Schuessler salts

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Schuessler salts (tablets)

Schüßler salts are alternative medicinal preparations of mineral salts in homeopathic dosage ( potentization ). Therapy with Schuessler salts goes back to the homeopathic doctor Wilhelm Heinrich Schuessler (1821–1898) and is based on the assumption that diseases are generally caused by disorders of the mineral balance of the body cells and can be cured by giving minerals homeopathically. These assumptions have not been scientifically proven; an effectiveness of the Schuessler salts beyond the placebo effect has not been proven.

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"Biochemical healing method" by Wilhelm Heinrich Schüßler

The homeopathic doctor Wilhelm Heinrich Schüßler published the article An abbreviated therapy based on histology and cellular pathology in the Allgemeine Homöopathische Zeitung in 1873 , which contained the fundamentals of his teaching on almost 16 pages and presented a form of therapy called "Biochemical healing". Schüßler's abbreviation consisted of the fact that instead of the approximately thousand remedies in homeopathy, he only considered twelve salts, known as "Schuessler salts", to be sufficient for the treatment of almost all diseases. Schüßler assumed that diseases arise on the basis of disturbed biochemical processes. He assumed that illnesses originate to a large extent on the basis of a "disturbed mineral balance", whereby the lack of a certain mineral affects the entire metabolism.

By supplying these now missing minerals, Schüßler wanted to fight the diseases. For this, the potentization of the salts is necessary in order to fill up deficiencies within a cell. In his opinion, the highly diluted "subtle" minerals, i.e. individual ions, get directly into the cell interior. The deficiencies outside of the cells should be replenished by a diet rich in nutrients and bases, as a certain balance between the inside of the cell and the extracellular space is necessary. According to Schuessler's view, a pathogenic stimulus increases the function of a cell because the cell tries to reject the stimulus. Because of this activity, it loses part of its mineral function. These cells are then pathogenically changed, which is the essence of a disease.

Differentiation from homeopathy

Schüßler explained that his method was “not homeopathic” because it was not based on the simile principle propagated by Samuel Hahnemann (“similar things can be cured by similar things”), but can be traced back to physiological-chemical processes in the human organism. For this reason, Schüßler also rejected the drug tests on healthy test subjects that are customary in homeopathy for his salts as "fundamentally wrong".

The mode of action of a potentiated agent allegedly inherent in Hahnemann's " Organon der Heilkunst" (Organon der Heilkunst) , which is supposedly inherent, immaterial "specific medicinal power" released through dynamization, was also completely denied by Schüßler.

During his lifetime there were many disputes with homeopaths who did not accept his treatment method, if only because of its simplicity, and who spoke contemptuously of fertilizers . They sensed betrayal of the common cause. In his abbreviated therapy, Schüßler himself writes:

"The basis of my research was histology , the related chemistry , the inorganic components of the tissues and the physiological effects or functions of these components."

According to his own statements, during his investigations he found twelve different compounds that occur in the human body, the so-called Schuessler salts.

In the preface to later editions of his work, he acknowledged the influences that the physiologist Jakob M. Moleschott and the pathologist Rudolf Virchow had on his theory. The violent arguments with leading homeopaths led Schüßler to leave the "Central Association of Homeopathic Doctors" in 1876. The polemical exchange of blows, however, continued for decades. Scientific medicine, on the other hand, hardly took notice of the new "biochemical" process. In the German Empire it was tolerated by most health authorities within the scope of the legally enshrined courier freedom , but not encouraged.

Diagnosis by facial analysis

Schüßler claimed that the various missing minerals could be determined from features on the face and that the appropriate dosage of the salts could be made. Kurt Hickethier later expanded the " facial analysis " introduced by Schüßler and called it "Sonnerschau" at the time. According to Hickethier, for example, a deficiency in No. 3 ( Ferrum phosphoricum ) can be recognized, among other things, in the inner corners of the eyes by a darker, blue-black to black color. By subsequently taking the corresponding mineral, Hickethier said he was able to observe a decrease in facial analytical signs on the face.

The face diagnosis is not tenable according to scientific criteria.

20th century

Early 20th century

After the first "biochemical association" was founded in Oldenburg in 1885 , three competing associations existed at the beginning of the 20th century: the "Association of Biochemical Associations for the German Empire", the "Schüssler Association" and the "Jade Association". In the 1920s, the biochemical movement counted over 800 volunteer “medical practitioners”. These were reported by doctors, who saw them as quackery , in not a few cases of negligent bodily harm or even death. Most of the court cases ended in acquittal.

The biochemical associations were forcibly merged into the "Biochemical Federation of Germany" in 1922 through the Reichsarbeitsgemeinschaft der Volksverbände. In 1928 it already had 184,672 members and was tightly organized. In 1929 the federal office had 22 full-time employees. The “ Zeitschrift für Biochemie. Folksy specialist organ for the theory of minerals ”with a circulation of over 200,000 copies and numerous informational pamphlets.

Before the professional title of alternative practitioner was legally established (1939), Schüßler's teaching was largely disseminated through lay movements. Kurt Hickethier , who built two spa houses to treat his patients, made a contribution to the further development of the Schüßler treatment method.

time of the nationalsocialism

At the time of National Socialism , " biochemistry " became a recognized healing method. The "medical practitioners " who had previously practiced on the verge of legality were given the status of alternative practitioners . In addition, for the first time, with state approval and funding, studies could be carried out in which the alleged effectiveness of “biochemical” drugs was checked. Such attempts also took place in the Dachau and Auschwitz concentration camps , under the direction of the Reich doctor SS Ernst-Robert Grawitz . Among other things, artificially induced cases of blood poisoning and malaria were treated largely unsuccessfully. For the inmates, these experiments were fatal in most cases.

After 1933, the “Biochemical Bund” got more and more into National Socialist waters. Internal alignment led to the exclusion of undesirable, especially “non-Aryan” members. From 1934 onwards one can find the rubric “People and Race” in the members' magazine and party members loyal to the line at the top of the federal leadership. In 1935 it was forcibly incorporated into the "Reich Working Group of Associations for Natural Living and Healing".

End of the Second World War

At the end of the Second World War, the "Bund" was dissolved, but was re-constituted as early as 1946. In 1949 he again published a members' magazine ( Gesundes Volk, later Weg zur Gesundheit ), but could not return to its former importance. From an association's own spa, the 1936 in Hahnenklee started operation in the resin was 1949, "Dr. Schüssler Sanatorium ”.

The Vice President of the Biochemical Federation of Germany e. V., Hans-Heinrich Jörgensen, is of the opinion that Schüßler salts can be used not only to compensate for deficiency symptoms, but also in accordance with the homeopathic principle of similarity.

21st century

The "biochemistry according to Schüßler" has mainly been retained as a form of therapy by alternative practitioners . It is taught in technical schools and many alternative practitioners work with these resources on a daily basis. In 2012 there were again more than 80 “biochemical associations” in Germany and others abroad. The Schüßler salts are used for various clinical pictures.

use

Schüßler salts are said to be "homeopathically prepared", i.e. H. potentised agents can be used in tablet form, which is then allowed to slowly dissolve in the mouth. According to the proponents, the minerals should then be absorbed by the body through the oral mucosa. There is a so-called regulating potency for every salt. For salts No. 1, 3 and 11, D12 is usually used. For the other salts, D6 is the regulating power.

Schüßler's idea of ​​supplementation contradicts the low mineral content of the Schuessler salts. To clarify the proportions: 1 kg of Schuessler salt diluted D6 contains 1 mg of mineral, for an intake of the daily requirement, depending on the mineral, about 10 - 1,000 kg of Schuessler salts would have to be consumed daily. The use of the D12 dilution would require an intake of around 10,000 - 1,000,000 tons of Schuessler salts per day to cover the daily requirement.

The Commission D for homeopathic medicines on Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) describes in her dosage recommendations, unless otherwise prescribed a dose of 1 tablet or 5 globules or 1 pinch mull. In acute conditions, it is taken every half to full hour, at most 6 times a day, and in chronic forms 1 to 3 times a day.

Since tablets often consist mainly of milk sugar (lactose), the Schuessler salts are also available in the form of alcoholic drops or lactose-free globules (globules made from cane sugar ) for patients with lactose intolerance .

Manufacturing

The Schüßler remedies are diluted according to the homeopathic procedure by shaking, rubbing or crushing and have corresponding dilution designations: D1 means that it is a dilution of 1:10, D x generally a dilution of 1:10 x . The salts are usually D6 = 1: 1,000,000 or D12 = 1: 1,000,000,000,000 diluted.

The biochemical agents according to Schüßler are homeopathic medicines within the meaning of the German Medicines Act (AMG), which are placed on the market as finished medicinal products according to a simplified approval process (“registration”). In contrast to the "approval" of medicinal products, the effectiveness of the "registration" of homeopathic medicinal products does not need to be proven, but quality and safety are checked (AMG §38 (2)); in return, however, no areas of application ( indications ) may be given.

effectiveness

Schuessler salts have no pharmacological effect . The Stiftung Warentest comes to the conclusion: “Biochemistry according to Schüßler is not suitable for the treatment of diseases.” Edzard Ernst judged in 2007 and 2010: “The assumption of treatment costs by some German health insurances does not change the fact that this 'therapy' is assessed as ineffective treatment is to be classified ".

Resources used

Box with 11 Schüssler salts from 1923

The 12 "functional means"

  1. Calcium fluoratum D12 ( calcium fluoride )
  2. Calcium phosphoricum D6 ( calcium phosphate )
  3. Ferrum phosphoricum D12 ( iron phosphate )
  4. Kalium chloratum D6 ( potassium chloride )
  5. Kalium phosphoricum D6 ( potassium phosphate )
  6. Kalium sulfuricum D6 ( potassium sulfate )
  7. Magnesium phosphoricum D6 ( magnesium hydrogen phosphate )
  8. Sodium chloratum D6 ( sodium chloride - table salt)
  9. Sodium phosphoricum D6 ( sodium phosphate )
  10. Sodium sulfuricum D6 ( sodium sulfate )
  11. Silicea D12 ( silica )
  12. (Calcium sulfuricum D6 ( calcium sulfate ))

Schüßler reduced these twelve original Schüßler salts to eleven in 1895; he wrote: “Since the sulphate of lime does not enter into the constant composition of the organism, it has to disappear from the biochemical picture surface. Instead of it comes sodium phosphoricum resp. Silicea into consideration. "

Later, fifteen other substances were introduced by various supporters of "Biochemistry according to Schüßler", which today are grouped under the name "supplements".

The 15 "supplements"

  2. Kalium arsenicosum D6 ( potassium arsenite )
  3. Kalium bromatum D6 ( potassium bromide )
  4. Kalium iodatum D6 ( potassium iodide )
  5. Lithium chloratum D6 ( lithium chloride )
  6. Manganum sulfuricum D6 ( manganese sulfate )
  7. Calcium sulfuratum D6 ( calcium sulfide )
  8. Cuprum arsenicosum D6 ( copper arsenite )
  9. Potassium aluminum sulfuricum D6 ( alum )
  10. Zincum chloratum D6 ( zinc chloride )
  11. Calcium carbonicum D6 ( calcium carbonate )
  12. Sodium bicarbonicum D6 ( sodium hydrogen carbonate )
  13. Arsenum iodatum D6 ( arsenic triiodide )
  14. Aurum Chloratum Natronatum D6 ( gold / sodium chloride )
  15. Selenium D6 ( selenium )
  16. Kalium bichromicum D12 ( potassium dichromate )

Supplementary “biochemical agents” according to Joachim Broy

The naturopath Joachim Broy has added seven mineral salts to the previous Schüßler salts. However, they are not under the Dr. Schüßler salts available .

Complex biochemistry

The complex biochemistry is an existing since the 1920s special form of therapy with Schuessler salts. It was developed by the Berlin doctor Konrad Grams . The approximately 30 preparations of the complex biochemistry have since been manufactured and marketed under the name "JSO Bicomplexe", the composition has only been changed insignificantly. Konrad Grams developed - following the spirit of the times - from the Schüßler biochemistry a clearly more layman-friendly self-treatment system, the “complex biochemistry”: “By complex biochemistry we mean the combination of several mineral salts into one agent, which is used to treat the diseased tissue or the diseased one Body part is related. In a sense, it covers all symptoms of the disease in question. "

The complex biochemistry according to Grams comprises thirty very simple concepts that make the choice of the remedy easy (for diarrhea, the “intestinal remedy”, for “coughing” the “cough remedy”, etc.). Even if a number of alternative practitioners offer treatment with complex biochemical agents, the system is primarily intended for self-medication that is not harmless .

Due to pharmaceutical regulations, the indication of an indication is only permitted for approved, but not for registered homeopathic medicinal products, so that information such as “cough suppressant” on the packaging of the - only registered - JSO Bicomplexes is no longer permitted. The granting of an approval (instead of the likewise permissible registration) would require proof of efficacy for the claimed indication.

literature

  • Joachim Broy : The biochemical healing method Dr. med. Wilhelm Schuessler. 3. Edition. Foitzick, Augsburg 2009, ISBN 978-3-929338-45-4 .
  • Thomas Feichtinger : Psychosomatics and Biochemistry according to Dr. Schüßler: Basics - Practice - Materia medica. 2nd, unchanged edition. Haug, Stuttgart 2014, ISBN 978-3-8304-7847-8 .
  • Kurt Hickethier : Textbook of Biochemistry. 13th edition. Friedrich Depke, Kemmenau 2005, ISBN 3-9809934-3-4 .
  • Robert Jütte : History of Alternative Medicine . From folk medicine to today's unconventional therapies. CH Beck, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-406-40495-2 . , Pp. 221-236 ( "Biochemistry" and Spagyric ).
  • Angelika Countess Wolffskeel von Reichenberg: The 12 Salts of Life. Biochemistry according to Dr. Schuessler. 7th edition. Mankau Verlag, Murnau 2005, ISBN 3-86374-267-2 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Robert Jütte: History of Alternative Medicine. From folk medicine to today's unconventional therapies . CH Beck Verlag, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-406-40495-2 ; there are further sources. Hans-Heinrich Jörgensen: 120 years of biochemistry . Lecture at the Federal Congress of the BBD 1994 in Hahnenklee. For the experiments in concentration camps see also [1] .
  2. ^ Hans-Heinrich Jörgensen: 120 years of biochemistry. Lecture at the Federal Congress of the BBD in 1994 in Hahnenklee: “Both are possible and also work, because after all the salts are prepared according to the rules of homeopathy. But the indication claims, the target direction, the phenomena that are to be treated are different, whether I simply want to eliminate mineral deficiencies with my medicine, or whether I want to change constitutions according to the homeopathic remedy. "
  3. ↑ Hans-Heinrich Jörgensen: Biochemistry in the 21st Century . Lecture at the Federal Congress 2000 of the BBD in Freiburg.
  4. ↑ Abbas Schirmohammadi Schuessler Salts - The biochemical healing method. In: Paracelsus magazine. Issue 2/2012.
  5. ^ Test: Schuessler salts. No sugar! ( Memento from May 18, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) In: Öko-Test . March 2008.
  6. ↑ A. Helmstädter: A therapist as a child of his time . In: Pharmaceutical newspaper . No. 51 , 2007.
  7. ↑ New version of the dosage recommendations of Commission D for homeopathic medicinal products , Commission D, Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, March 17, 2004.
  8. ↑ Stiftung Warentest (Ed.): The other medicine - 'Alternative' healing methods evaluated for you. Berlin 2005, ISBN 3-937880-08-9 , p. 106.
  9. ↑ Schüßler salts - expensive but worthless? on: stern.de , October 8, 2010, accessed October 9, 2010.
  10. ↑ Edzard Ernst : Misunderstood "patient friendliness". In: MMW - Advances in Medicine. 8 (2007), p. 55.
  11. ↑ Andrea M. Sahler: Homeopathic complex remedies - their historical development, their founders and their current significance . Pflaum Verlag, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-7905-0893-4 .
  12. ↑ a b Konrad Grams: Handbook of Complex Biochemistry. 3. Edition. Kombi-Verlag, Berlin 1928.
  13. ↑ Konrad Grams: About mediastinal tumors. Dissertation . Friedrich Wilhelms University, Berlin 1919.