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musculoskeletal system
Osteoporosis
Integrative Therapies
Home Care
Osteoporosis is a condition involving a loss of calcium, other minerals, and collagen protein from the bones. This loss is usually greatest in the spine, hips, and ribs. There is normally a decline in bone mass after age 40, and osteoporosis works to accelerate that process. As the condition progresses, bone fractures may occur quite easily from minimal causes such as lifting or minor falls.
Osteoporosis usually has no symptoms until well developed, then it shows up as a severe backache, decrease in height, and spontaneous fractures. If your bones actually feel painful, consult a physician immediately for testing.
The following measures outline an integrative or holistic approach to osteoporosis, which is based on prevention.
THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS ARE USED FOR OSTEOPOROSIS AND CAN BE TAKEN ON A LONG-TERM BASIS:
1. Calcium This can help reduce bone loss. Use it as calcium citrate, 500 milligrams per day. Other supplemental forms of calcium may be less easily absorbed.
2. Magnesium citrate 500 milligrams per day.
3. Vitamin B6 100 milligrams per day.
4. Folic acid 1 milligram per day.
5. Boron 3 milligrams per day.
6. Vitamin K 1 milligram per day.
7. Strontium Lactate 100 milligrams per day. Nutritional strontium is important for healthy bone formation and can help reduce bone pain and bone loss.
THE PROPER DIET FOR OSTEOPOROSIS WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
1. Eliminate or reduce the consumption of all meats and other animal products, such as milk and eggs. A vegetarian diet helps prevent the development of osteoporosis. A healthy diet includes leafy green vegetables, whole grains, fresh fruit, and proteins with a minimum of animal fat. For more information on an overall healthy diet, refer to the article on "Healthy Diet".
2. Add plenty of calcium-rich foods to the diet. Eat 2 or more servings of the following daily: 4 ounces of nuts, 1 ounce of dried seaweed, 1 cup of cooked greens, 8 ounces of fish, or 2 tablespoons of molasses. Other good sources of calcium include goat milk, salmon, sardines, mackerel, and sesame butter.
3. Bones can serve as a good source of calcium. To extract the calcium, soak the bones for an hour in enough apple cider vinegar to cover them. Discard the bones and take 1 tablespoon of the vinegar in a warm glass of water daily. Similarly, bones can be simmered in water to make a calcium-rich soup stock.
4. Sugar intake causes the body to excrete needed calcium. As much as possible, avoid sugar foods such as candy, cake, cookies, soda pop and refined carbohydrates such as white flour products.
5. Eating a half a pound or more per day of cherries, blueberries, or other dark red or blue berries helps in the repair and upkeep of collagen fibers in bone.
6. Decrease or eliminate consumption of coffee and alcohol, as they are associated with decreased calcium storage.
8. Avoid soda pop, as the abundance of phosphoric acid tends to upset the body's calcium balance.
After menopause, women have a higher risk of osteoporosis. The lower levels of estrogen cause calcium loss from the bone.
THE FOLLOWING HERBS HAVE ESTROGEN ACTIVITY WITHOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH SYNTHETIC ESTROGEN:
The following herbs are used alone or in combination 1 teaspoon of the tincture, which is a liquid herbal extract, twice a day or 1 capsule of the following dried herbs twice a day:
Dong Quai, or Angelica sinensis This Chinese herb helps maintain estrogen balance in the body.
Licorice Root
Unicorn Root
Black Cohosh
False Unicorn Root
PHYSICAL THERAPY MEASURES FOR OSTEOPOROSIS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Exercise This is of tremendous benefit in maintaining and restoring bone. Exercise for 45 minutes to an hour 3 to 5 times per week. Brisk walking, aerobics, swimming, tennis, and racquetball are all excellent forms of exercise. Stretching exercises and light weight lifting both facilitate calcium absorption by the bones.
Daily exposure to sunlight This aids in prevention of osteoporosis by maintaining vitamin D in the body.
AS AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE:
Eliminate or cut down on smoking. In general, smokers have lowered mineral stores in their bones.
Clinic
Footnotes
BarShalom R, Soileau J. (eds.) Natural Health Hotline. Beaverton, OR: Integrative Medical Arts, 1991-1999.