I love using tissue salts, both personally and in my practice. These mineral allies are foundational during pregnancy and postpartum, especially at a time when mothers are so vulnerable to depletion.

One of my favorite tissue salts is Ferrum phosphoricum, and for good reason. Not only is it a remedy I reach for often with my kids, but I find it invaluable for supporting mothers — particularly in the immediate postpartum period. It’s gentle yet powerful, and an overlooked support in early recovery after birth.

What is Ferrum Phos and when to use it?

Ferrum phosphoricum (phosphate of iron) is a gentle but powerful support in the early stages of inflammation, healing, and blood-related imbalance.

It’s a handy cell salt to know about in postpartum, especially when something just feels off and your body is still finding its rhythm.

You might consider Ferrum phos when there’s:

• Stitches or tearing that feel slow to heal

• Support for mechanical injuries (C-sections, episiotomies)

• Fatigue with light-headedness or flushed cheeks

• Mild bleeding after birth, or supporting symptoms from blood loss during labor

• A vague sense of weakness or being “run down”

• Early-stage mastitis— before full heat, redness, or discharge appears

• Anemia or signs of depleted blood volume and fatigue

• Soft tissue inflammation or discomfort

• Sudden shock, physical strain, or low-grade fevers

Physical signs that might point to Ferrum Phos

• Cheeks that flush red or alternate with pale, especially with fatigue

• Vaginal tissue that feels inflamed or slow to heal

• Dizziness on standing, or from loss of blood

• Fatigue worsened by activity, but not improved by rest

• Headaches triggered by heat, sun, or exertion

• Bright red bleeding

• Sore throat or a “coming down with something” feeling

• Delayed milk supply or breast inflammation

• Vague postpartum symptoms that feel hard to pin down

Potency

Ferrum phos supports healthy blood oxygenation, reducing inflammation and helping the body recover gently but steadily. As a tissue salt it helps to rebuild lost minerals in the pregnancy and birthing journey.

I personally prefer Ferrum phos in 12X potency with up to 3 doses daily in the early stages. Most health food stores sell 6X, which is perfectly fine too. But Ferrum phos is one of the few cell salts I find works beautifully in 12X.

Ferrum Phos for children

This tissue salt is such a useful support for children, where something feels off but hasn’t fully developed yet.

It’s helpful in:

• Low-grade fevers

• The early stages of colds, coughs, or ear inflammation

• General fatigue or vague illness without clear symptoms

Every home prescriber toolkit should include Ferrum phos.

Where to Find It

If you want to add Ferrum phos to your postpartum toolkit my top recommendation is Bee Healthy Homeopathic Ferrum phos 12X— it’s the brand I use most often in practice and at home.

Here’s why I love it:

• It comes in the 12X potency, which I find most optimal for postpartum support

• The tablets are soft and dissolvable, not hard or chalky like many other brands

• Larger bottles = more doses before needing to replenish (and comparably priced to Hylands brand, per dose)

• And best of all — you can use code LEAH10OFF for 10% off*

Other brands, like Hylands, are also great quality and widely available in health food stores (in 6X).

*I only recommend products I’ve personally used and genuinely love — I’ve chosen these because they work, they’re easy to take, and they’re what I reach for when supporting clients and myself. I may receive a small commission on some of the products I recommend at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting my work and this community.

Want to learn more?

If you’d like help creating a postpartum cell salt protocol or want support choosing the right remedy for your recovery, I offer 1:1 consultations for mothers at any stage of the journey.
➡️ https://leaphomeopathy.com