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Talking about tissue salts

Tissue salts are a centuries-old remedy, but what exactly are they, and how do they work?

20 January 2014
by Cindy Tilney

Tissue salts are mineral extracts gleaned from stone and soil, and then diluted many times over. “They contain mineral salts that the body needs in order to be healthy,” explains Clicks healthcare advisor, Farieda Ornie, “but that are deficient in our systems for a variety of possible reasons.” Tissue salts were developed in the 19th century by Dr Wilhelm Heinrich Schuessler, a German homeopath who studied cremated bodies and discovered that the ashes were composed mainly of 12 “cell salts”. He theorised that these substances were necessary for healthy development and functioning, and that deficiencies could cause an array of mental and physical problems.

Why would we need them?

It’s no secret that agro-chemicals – while staving off short-term crop problems such as bug infestations and fungal threats – leach much of the goodness from soil, rendering produce much less nutritious, particularly if farmers don’t add sufficient compost or nutrients to their fields to balance the equation. And it’s not only the foods we eat that can affect our nutrient levels – lack of exercise, indulgence in cigarettes, alcohol or drugs, and stress (which is no stranger to most of us living in today’s fast-paced world) can bring down the equilibrium, leaving us vulnerable to vitamin and mineral depletion, and in turn disease. Dr Schuessler believed that many of these bodily imbalances could be corrected by taking regular, but very mild, doses of these minerals.

Extracting them from inorganic substances such as sand, rocks and plants, he concocted 12 basic remedies containing trace amounts of these cell salts in various combinations. Each of these has its own treatment properties, which range widely: Clicks’ Natura range includes remedies for everything from water imbalances and fatigue, to nausea and liver disorders. “They’re very popular with customers,” says Ornie, “and the two that seem to work particularly well are the ‘Kali phos’ (potassium phosphate) and ‘Magnesia phos’ (magnesium phosphate) combinations (numbers 6 and 8 in the Natura range), which are used to treat anxiety and nervousness, and cramps and headaches respectively.”

Do they work?

Tissue salts are extremely popular in alternative health circles and many people swear by their ameliorative properties. “They’re totally natural, so there are no side effects,” says Ornie. They’re also very well priced, she adds – with one month’s supply costing as little as R34.95.

Clicks stock a variety of tissue salts. Browse our selection in store for a product to suit your needs.