The salts of life

Homeopathy with its many remedies seemed too confusing to the physician Wilhelm Schuessler. About 120 years ago, he therefore developed his own treatment system which comprises merely twelve different mineral salts. In natural medicine, the treatment with the so called Schuessler salts is widely spread. On the one hand, it is carried out by alternative practitioners, on the other hand, it is also suitable for self-treatment, once the patients are experienced with the procedure. The idea for this treatment method was developed by the German physician Wilhelm Schuessler (1821 – 1898) after some engagement in the field of homeopathy. Schuessler was confused by the vast number of homeopathic remedies. Therefore, he worked on a treatment method that could do with a much smaller number of homeopathic drugs. A person whose mineral balance is in a state of equilibrium has sufficient energy to successfully withstand influences that are harmful to health. W. Schuessler followed this theory. During his studies, he found twelve salts present in the human blood and tissue. According to his opinion, they have to be considered the most important cell nutrients. He designates these mineral salts as biochemical functional means, because each one influences certain functions of the organism.

Diluted salts

W. Schuessler stated that a lack of minerals in the cells is not caused by a lack of minerals in the nutrition, but by the inability of the cells to absorb them. In his opinion, the salts have to be diluted like homeopathic remedies in order to be able to affect the body. Undiluted salts would not reach their destination, i. e. the diseased cell, but be released via the digestive tract. According to Schuessler´s theory, mineral salts have to be diluted to an extent allows them to be absorbed by the blood stream through the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, the throat, and the oesophagus. So, in comparison to minerals such as calcium or magnesium which are available at drugstores and chemists, Schuessler minerals have a different structure and a different effect in the body.