Schuessler Tissue Salts Kali Phos

People who ask about Kali Phos are often stressed, tired or not sleeping, so these are the questions our naturopaths ask in store before you buy it.

A good fit if

• You follow the tissue salt tradition and No. 6 is the salt you're after
• You understand it's traditional use, and that the one trial of it found no effect
• You want something very low risk alongside the basics of sleep, food and rest

Check with us first if

• You're pregnant or breastfeeding. There's no specific evidence either way.
• It's for a child. There's no safety data for tissue salts in children.
• You're avoiding lactose, which is the usual tablet base, or you're managing your blood glucose or tooth decay, because some tablets use sucrose.
• You take prescription medicine. No interaction with a 6X tissue salt has been found, but it's worth checking.

• Kali Phos 6X tablets. Best known for: The standard retail form, at the potency Schüssler used. Absorption: Not applicable; there's no nutritional dose of potassium to absorb. Typical use: Let it dissolve on your tongue, following the pack directions.
• Spray or liquid tissue salts. Best known for: A water, ethanol or glycerol base instead of a lactose tablet. Absorption: Not applicable at 6X. Typical use: If you're avoiding lactose and a Kali Phos liquid is available.
• Combination tissue salt formulas. Best known for: Several salts in one tablet, sold for a named concern. Absorption: Not applicable at 6X. Typical use: Whatever that product's own AUST L indication says.
• Higher potencies (12X, 30C and similar). Best known for: More dilution steps than the 6X Schüssler used. Absorption: Not applicable. Typical use: Individual homoeopathic prescribing, outside the tissue salt system.

Reference values. The potassium figures don't apply to this product. For context, the NHMRC sets an Adequate Intake for potassium of 3,800 mg a day for adult men and 2,800 mg a day for adult women. A 6X tablet adds nothing meaningful towards either.

Typical supplemental range. Schüssler's own approach, which Australian packs still follow, was the sixth decimal dilution. In his words: "In my practice I generally use the 6th decimal trituration." Directions vary by brand, so follow the label on the pack you're holding.

Upper level. Australia's permitted ingredients list (Schedule 1) has no daily cap on potassium phosphate in homoeopathic use. For potassium as a nutrient, the NHMRC notes that "No ULs have been set for potassium from dietary sources." Neither figure is relevant to a 6X tablet.

Worth knowing. If you're worried about how you're coping, sleeping or concentrating, it's worth talking it through rather than just picking something off the shelf. What you need depends on your age, diet and health, so talk to one of our naturopaths.

The register deliberately doesn't pair tissue salts with food, because doing so implies the tablet supplies the nutrient. The potassium and phosphate your body actually uses come from food and, where needed, from a nutritional supplement, not from Kali Phos.

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

• Ongoing sleep, stress or concentration problems. The main risk is delaying care that works.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. We found no specific evidence.
• Children. There's no safety data for tissue salts in children.
• If you're avoiding lactose. Homoeopathic tablets are made by repeatedly grinding the ingredient into lactose.
• If you're managing blood glucose or tooth decay. Some homoeopathic tablets contain sucrose, which is a permitted excipient.
• If you take prescription medicines, check with your doctor, pharmacist or our naturopaths before you start.