Schuessler Tissue Salts Mag Phos Oral Spray

Mag Phos is a traditional product with a name that sounds like a nutrient, so these are the questions our naturopaths ask before you buy it.

A good fit if

• You follow the tissue salt tradition and No. 8 is the salt you're after
• You understand it's traditional use and not a magnesium supplement
• You want the spray because you're avoiding lactose

Check with us first if

• It's for a child aged 1 or over. There's no safety data on tissue salts for children.
• You're pregnant or breastfeeding. There's no specific evidence either way, and the pregnancy cramp trials tested real magnesium, not Mag Phos.
• You're avoiding lactose, which most tablets are made with, or you're managing blood glucose or tooth decay, since some tablets use sucrose.
• You already take a magnesium supplement and want to know how the two differ.

• Mag Phos 6X tablets. Best known for: The standard retail form, at the potency Schüssler used. Absorption: Not applicable; there's no nutritional dose of magnesium to absorb. Typical use: Let it dissolve on your tongue, following the pack directions.
• Mag Phos oral spray. Best known for: A liquid carrier instead of a lactose tablet. Absorption: Not applicable at 6X. Typical use: If you're avoiding lactose or would rather not take a tablet.
• 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.
• A magnesium supplement instead. Best known for: A measured milligram dose of magnesium. Absorption: Well studied, and it varies by form. Typical use: When you're genuinely not getting enough magnesium.

Reference values. The magnesium figures don't apply to this product. For context, the NHMRC sets magnesium at 310 to 320 mg a day for adult women and 400 to 420 mg a day for adult men. A 6X tablet adds nothing meaningful towards either.

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

Upper level. Australia's permitted ingredients list (Schedule 1) sets no daily limit for magnesium phosphate. The NHMRC upper limit for magnesium from supplements, 350 mg a day from age 9, applies to magnesium as a nutrient, not to a 6X tablet. The laxative warning for magnesium phosphate only applies at nutritional doses, so it doesn't apply at 6X.

Worth knowing. If you're worried about your magnesium intake, this isn't the product that fixes it. 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 magnesium your muscles actually use comes from food and, where needed, from a nutritional supplement, not from Mag Phos.

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

• Babies under 12 months. Magnesium phosphate medicines taken by mouth must not be directed for use at this age (Schedule 1 items 1777, 3169, 3170).
• If you actually need magnesium. A 6X tablet supplies no nutritional dose of magnesium.
• Children. There's no safety data for tissue salts in children.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. We found no specific evidence.
• 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.
• Any condition that needs a diagnosis. The main risk is delaying care that works.
• If you take prescription medicines, check with your doctor, pharmacist or our naturopaths before you start.