Herbs for osteoporosis
Osteoporosis reduces the density of our bones. Osteoporosis affects over 35% of women, especially the elderly, by robbing their bones of minerals. This makes the bones brittle and prone to fractures.
Men also suffer from osteoporosis but at a later age, with less frequency, and with less severity.
Keeping bones healthy with herbs
Herbs can delay the onset of osteoporosis and help relieve existing conditions.
Ginseng, flax seed oil, evening primrose oil, black cohosh, chasteberry, horsetail, licorice, fennel, comfrey, hawthorn, bilberry, wild yam, and ginkgo biloba are good choices.
Bitter herbs that increase bile production are also helpful. Try dandelion and milk thistle seed.
Mineral supplements are sometimes recommended since they are so important to bone health. A good supplement should include calcium citrate, magnesium, and baron.
Many factors contribute to osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a condition related to aging, hormonal changes, lifestyle, nutrition, and environment.
The disease is caused by a combination of things including the drop in estrogen levels that occurs in menopause.
Other causes include mineral deficiencies, a thyroid malfunction, poor vitamin C assimilation, lack of B vitamins, too many cortisone or antibiotic drugs, heavy smoking, excess sugar, florescent lighting, electric blankets, aluminum cookware, alcoholism, heavy metal poisoning, anxiety, and emotional stress.
One of the first symptoms of osteoporosis is loose teeth.
Symptoms and early warning signs differ among individuals. Unusual dental problems such as bone loss in the jaw or tooth sockets (with loose teeth) are usually indicators that osteoporosis has set in.
Other symptoms include frequent bone fractures, facial tics, chronic back pain, leg pain, and vision problems.
Osteoporosis is a complex disease.
Osteoporosis shows up as people age.
Since bone is living tissue and requires a wide variety of nutrients, diet can help delay progression. Choose organically grown foods whenever possible.
Avoid red meat, processed foods, salt, and sugar (which cause a reduced nutrient absorption rate and rob the body of minerals).
Osteoporosis is more than a lack of dietary calcium.
Osteoporosis is much more than just a calcium deficiency and cannot be cured by increased consumption of dairy products.
Antacids containing calcium don't really help in the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis either. Antacids may actually lead to reduced bone growth.
Red meat can cause osteoporosis symptoms to worsen. Excess dietary proteins (from meat) enter the kidneys and cause loss of water and excretion of large amounts of minerals.
Simple home test for bone loss
A home test can be performed with a piece of ph indicator (litmus) paper.
- Catch urine in a clean paper cup.
- A habitual reading below 7 (acid) usually means a loss of calcium signifying that bone loss is occurring.
- A habitual reading above 7 (alkaline) indicates a lower risk for osteoporosis.
Early morning sunlight and diet
Be sure to get some early morning sunlight whenever weather permits. Fifteen minutes on the back and shoulders three times a week is enough to really help.
Sunlight causes the body to produce vitamin D and greatly benefits the bones.
Eat more fresh vegetables, artichokes, fish, seafood, sea veggies, eggs, yogurt, carrots, avocados, dried fruit, sprouts, beans, greens, tofu, bananas, apricots, molasses, and whole grains.
Avoid night shade plants such as tomatoes and potatoes.
Exercise helps build strong bones.
Exercise also helps, but start slowly and build up gradually. In fact, exercise is one of the best ways to prevent osteoporosis in the first place.
Try fifteen minutes of weight lifting with thirty minutes of walking for noticeable results in just a few weeks.
Science, osteoporosis, and herbs
Bone is rigid, but it constantly undergoing changes of breakdown and build up. Balance is key to bone health.
When aging, bad nutrition, lack of sunlight, and other major diseases interfere with bone balance, bone loss is the result. Approximately 50% of over 70-year-old women experience one or more fractures. These statistics are unacceptable!
Often hormone replacement is advised but many healthcare professionals do not think this is a good idea. Instead they are turning to natural remedies and herbs.
Several Chinese kidney-tonics have been tested and shown to have positive effects on bone metabolism.
Chinese herbalists see kidney health and bone health as closely related. They treat the kidneys and the bones with an herbal cocktail or "soup" containing Yin Yang Huo, Nu Zhen Zi, and Bu Gu Zhi.
Studies show that this mixture increases mineralization and has other positive effects.
*Always consult with your healthcare professional before taking any herbal remedy especially if pregnant, nursing, or taking other medication.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3924968/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3572690/
Blessings to you and yours!
Thanks so much for reading my blog. Jan.
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