Schüssler was originally a homeopathic doctor in Oldenburg. He lived from 1821 to 1898, at a time when there was a great shift from natural philosophy to natural science medicine.

During this time Justus von Liebig, Jacob Moleschott or Rudolf Virchow published their groundbreaking research and influenced Schüßler substantially.

Schuessler used in the healing process he founded, which he originally called "abbreviated therapy", basically minerals that "belong to the permanent existence of a healthy human cell," as he described it.

Since the 12 mineral compounds that he has introduced into his system, are produced according to homeopathic regulations, these mineral compounds are still subject to the regulations that apply to homeopathic medicines.