Schuessler Tissue Salts Ferr Phos Oral Spray

With tissue salts, the most useful thing we can tell you is what they aren't. These are the questions our naturopaths ask in store.

A good fit if

• You follow the traditional numbered system and know which salt you want
• You'd rather start with the combination than pick a number
• You understand these aren't mineral supplements and you're choosing them on that basis

Check with us first if

• You're managing your blood glucose or tooth decay, because some tablets use sucrose or lactose as the base.
• You're avoiding lactose, which is the usual base in pillules.
• You also take a nutritional mineral supplement and want to know how the two differ.
• You're thinking of giving one to a child.

• Single salt, No. 1 to No. 12. Best known for: Following the traditional system, one salt at a time. Absorption: Does not apply at 6X. There is no nutritional dose to absorb. Typical use: Chosen by number, following Schüssler's traditional uses.
• Combination tablets. Best known for: All twelve together, if you would rather not choose. Absorption: Does not apply at 6X. Typical use: The usual starting point in store.
• Lactose-based pillules and tablets. Best known for: The standard carrier. Absorption: Dissolves under the tongue. Typical use: Check the other ingredients (excipients) if you avoid lactose.
• A nutritional mineral supplement instead. Best known for: A real milligram dose of iron, magnesium or calcium. Absorption: Measurable, and it rises with the dose. Typical use: The right product if a blood test has shown you are low.

Reference values. No Nutrient Reference Value applies. A 6X preparation doesn't supply a nutritional amount of the mineral it's named after, so the reference values for iron, magnesium or calcium don't apply to these products.

Typical supplemental range. Australian packs follow Schüssler's own approach, which he put plainly: "In my practice I generally use the 6th decimal trituration." Almost all tissue salts in store are 6X. Directions vary by brand and are on the pack.

Upper level. None is set, because there's no meaningful amount of the mineral to limit. Where a tissue salt ingredient also has a nutritional entry on Australia's permitted ingredients list (Schedule 1), those limits apply to the nutritional form, not to the 6X tablet.

Worth knowing. If you're after a mineral dose, look at mineral supplements instead. What you need depends on your age, diet and health, so talk to one of our naturopaths.

If any of these sound like you, talk to one of our naturopaths or your doctor before you start.

• You think you may be low in iron, magnesium or calcium. A tissue salt is not a substitute for a blood test and a milligram dose.
• Babies under 12 months. Magnesium phosphate medicines taken by mouth must not be labelled for use in babies (items 1777, 3169, 3170).
• You are managing your blood glucose or tooth decay. Sucrose is an allowed carrier and is used in some homoeopathic tablets.
• You avoid lactose. Lactose is the standard carrier for pillules and tablets.
• Nat Sulph products. When not meant as a laxative, the label must carry the warning "Substance may have a laxative effect".
• Calc Fluor and your total fluoride. Fluoride from all ingredients must be no more than 10 mg/kg, 10 mg/L or 0.1%.
• If you take prescription medicines, check with your doctor, pharmacist or our naturopaths before you start.