balance | Water distributor, dryness or excessive moisture in any part of the body, colds, loss of smell. |
Nat Phos | Metabolism | Acid neutralizer, digestive upsets, heartburn, rheumatic pain. |
Nat Sulph | Liver salt | Stimulating detoxification and excretion, excess water eliminator, biliousness, influenza. |
Silica | Cleanser | Impure blood, boils, pus formations. Hair, skin, connective tissues and bones. |
Combinations
Because when one thing in the body is not as it should be, other parts that support it are often suffering too there are some classic combinations of tissue salts that are a good way to take them if you have a problem.
For instance I often recommend the teething tissue salts, rather than just the Calc Phos when someone has a broken limb because this then helps the connective tissue and blood supply to a broken bone as well as the bone itself to recover more quickly.
In summary - tissue salts are micro-doses of minerals which can be absorbed almost immediately into the cells of the body helping to redress imbalances and thereby relieving symptoms.
If you would like to feel more in balance but aren't sure which tissue salt would best benefit you - why not book a free 15 min call with me? click the button below to book.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tissue Salts
Q: Are tissue salts the same as homeopathy?A: While tissue salts are made using homeopathic principles, they are specifically focused on mineral balance in the body and used at lower potencies.
Q: How fast do tissue salts work?A: Many people notice improvement within a few hours or days, depending on the condition and frequency of use.
Q: Can you take too many tissue salts?A: Since they are microdosed and very gentle, they're considered safe when taken as directed.
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