By SC.Puri
German physician Dr. W.H.Schuessler (1873) found 12 inorganic salts in the ashes of dead bodies .He called these salts as cell salts, tissue salts or mineral salts. He concluded that human body is made up of mainly 12 inorganic salts along with organic substances to produce infinite number of cells and tissues.
These salts are essential constituents for metabolism (the chemical processes in living things that change food into energy and matter for physical growth).We get these necessary salts from grains, vegetables and fruits as our diet. If deficiency or imbalance of any salt takes place, metabolism of human body gets disturbed causing illness.
The inorganic salts are known as body builders and organic substances are known as building blocks of human body. During illness, inactive cells get activated with proper diet to boost up the cells in order to bring them in the original state from the disturbed state. Since inorganic salts act as a catalyst and thus are said to participate on the law of opposites.
The number 12 of inorganic salts is a very eminent number as it may be compared like 12 hours on a watch,12 months in a year or 12 astrological sun signs. List of 12 inorganic salts along with their availability in human body and characteristics are as follows:
1.Potassium phosphate-It is also known as nerve nutrient salt and its place is brain nerves and muscles. It keeps the brain and nerves healthy. It is an antiseptic and hinders the decay of tissues. It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish potassium ions and phosphate ions.Diet enriched with potassium ions-White beans, leafy vegetables, potatoes, apricots, mushrooms, banana, avocado, fish, mango, peach, guava, lemon, orange, grape and pineapple.
2.Sodium sulphate-It is also known as water eliminator and its place is water of the body. It keeps liver functioning well. It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish sodium ions and sulphate ions.
Diet enriched with sodium ions-Table salt, meat, celery, carrot, spinach, egg and beet.
Diet enriched with sulphate ions-egg, garlic, walnut, red meat, onion, kale, cheese and raw food.
3.Potassium chloride-It is also known as glandular tonic. Its place is muscles and nerves. It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish potassium ions and chloride ions. Diet enriched with chloride ions-tomato, celery, meat, wheat, egg and salad.
4.Calcium fluoride-It is also known as elasticity salt. Its place is nerves and muscles. It is also found in the enamel of teeth and surface of the bones.
It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish calcium ions and fluoride ions.
Diet enriched with calcium ions-fig, date, pear, apricot, kiwi, green leafy vegetables, low fat cheese, low fat milk, broccoli, almond, tofu, nuts, sesame seeds, turnip greens, beat greens and egg.
Diet enriched with fluoride ions-water, tea leaves, almond, fresh fruits and vegetables, garlic, orange, spinach, citrus fruits, grape and raisins.
5.Magnesium phosphate-It is also known as nerve relaxant. Its place is muscles and bone marrow. It is anti-spasmodic salt. It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish magnesium ions and phosphate ions.
Diet enriched with magnesium ions-green vegetables, brown rice, avocado, banana, soy beans, nuts and pumpkin seeds.
Diet enriched with phosphate ions-cheese, fish, pumpkin seeds, beans, lentils, soy foods, nuts, corn, broccoli, sunflower seeds, whole wheat, mushroom, diary products and fish.
6.Potassium sulphate-It is also known as skin salt.Its place is skin and arteries.It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish potassium ions and sulphate ions.It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish potassium ions and sulphate ions.
7.Sodium phosphate-It neutralizes acid in the stomach and thus it balances pH in stomach.It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish
sodium ions and phosphate ions.
8.Calcium sulphate-Its place is between tissues.It is blood purifier and removes toxins from the body. It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish calcium ions and sulphate ions.
9.Silicon dioxide or Quartz or Siliceous earth-Its place is water of the body. It works as a surgeon of the body and is toxic eliminator.
10-Calcium phosphate-Its place is teeth, bones, blood, tissues and digestive juices. It assists in the formation of new blood cells and to join fractured bone. It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish calcium ions and phosphate ions.
11.Sodium chloride-It is water distributor and balances fluid in the body. It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish sodium ions and chloride ions.
12.Ferric phosphate-It is also known as oxygen carrier and its place is blood cells.It strengthens blood to increase body immunity power. It undergoes ionization in its aqueous solution to furnish ferric ions and phosphate ions.
Diet enriched with ferric ions-nuts, beans, pulses, whole grains, cereals, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, coconut, apple, apricot, coconut, fig, broccoli, pumpkin seeds, olives and asparagus.
The ions of inorganic salts (electrolytes) are found both inside and outside the body cells in order to maintain balance in the body. If the balance gets disturbed, either cells shrink or get burst by swelling. If cells shrink, dehydration takes place. Contrary, if swelling of cells take place, it can lead to damage the cells. The main ions present inside the cells are potassium ions, magnesium ions and phosphate ions. The main ions present outside the cells are sodium ions, calcium ions. The other important ions in the body are zinc ions, manganese ions, copper ions, iodide ions which are easily available in green leafy vegetables and fruits.
The inorganic salts are important for living being, as cells use them to transmit electrical impulses across their membranes and to other cells throughout the body. The ions of inorganic salts (electrolytes) regulate nerve impulses, heart functions and muscle contractions. In the last but not the least, I would like to say that a balanced and natural diet provides all essential constituents to human body for healthier metabolism.
(The author is a Retd. Professor of Chemistry from D.A.V.College, Jalandhar)