Whenever structure begins to break down in their lives, minerals are likely to suffer. Minerals have issues with the structure of their body breaking down as in arthritis, skin disease or dental decay, neurological problems or difficulties with the functions of a particular area of the body like the liver or heart. Problems with the minerals in the body, like electrolyte balance, ie. cramps or osteoporosis from calcium/magnesium balance or heart or kidney problems from sodium/potassium ratios can also occur.

Mineral remedies can be single elements like Phosphorus, Iodum, Alumina, Aurum or Sulphur, or salts like Natrum muriaticum, Calcarea carbonicum, or Kali sulphuricum. Minerals are related by the periodic table of elements. Different groups of elements have a relationship. The issues in a particular group, like the anion halogens, Fl, Br, I, Cl all have the same themes of broken relationships, disappointment, guilt and betrayal. The cations also have specific themes. The Natrums have a theme of relationship, the Kalis of family or group, the Calcareas of security, the Magnesias of early development, the Barytas of incapacity. The metals have themes of performance and attack and defense. Aurum has the theme of failed duty, Argentum, the need for performance, Ferrum, the theme of battle, Platinum, the need for respect, Cuprum, the need to be a great person.

In prescribing, if you can understand whether the patient has more animal, plant or mineral qualities it can help you eliminate a lot of potential remedies from consideration and narrow your focus toward the correct remedy. Since there is danger of picking the wrong kingdom, do not use it as the only way of getting to the remedy. It is just one tool, but a very powerful one. Once you know it is a mineral remedy, you can think of the groups of minerals and their issues, whether it is a mineral salt with a combination issue or a single element. You can look a groups of similar remedies on the periodic table. If you know it is a plant, you can look for characteristics that might tell you what kind of plant it might be and

think about the plant remedies that have the theme of your patient. When you see the characteristics of an animal, think about animal natures and which kind of animal your patient is most like: a dog, a snake, a spider, a lion? By getting the feeling of the patient, and even what size animal they seem to be, it can help you determine what animal remedy fits the best.

These are preliminary distinctions, however, so don't bet the farm on your remedy having to come from a particular kingdom. Use it as a tool but don't be bound by your initial impression if it doesn't pan out. Some remedies are on the boundary between two kingdoms.

Drosera, Anacardium, Stramonium and Hyoscyamus are plants with some animal issues. Natrum muriaticum and Phosphorus can sometimes seem like plants because of their sensitivity. Sulphur has some animal issues like being scorned. Sometimes animals may be mistaken for plants, like Lac caninum for Thuja, or Lyssin for Stramonium.

Pay attention, as you take cases and prescribe successfully, to whether your animal, plant and mineral perceptions are correct. With time you will easily recognize the differences and it will be very valuable in difficult cases.