Schuessler’s twelve tissue remedies of biochemistry

Dr. Sayeed Ahmad, D.I. Hom. (London)

CALCAREA FLUORICA
This substance is found in the surface of the bones, enamel of the teeth, elastic fibers and the skin. A disturbance, or deficiency, in the molecules of this element is shown by lumpy, more or less hard, growths, horny growths, hard crusts with cracked hands, hardened mammary glands, or other parts. Osseous (bone) tumors from injuries, glandular swellings, cataract of the eye, gum boils, displacement or relaxed uterus, sagging abdomen, hardened exudations, haemorrhoidal knots, varicose veins, and all diseases originating in the elastic fibre and bone covering, which is practically the same thing.

This remedy has proved curative in hard swellings on the bones, varicosis, varicose veins, whitlow, induration of testicles, suppuration, psoriasis, prolapsus uteri, internal piles, ozaena, eczema, knots, gout, defects in enamel, backache, corneal diseases, cataract of the eye, after-pains, bone bruises, catamenia, cough etc., where the above general conditions prevail.

CALCAREA PHOSPHORICA
This element is found in all cells, especially the bone cells, and, therefore, is necessary, in the normal formation of new cells. Its absence, or disturbance, is shown in anaemic states; the weakened conditions following acute diseases; delayed formation of bones in the young; in the knitting of broken bones. Broadly speaking, it is the remedy for weaklings, the ill-nourished, the very young or old, for rickets, chlorosis, open fontanelles, pains accompanied by formication, numbness, cramps, cold sweat, convalescence, convulsions of teething children; stunted children, unhealthy obesity and for the many named and unnamed disease states that have their origin in, and are accompanied by, these general conditions. It has been called the Cell-Wall Salt.

This salt has proved curative in cancer, catarrh, chlorosis, “green sickness,” consumption, rickets, curvature of the spine, spinal weakness, open fontanelles, hydrocephalus, bow legs in children, scrofula, albuminuria, anaemia, diseased state of bones, broken bones, convalescence, convulsions, emaciation, painful gums, dentition, headache, leucorrhoea, perspiration (excessive), night-sweats, rheumatism, scrofulous ulcers, clammy feet and hands, tonsils chronically swollen, etc., when the above geneal conditions prevail.

CALCAREA SULPHURICA
In his later years, Schuessler was inclined to omit this element from his list of “tissue remedies,” but the experience of physicians familiar with it is against doing so, for while its sphere is limited, it has been, as stated by Schuessler, “successfully used in many diseases,” but he adds, “it does not enter into the constant constitution of the organism,” from which it might be inferred that at times other remedies are temporarily useful. Calcarea Sulphurica is useful generally in suppurations, of pus mixed with blood, yellowish discharges from eyes, ears and nose, of this character; boils, carbuncles, wounds, expectoration, pimples, scabs skin diseases, sores, etc., etc. Yellow-coloured suppuration, or discharge, especially if tinged with blood, a general swelling of soft parts threatening pus, or an established vent oozing pus is a call for Calcarea Sulphurica.

This salt has proved curative in ear diseases with matter streaked with blood, diarrhoea, boils, abscess, ulcers, carbuncles, festering sores or hurts, pimples, oozing scabs, herpes, catarrh, suppurating glands, etc., when the above-named conditions prevail.

FERRUM PHOSPHORICUM
This element is contained in the red blood corpuscles and possesses “the property of attracting oxygen” from the inhaled air. Any disturbance in this salt is shown primarily by relaxed muscular tissue with inflammation, fever, heat, congestion, throbbing, swelling, with the innumerable succeeding ills. From its character Ferrum Phosphoricum is necessarily almost always the first remedy required in every attack of acute illness. It is the first in every itis, from bronchitis on through the list to tonsillitis. It is of the blood and is, as Rademacher said, a “universal remedy.” It precedes and then the other remedies follow in acute ills. In longseated ills, this remedy does not always hold true. It is also required in some anaemic conditions and those following loss of blood.

This remedy has proved curative in bronchitis, gastritis, laryngitis, mastitis, nephritis, pericarditis, periostitis, phlebitis, pleuritis, tonsillitis, as a primary remedy; abscess, rheumatism, haemorrhages (red blood), boils, catarrhal colds, congestions, inflammations, coughs, croup, deafness, diarrhoea, earache, erysipelas, swellings, gonorrhoea, gum-boils, haemorrhoids, nose-bleed, fever, headache irritations, neuralgia , palpitation, pleurisy, quinsy, scarlet fever, sprains, wounds, etc. when the indications noted above are in evidence.

KALI MURIATICUM
This element, or salt, is chemically related to fibrine. Like Ferrum Phosphoricum, it is found in almost all cells. “It will dissolve white, or grayish-white, secretions of the mucous membranes and plastic exudations,” consequently it is called for in catarrh, croupous, and all plastic exudations of mucous membranes that are white or grayish-white. It almost always follows Ferrum Phosphoricum for the secondary conditions or states succeeding inflammation. It is indicated in the white or grayish, coated tongues, in catarrh and diseases showing that peculiar colour of the exudations of the mucous membranes. It is especially useful in ear diseases, catarrh of the middle ear and closed Eustachian tubes, cracking noises, deafness, etc.; coughs, hoarseness and bronchial troubles; sluggish liver, light-coloured stools, lung diseases showing characteristic coloured expectoration. Like Ferrum Phosphoricum, it is a useful inter-current remedy in many cases.

This salt has proved curative in abscess, adhesions, rheumastism, asthma, bronchitis, congestions, “colds,” catarrh, coryza, constipation, cough, croup, deafness and ear diseases, chancre, diarrhoea, diphtheria, dropsy, dyspepsia, eruptions, exudations, excoriations, gastritis, gonorrhoea, haemorrhage of dark, clotty blood (Ferr. Phos., bright blood), headache, hoarseness, whooping cough, indigestion, liver diseases, lung diseases, measles, meningitis, menstruation, mumps, orchitis, pimples, pleurisy, childbirth fever, fevers secondary stage, pains rheumatic, scarlet fever, sick headache, stomach derangements, swellings without fever, sycosis, throat diseases, quinsy, mucous ulcerations, vomiting dark blood, diseases of mucous membranes, etc., when the above-named conditions in general prevailed.

KALI PHOSPHORICUM
This is the chief “nerve salt,” and is found in the brain cells, and nerve fluids, the blood plasma (white corpuscles) and the inter-cellular fluids. A disturbance, or deficiency, in the normal state of this physiological element shows, mentally, in despondency, anxiety, fearfulness, weak memory, mental decay, mental and physical break-down, neurasthenia, hypochondria, hysteria, insomnia, night terrors, irritability, insanity and paralysis; also in septic conditions, typhus, scurvy, ulcerations and physically degenerated states, generally, foul states and discharges, gangrene, blackish, thin blood, putrid conditions. Decay generally, mental and physical.

This salt has proved curative in nervousness, neurasthenia, anxiety, gloom, morbidness, depression, brain-fag, loss of memory, sleeplessness, delirium tremens, horrors, dread, epileptic fits, hypochondria, hysterias, insanity, nervous diseases, paralysis, night terrors, palpitations, exhaustion, softening of the brain, sexual weakness, septic states, typhus, typhoid, gangrene, black small-pox, appendicitis, amenorrhoea, asthma, blood blackish but thin, Bright’s disease, cancer, chancre, cholera, croup, cystitis, deafness, diabetes, diarrhoea, dysentery, diphtheria, eczema, epilepsy, nose-bleed, headache, haemorrhage blackish and thin, rickets, putrid sore throat, sciatica, sepsis, spinal diseases, suppurations foul, etc. when the above-named conditions are present.

KALI SULPHURICUM
Like Ferrum Phos. This salt aids in effecting the transfer of the inhaled oxygen. It is found in nearly all the cells containing iron. Any abnormality or deficiency is shown physically, by a sensation of weariness and heaviness, with chilliness, headache, pains in the limbs, or vertigo. The malaise is worse when patient is confined in rooms, and from warmth and is better in the open, or in cool, air. It is called for in desquamation following diseases like scarlet fever, measles, etc., scaly skin, yellowish eczemas, dandruff, etc. It is indicated in conditions of the mucous membranes, exudations, discharges, secretions and tongue, when the colour is distinctly yellow or yellowish.

Has been successfully prescribed in bronchitis, catarrh, albuminuria, diphtheria, dropsy, vertigo, asthma, ear diseases, whooping cough, syphilis, tuberculosis, stomach catarrh, anaemia, rheumatism, opthalmia, lupus, eczema, skin diseases, measles, menstruation, leucorrhoea, indigestion, diarrhoea, disorders of the eye, etc., when general characteristics and general indications as above are shown.

MAGNESIA PHOSPHORICA
This salt, or element, is found in the blood-cells, muscles, brain, spinal marrow, nerves, bones and teeth. A disturbance, or deficiency, of it is shown in sharp pain, cramps and paralysis. The patient is better from warmth and gentle but from pressure, but worse from a light touch or jar. Its diseases take the form of neuralgia, toothache, faceache, convulsions, fits, cramps, colics, spasms, palsy, trembling, twitching, hiccough, tetanus and similar conditions. Its pains are likely to be of a lightning like character. It is the opposite to the other great nerve remedy, Kali Phos., which betokens degeneration and decay, while Mag. Phos. is generally evidenced by acute pain.

It has been successfully prescribed in neuralgia, sharp pain, cramps, agina pectoris, chorea, St. Vitus’s dance, epilepsy, colic, convulsions, cough, whooping cough, diplopia, dysentery, faceache, toothache, labour pains, menstrual colic, colic, ovarian neuralgia, puerperal convulsions, laryngismus stridulus, palsy, spasmodic retention of urine, spasmodic conditions, stricture, squinting, teething, tetanus, trembling, etc., when general conditions indicate a deficiency of this salt, as noted above.

NATRUM MURIATICUM
When there is a disturbance or deficiency of the molecules of this salt, which attracts water, the water which should go to the cells remains in the intercellular fluids and hydraemic states ensue, that may be shown in various ways; patients tire easily, are chilly, have cold extremities and often an abnormal craving for salt. Malnutrition, emaciation, secretions of clear, watery fluid, tears, or clear, watery mucus. Clean, frothy tongue. Watery blisters and blebs. Coryza, clear, watery or frothy; watery eyes and much sneezing. Waterbrash, heart-burn. Intermittent fever; Dropsy. Puffiness; Mucous membranes may be abnormally dry.

This remedy has proved curative in intermittent fever, coryza, chlorosis, “whites,”, leucorrhoea, leukaemia, chlorosis, adynamic states, aphthae, asthma, bronchitis, catarrhs, coughs, effusions, hay-fever, headache, diarrhoea, watery blisters, constipation, deafness, watery brash, house-maid’s knee, hydrocele, neuralgia, pleurisy, rheumatism, sycosis, etc., when the general conditions of Natrum Mur. are in evidence, as noted above.

NATRUM PHOSPHORICUM
This salt is found in the cells of the blood, muscles nerves, brain and intercellular fluids. A departure from the normal in it is characterized generally by “sourness,” an excess of lactic acid; sour eructations, or vomiting, or diarrhoea in infants or adults; acidity; uric acid conditions, rheumatism of the joints, gout. Discharges from the eyes, or sores, are yellow and creamy; tongue yellow; throat and tonsils are covered with yellow, creamy coating. Dyspepsia, sour or acid. Perspiration smells sour. An anti-acid.

This salt has proved to be curative in indigestion, acid stomach, flatulence, sour risings, nausea, vomiting, worms, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, headache, heart-burn, intermittent fever, morning sickness, scabs yellow, sores etc., when the general conditions noted-above are present.

NATRUM SULPHURICUM
The action of this salt is the reverse of that of Natrum Mur., whose action is to attract the needed water to the cells; Natrum Sulph., on the contrary, eliminates waste matter and water. When there is a disturbance in its action, it is shown by a tongue of yellowish green or a dirty brown; discharges the same general colour; biliousness; bitter taste; vomiting, of bitter water or bile; bilious diarrhoea; bilious fever; “yellow fever;” soreness in the region of the liver; jaundice. Worse from wet weather, dampness, moisture, etc. Better in dry and warm surroundings.

This remedy has proved curative in biliousness, bilious colic, jaundice, liver disorders, bilious headache, sick headache, vomiting bile, eructations bitter, diabetes, diarrhoea, dropsy, intermittent fever, yellow fever, dengue, swamps fever, coast fever, vertigo, etc., when the above-mentioned general conditions are shown.

SILICEA
Silicea is a constituent of the connective tissue, the skin, hair and nails. Disturbances in this element are closely connected with pus formation and fistulous openings; the skin is unhealthy and easily suppurates; the nails are dry and brittle and the hair falls out and is dry; perspiration is offensive, the feet emit a bad smell, and so do the arm-pits; atrophy of parts. Internal chilliness, sensitive to cold air, wants to wrap up warm. In headache must wrap up the head warm.

This element has proved curative in fistula, boils, carbuncles, gouty deposits, rheumatism, hip joint disease, running sores, indurations, perspiration of the feet, pus secretions of a rather watery nature, suppurations, styes, ulcers, whitlows, chilblains, headache, etc., where the above general conditions are present.

NOTE: Name of diseases are given for convenience only. The seat of the disease lies in the aberrance of some one or more of the twelve tissue constituents, which may be manifested in different forms, according to the constitution of the individual affected. Pathology, and a true reading of the meaning of the signs, or symptoms, of the disease, must be the guide to a true biochemic prescription. Diseases bearing the same name vary as greatly as do the members of a family and something more than correct nosology, classification, is needed for a curative prescription.

Any information given above is not intended to be taken as a replacement for medical advice. Therefore, it is very important that the patients should avoid self-treatment and rather consult the most abled and qualified classical homoeopath and take the treatment under his proper guidance and advice.

Reference: “A Guide To The Twelve Tissue Remedies Of Biochemistry” by E.P. Anshutz.