In the world of natural medicine, there are many paths to healing—some more subtle than others. One of the gentlest and most elegant tools we have is the use of cell salts—also known as tissue salts or Schüßler salts—which support the body at its most foundational level: the cellular level.

What Are Cell Salts?

Cell salts are microdoses of essential mineral compounds that exist naturally in our bodies. Developed in the 19th century by German physician Dr. Wilhelm Heinrich Schüßler, these remedies are prepared homeopathically to encourage optimal cellular function without overwhelming the body.

Rather than force mineral replacement, cell salts work by offering the body a subtle signal—a kind of “energetic reminder”—to rebalance, redistribute, and reabsorb the minerals it already has or may be struggling to metabolize. They help the body to utilize minerals more effectively.

The Classic 12 and Beyond

Dr. Schüßler identified 12 primary mineral salts that he believed were essential for cellular health. These are often referred to as the “biochemic” salts, and they form the foundation of most tissue salt protocols.

Over time, practitioners and pharmacologists have worked with an expanded repertoire of additional mineral compounds—bringing the number to 15, 24, or even 33 in some modern approaches. These supplementary cell salts can offer more targeted support in chronic, constitutional, or complex terrain cases.

Still, the original twelve remain a timeless core, useful for everything from everyday ailments to deeper restoration work.

The 12 Core Cell Salts & Their Roles

Here’s a look at the foundational twelve and what they support:

1. Calc fluor (Calcium fluoride)
   Elasticity and strength for veins, bones, ligaments, and connective tissues

2. Calc phos (Calcium phosphate)
   Vital for growth, bone repair, blood cell formation, and recovery

3. Calc sulph (Calcium sulfate)
   Skin purification and wound healing; supports detox through the skin

4. Ferrum phos (Iron phosphate)
   Oxygen transport, immune readiness, and the first stage of inflammation

5. Kali mur (Potassium chloride)
   Lymphatic health, congestion, and white mucosal discharges

6. Kali phos (Potassium phosphate)
   Nerve strength and stress recovery; balances mental and emotional strain

7. Kali sulph (Potassium sulfate)
   Supports detoxification and oxygenation at the cellular level

8. Mag phos (Magnesium phosphate)
   For nerve pain, muscle cramps, and physical tension

9. Nat mur (Sodium chloride)
   Regulates fluid balance and supports emotional processing (especially grief)

10. Nat phos (Sodium phosphate)
    Acid-base balance; helpful in digestive and joint complaints

11. Nat sulph (Sodium sulfate)
    Liver and bile flow, detox drainage, and damp-state conditions

12. Silicea (Silica)
    Connective tissue strength and elimination of waste from deep tissues

The Expanding Field of Mineral Resonance

In addition to the core twelve, other salts—like Lithium mur, Zincum phos, Manganum sulph, and Cuprum arsenicosum—are being explored for their potential to support the nervous system, and deeper terrain work.

While not part of Schüßler’s original set, these supplementary salts are gaining attention in bioregulatory medicine, particularly in cases of neurodevelopmental challenges, environmental toxicity, and miasmatic terrain activation.

Why Work with Cell Salts?

• Cell salts are gentle and non-toxic, so they’re safe for all ages and life stages, and all stages of illness.

• They can restore balance to mineral-depleted tissues.

• They are emotionally and constitutionally supportive.

• They’re complementary to homeopathy, drainage, gemmotherapy, and terrain-based care, and can play an important role in deeply nourishing and rebuilding.

Whether you’re just beginning a healing journey or supporting long-term restoration, cell salts offer a powerful yet gentle path. They don’t override the body—they whisper to it, inviting a return to balance from the inside out.