NATURAL CURES......OSTEOPOROSIS

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Osteoporosis

 

Overview

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disorder caused by bone loss

occurring at a rate that exceeds the body's ability to create new

bone tissue. Bone loss is a natural phenomenon, but due to factors

such as poor diet and hormonal imbalances it can occur at a much

higher than normal rate. When it does, it is accompanied by the loss

of calcium and phosphate from the bones, leaving them brittle,

porous, and prone to facture. Shrinking of the overall skeletal

system can also occur, as can bent posture and humped shoulders and

upper back.

 

Though both men and women can develop osteoporosis, it most commonly

strikes women, especially in the U.S., where 33 percent of women past

menopause are afflicted with the condition. Overall, approximately 28

million Americans suffer from osteoporosis. In addition, each year in

the U.S. 1.5 million people age 45 or older suffer bone fractures of

the hip, spine, or wrist because of osteoporosis. In the U.S., the

risk of women developing osteoporosis is greater than the risks of

uterine, ovarian, and breast cancer combined, making osteoporosis the

fourth leading cause of death for American women.

 

The reason that women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis

than men are is because their bodies have proportionately less bone

mass compared to men's bodies, and they begin to lose bone mass at a

much earlier age—typically starting at 35; whereas most men do not

start to experience noticeable bone loss until around age 70. Bone

loss in women becomes more rapid in the first five years following

menopause, which can begin as early as age 45 or younger. During this

five year period, nearly all women in the U.S. will experience a five

to ten percent reduction in bone mass. Once men start to lose bone

mass to osteoporosis, their conditions can be equally as severe as

those of women.

 

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

In addition to bone loss and bones becoming more brittle, fragile,

and porous, other symptoms of osteoporosis include bone fractures,

brittle fingernails, distorted posture, insomnia and restless

behavior, joint pain [CREATE LINK TO: Arthritis], leg cramps

(especially at night), loss of height, periodontal (gum) disease, and

tooth loss. Often, these symptoms can manifest before people know

that they have osteoporosis and can therefore act as early warning

signs that bone loss is occurring. Note: If you chronically suffer

from any of these symptoms, seek prompt medical attention to

determine their cause.

 

Bone fractures that occur as a result of osteoporosis can cause

serious health consequences. Fractures that occur along the spine can

lead to permanent deformities in posture, while hip fractures can

potentially prove fatal. In fact, among older women (and men, as

well) who fracture their hips due to osteoporosis, one in five of

them die within a year as a direct result of doing so.

 

Other symptoms of osteoporosis include loss of strength, endurance,

appetite, and muscle mass, especially following bone fracture.

 

Tests for Osteoporosis

There are a number of ways that you can be screened and tested for

osteoporosis. The earliest and easiest test to perform is a height

measurement, which should be done as part of an annual physical. If,

as you grow older, your readings lessen, especially by half an inch

or more, there is a strong likelihood that you are developing

osteoporosis.

 

The next test is a bone density test, which should be performed

immediately after you experience bone loss or begin to chronically

experience any of the other symptoms mentioned above that can

potentially be caused by osteoporosis. There are three types of bone

density tests: the dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), dual photon

absorptiometry (DPA), and the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)

test. Be sure to request either the DXA bone marrow test, which is

the most accurate of the three tests, or the DEXA test, as the DPA

test, though more commonly available, is the least accurate of the

three. Some physicians prefer to rely on regular X-ray tests. These

are the least efficient tests of all, and can only detect signs of

osteoporosis after there has been at least a 25 percent reduction in

bone mass, by which time osteoporosis is in a very advanced stage.

 

According to the late John R. Lee, MD, a Harvard educated physician

who was considered one of the world's leading experts in osteoporosis

treatment and diagnosis, the most effective way to conduct bone

density tests is to focus on the spongy areas of long bones, heel

bones, and vertebrae, rather than limb bones, which tend to be much

denser and slower to exhibit changes in bone density. For best

results, have your physician test the lumbar area of your spine,

which will enable him or her to measure the bone density of four

vertebrae at once, minimizing the risk of error. Should you test

positive for osteoporosis, Dr. Lee advised you should then have your

physician monitor your lumbar bone density every three to six months

to determine how well you are responding to your course of treatment.

 

Causes of Osteoporosis

Conventional physicians, for the most part, regard the bone loss that

characterizes osteoporosis to be a natural and inevitable consequence

of growing older. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although a

certain degree of bone loss does occur to everyone as they age, in

non-Western cultures that continue to follow their native diets,

osteoporosis, like most other chronic degenerative diseases so common

here in the West, is virtually nonexistent. Only in highly

industrialized nations is it commonplace.

 

That being so, it is clear that osteoporosis is first and foremost a

product of our modern day lifestyle and the various factors that

comprise it. What follows are the most common causes of or

contributing factors for osteoporosis.

 

Conventional Drugs: A variety of common, conventional drugs can cause

or contribute to osteoporosis. Antibiotics, for example, can disrupt

your body's supply of healthy intestinal bacteria, which act as a

source of vitamin K, a necessary nutrient for healthy bone formation

and regeneration. Other drugs, such as steroids, including

prednisone, actually inhibit the formation of new bone tissue, as

well as inhibiting your body's ability to absorb calcium, another

essential nutrient for healthy bones. Additional drugs that can cause

or exacerbate osteoporosis include antacids that contain aluminum,

anticonvulsant and anti-seizure medications, blood thinners,

chemotherapy drugs, and antidepressant medications such as lithium.

Potentially, however, any drug can worsen osteoporosis symptoms.

 

Diet: Poor diet is a major cause of osteoporosis, especially in the

United States. The standard American diet, appropriately referred to

by the anagram SAD, which relies heavily on commercially processed

foods, is both high caloric and yet extremely deficient in necessary

nutrients. Such a diet also creates a highly acidic effect in the

body, causing the body to deplete itself of calcium and potassium

stores in order to buffer and protect against acid buildup. This, in

turn, causes a need to eat higher amounts of protein-rich foods,

which creates further acidity and greater calcium loss, all of which

stimulates bone loss and osteoporosis.

 

Other common aspects of the SAD diet are the high sugar, salt, and

white flour it contains, causing the loss of calcium, potassium, and

other vitamins and minerals, such as boron, folic acid, vitamin K,

magnesium, manganese, and silica, that are each vital for healthy

bones. Alcohol, caffeine, and soda are other major dietary

contributors to osteoporosis. In fact, research shows those that

consume three or more cups of coffee per day have an 82 percent

higher risk of osteoporosis, while as little as one drink of alcohol

per day can also significantly cause bone loss.

 

Further compounding the problem is the fact that non-organic,

commercially processed and prepared foods are very low in vital

nutrients essential for healthy bones, as well as good health in

general.

 

Environmental Toxins: Heavy metals in our air and water supplies also

contribute to bone loss, especially heavy metals such as aluminum,

cadmium, lead, and tin. These types of toxins raise acidity levels,

causing the body's storehouse of minerals such as calcium and

potassium to be depleted, weakening bones in the process. Chlorine

and fluoride in our water supplies can have the same effect.

Ironically, fluoride was once considered an effective treatment for

osteoporosis, but research now shows that fluoride, even in small

amounts, can greatly increase the risk of bone fracture and also

cause bone abnormalities and weakness.

 

Hormone Imbalances: Conventional physicians typically regard

osteoporosis as a condition caused by diminished estrogen supplies in

the body because of menopause. If that were the case, every woman

would develop osteoporosis after undergoing menopause, but as

mentioned above, osteoporosis is virtually nonexistent in cultures

around the world that do not eat a Western diet. In addition, women

who follow a near or complete vegetarian diet typically have lower

estrogen levels than women who eat meat, yet have greater bone

density and less risk of osteoporosis.

 

Holistic health practitioners recognize that it is not reduced

estrogen levels that cause osteoporosis, but reduced progesterone

levels. Progesterone is essential for healthy menstruation and also

plays an important role in stimulating the creation of new bone

tissue. Progesterone levels start to decline shortly before menopause

begins, and researchers have shown a direct correlation between

reduced progesterone and accelerated bone loss. Once menopause

occurs, the corresponding drop in estrogen levels hastens the

depletion of bone mass, as well.

 

While conventional physicians typically use synthetic estrogen

replacement to combat this problem, they ignore the loss of

progesterone, which is far more important because, although estrogen

helps to prevent bones loss, it is progesterone that helps to build

new bone and sustain overall bone health. Moreover, synthetic

estrogen treatments can cause a variety of negative side effects.

 

Note: One possible sign of hormone imbalance is vaginal bleeding. If

you experience this symptom, consult with your physician or

gynecologist immediately.

 

Hysterectomy: Hysterectomy is a medical procedure that removes the

uterus and, sometimes, a woman's ovaries. Even when the ovaries are

not removed, however, up to 57 percent of all women who have a

hysterectomy experience diminished ovarian function, which can lead

to the rapid bone loss that is characteristic of osteoporosis.

Compounding this problem is the fact that 90 percent of all

hysterectomies performed in the United States are unnecessary.

 

Lack of Exercise: In order for the body to properly continue

producing new bone tissue, regular exercise, especially exercise that

stimulates the bones, is essential. Such forms of exercise include

weight training, brisk walking, and running. In addition to helping

promote new bone growth, regular exercise also enhances blood flow to

the bones, supplying them with oxygen and essential nutrients that

can protect against bone loss. People who do not engage in regular

exercise or other forms of physical activity have an increased risk

of developing osteoporosis.

 

Low Body Fat: A lack of body fat due to excessive exercise and/or

weight loss diminishes the body's ability to adequately produce

progesterone and estrogen, hormones that are necessary to produce new

bone tissues and protect against bone loss, thus setting the stage

for osteoporosis to occur.

 

Smoking and Exposure to Secondhand Smoke: Smoking cigarettes and

regular exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke can cause or

exacerbate osteoporosis symptoms because of how the ingredients in

cigarette smoke interfere with the body's production of estrogen.

Cigarette smoke also diminishes the ability of estrogen to properly

interact with bone cells known as osteoclasts, which help to prevent

and heal bone fractures. In addition, cigarette smoke increases the

concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood, causing the body to

release its calcium stores, further increasing the risk of

osteoporosis.

 

Other Risk Factors: Other risk factors for osteoporosis include

absent or irregular menstruation, being short in height and/or having

a small bone structure, celiac disease (sensitivity to gluten), early

menopause, gastrointestinal disorders (bloating, flatulence, and/or

indigestion), genetic predisposition, hypothyroidism,

hyperthyroidism, kidney and liver disease, and lack of regular

exposure to sunlight. Women of Asian or Caucasian descent, as well as

women with blonde, red, or prematurely graying hair, also have a

higher than normal risk of developing osteoporosis, as do women with

freckles and women who have never had children.

 

Preventing Osteoporosis

The primary preventive measures you can take to greatly reduce your

risk of developing osteoporosis is to follow the dietary and

nutritional guidelines outlined below, to have your hormone levels

(especially estrogen and progesterone) monitored as part of an annual

physical checkup, and to make necessary lifestyle changes. These

include: eliminating or minimizing your alcohol intake to no more

than one glass of red wine per day, avoiding aluminum and aluminum

products such as aluminum cookware and commercial antacids and

antiperspirants, getting enough sunshine each and every day, and

regular exercise.

 

 

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Natural Cures

 

Osteoporosis is both very preventable and relatively easy to halt and

reverse if you are willing to take the proper steps to do so. The

primary steps involve your diet, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle

choices, along with various therapeutic options.

 

Ayurvedic Medicine: A traditional remedy for osteoporosis prescribed

by Ayurvedic physicians consists of black sesame seeds combined with

equal parts ginger and shatavari, the primary Ayurvedic herb for

female rejuvenation. The ginger and shatavari combined should equal

the amount of black sesame seeds. Eat one ounce of this mixture each

day. The Ayurvedic herb amla can also be helpful for osteoporosis.

 

Diet: A healthy diet is absolutely essential for maintaining bone

health and preventing and reversing osteoporosis. Such a diet avoids

all commercially processed foods, alcohol, caffeine, pasteurized milk

and dairy products, fried foods, refined flour and flour products,

soda, and sugar, and minimizes the intake of salt and protein rich

foods, all of which create acid buildup in the body, causing bone-

protecting nutrients such as calcium and potassium to leech from the

bones.

 

The ideal diet for preventing and reversing the effects of

osteoporosis is one that is mostly vegetarian and emphasizes an

abundance of fresh, organic leafy green vegetables throughout the

day, along with whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and oily, wild

caught fish that are rich in essential fatty acids, such as cod,

mackerel, salmon and sardines. Small portions of fresh, organic fruit

are fine, as is organic plain yogurt or raw dairy in small amounts.

Fermented organic soy products, such as miso and tempeh can also be

helpful, but other soy products, including soy milk and soy protein

should be avoided because of how they can negatively affect estrogen

levels. Caution: Despite its hype as a health food, most soy products

are actually unhealthy unless they are fermented and organic. In

addition, all commercial soy crops grown in the U.S. are genetically

modified.

 

Be sure to drink plenty of pure, filtered water throughout the day.

Organic herbal teas, such as chamomile, green tea, peppermint and

spearmint are also recommended.

 

Environmental Medicine: Environmental medicine traces the connection

between environmental factors and our body's health. It can be

extremely effective for helping osteoporosis patients detoxify from

exposure to heavy metal toxins and other environmental poisons that

can cause and exacerbate osteoporosis. Among the detoxification

therapies that may be employed are colonics, enemas, fasting, far

infrared sauna, as well as oral and IV Chelation Therapy. Screening

for food and environmental allergies also help patients successfully

return to a path of good health.

 

Exercise: Regularly engaging in weight-bearing exercise at least

three times a week for 30 minutes, is also highly recommended. Such

exercises include brisk walks, dancing, jogging, and weight training.

Rebounding (jumping on a mini-trampoline) is another excellent

choice. If you choose to make walking your primary form of exercise,

you can add benefit by using ankle weights.

 

Note: It is never too late to begin an exercise program. However, if

you have not exercised regularly in some time, consult with your

physician to determine the best type of exercise program to follow

and, at least initially, consider working with a professional

exercise trainer.

 

Herbal Medicine: Useful herb remedies to help prevent and reverse

osteoporosis include bone brew, which is rich in calcium and is

comprised of equal parts horsetail, nettle, and sage. To prepare bone

brew, combine dried amounts of horsetail and nettle in a one-quart

container, crushing the herbs to a powder, then add sage. Next, fill

the container with boiling water, seal tightly, and set aside for

four to five hours. When it is ready for drinking, pour through a

strainer and drink one to three glasses each day. Horsetail and sage

can also be taken alone. Both teas help support the body's production

of estrogen, and horsetail also helps to improve bone density.

 

Other useful herbs include alfalfa, black cohosh, buckwheat, hops,

rose, shepherd's purse and sweetbriar, all of which help to maintain

adequate estrogen levels in the body. Berry, chastetree,

sarsaparilla, wild yam, and yarrow, are excellent for maintaining

proper levels of progesterone.

 

Dandelion root is another useful tea because of how it helps the body

absorb vital minerals necessary for bone health. Alternatively, it

can be taken as a tincture, using 10 to 15 drops under your tongue

before meals.

 

Juice Therapy: The following juice combinations can help ease

osteoporosis symptoms by shifting the body into a more alkaline, less

acid state: beet, carrot, and celery; green juice; and lemon, papaya,

and pineapple. Be sure to use organic fruits and vegetables.

 

Natural Hormone Therapy: Many holistic health practitioners now make

natural progesterone a part of their overall protocols for dealing

with osteoporosis. Natural progesterone, which is derived from fatty

substances known as sterols in wild yam, was identified by the late

Dr. John Lee as having molecules that were virtually identical to

those of progesterone manufactured by the body. This is in stark

contrast to synthetic progesterone supplements widely used by

conventional physicians, which contain other types of chemical

molecules that not only prevent synthetic progesterone from properly

functioning in the body, but can also cause serious side effects,

including edema and high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart

attack and stroke. Other common side effects of synthetic

progesterone are unhealthy increases in body fat, breast cancer,

endometrial cancer, gallbladder disorders, and liver disease.

Synthetic progesterone, as well as other synthetic hormones, can also

cause mood swings and mental health problems.

 

Natural progesterone causes none of these harmful side effects and

has been shown by research to be completely safe when used under a

physician's guidance. In addition, natural progesterone acts in the

body in much the same way as the body's own supply of progesterone,

making it an excellent choice not only for preventing and reversing

bone loss, but also for helping to ease and eliminate symptoms of

menstruation, PMS, and menopause.

 

Natural progesterone supplements are available at most health food

stores in the form of creams which are rubbed into the skin, and then

absorbed into the body. Dr. Lee recommended that women select

formulas that contain a three percent solution of natural

progesterone, nightly applying _ teaspoon to the body's soft tissues,

such as the stomach, breasts, or thighs, alternating sites each

night. For women who are still menstruating, he recommended that

creams be applied for two consecutive weeks each month, and three

consecutive weeks for women who had entered into menopause.

 

Nutritional Supplements: Calcium is recommended to prevent and

reverse osteoporosis and is most absorbable in the forms of either

Calcium aspartate, Calcium citrate, or Calcium lactate. It is best

taken in combination with magnesium, which, contrary to popular

opinion, should be taken in equal dosages to calcium, according to

Garry Gordon, MD, DO, a leading holistic nutritional and anti-aging

expert. For best results, supplement with 800 to 1,500 mg of both

calcium and magnesium.

 

Essential fatty acids (EFAs), especially omega-3 and omega-6 oils,

are also important because of their ability to balance and maintain

bone calcium stores. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and fish oils are

excellent sources of omega-3 EFAs, while black currant, borage, and

evening primrose oil all provide omega-6 EFAs.

 

Other useful nutrients include vitamin A, B-complex vitamins, vitamin

B6, vitamin B12, boron, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D3 (the most

absorbable form of vitamin D), vitamin K, copper, manganese,

phosphorus, potassium, silica, and zinc.

 

Another excellent supplement to protect against bone loss is natural

microcrystalline calcium hydroxyapatite complex (MCHC), which

contains calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and natural fluoride in the

same proportions as found in healthy bone tissue. Research has shown

that MCHC not only prevents bone loss, but also helps to rebuild new

bone tissue in people with osteoporosis.

 

Traditional (TCM): According to TCM theory, the

health of your bones is directly related to the health of your

kidneys. TCM practitioners help to prevent osteoporosis by using

traditional Chinese herbal formulas such as Eight Flavor Rehmannia

(shai di huang) and the Two Immortals (er xian tang), both of which

help to maintain kidney health and also provide anti-aging benefits.

These supplements should only be used under the direction of a

skilled TCM practitioner, however.

 

In addition to the herbal formulas above, TCM practitioners may also

employ other herbs, such as dong quai and eucommia dipsaci, as well

as Acupuncture, dietary recommendations, and meditative exercise

practice such as Qigong and Tai Chi.

 

Alternative Professional Care

The following therapies can also help to prevent and reverse

osteoporosis: Acupuncture, Chelation Therapy, Chiropractic,

Environmental Medicine (Ondamed, electrodermal screening) Fasting,

Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Magnet Therapy, Osteopathic Medicine,

Reflexology, and Traditional . See Glossary for

descriptions.

 

 

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A Quick Action Plan for Osteoporosis

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One of the most important steps you can take to prevent and reverse

osteoporosis is to follow an organic, whole foods diet that

emphasizes plenty of fresh, organic leafy green vegetables throughout

the day, along with whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and

limited amounts of raw dairy and fish rich in essential fatty acids,

such as cod, mackerel, salmon, and sardines. Red meats should be

limited to no more than three meals per week, and your overall

protein intake should not exceed more than 44 grams per day.

 

Avoid all commercial, processed and refined foods including white

flour, salt, soda, and sugar, and limit your intake of alcohol,

caffeine, pasteurized dairy products and milk.

 

Aluminum products such as aluminum cookware, commercial antacids and

antiperspirants, should also be avoided.

 

Supplement with calcium aspartate, citrate or lactate, along with

equal amounts of magnesium (800 to 1,500 mg of each mineral). Also

supplement with vitamin A, B-complex, vitamin B6, vitamin B12,

vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin K, boron, copper, folic acid,

manganese, and zinc.

 

Adequate amounts of essential fatty acids are important. Omega-3 EFAs

are found in fish oils and EPA, while omega-6 EFAs can be obtained

from black currant, borage, and evening primrose oils.

 

Natural microcrystalline calcium hydroxyapatite complex (MCHC), which

contains calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and natural fluoride in the

same proportions as healthy bone tissue, is another excellent

nutritional supplement for osteoporosis.

 

Avoid the use of synthetic hormone therapy, including synthetic

estrogen, which can actually worsen osteoporosis symptoms, as well as

dramatically increase your risk of serious side effects, including

heart disease and cancer.

 

Natural progresterone cream in a three percent solution can be

applied in a dose of 1/4 teaspoon per night for two consecutive weeks

every month for women who are pre-menopausal, and for three

consecutive weeks for women who have entered menopause.

 

Useful herbs for preventing and reversing osteoporosis include

alfalfa, berry, black cohosh, buckwheat, chastetree, dandelion root,

hops, horsetail, sage, sarsaparilla, shepherd's purse, sweetbriar,

and sage.

 

Bone brew, composed of equal parts horsetail, nettle, and sage, is

another excellent herbal remedy for preventing and stopping bone loss.

 

Be sure to regularly engage in a weight bearing exercise program at

least three times a week for 30 minutes. Excellent exercise choices

include brisk walks, dancing, rebounding on a mini-trampoline, and

weight training.

 

Another healthy lifestyle choice is to stop smoking and avoid

exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke.

 

Hysterectomies should be avoided if at all possible because of how

such operations, even if they leave the ovaries intact, can cause

rapid bone loss. 90 percent of all hysterectomies in the U.S. are

unnecessary.

 

Finally, seek to avoid or at least reduce your reliance on

conventional medications, including antibiotics, anti-seizure

medications, blood thinners, and steroids, all of which can cause

bone loss and worsen osteoporosis symptoms.