Osteoporosis and bone fractures - Ayurvedic / herbal medicines

What is Osteoporosis?

Causes for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis occurs when the body will not form enough new bone and too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body. There are essential minerals such as Calcium and phosphate for formation of normal bone. If there is no source of enough calcium, or there is no proper absorption of enough calcium from the diet, there will be hampering of bone production and bone tissues.

Other causes are osteoporosis do occur in bed ridden patients, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, eating disorders, chronic kidney disease, consuming long term corticosteroid medications, may lead to osteoarthritis. Other causes are Vitamin D3 deficiencies for those who do not expose themself to sunlight, hyperparathyroidism, for those who have family history, amenorrhea for long period, smoking or alcohol abuse, hormone treatments, low body weight, lack of calcium in the diet.

Osteoporosis in old age

During the advancement of age, calcium and phosphate may be reabsorbed back into the body from the bones and bones become weaker and resulting weaker bones, susceptible for factures without injuries. Usually most of the women do suffer from this condition, that is due to drop in estrogen levels in women at the time of menopause and similarly testosterone in men with high risks at later stages of their life.

Symptoms of osteoporosis

Usually there will be no symptoms initially, gradually, tenderness and bone pain, easy fractures, delayed height growth, Low back pain, neck pain, kyphosis or stooped posture are the symptoms.

Diagnosis of osteoporosis

Bone density test or DEXA scan is a test which is helpful, other tests like CT scan is also useful. Vitamin D3 test is also useful, and regular blood tests are helpful. Even osteopenia is also diagnosed by bone density scan.

Treatment for osteoporosis

• The main goal of osteoporosis treatment is to control pain, slow down the process of bone loss, preventing bone fractures with proper care such as minimize the risk of fall by maintaining healthy lifestyle and various medicines to strengthen the bones.
• In postmenopausal women Bisphosphonates are used as primary drugs for preventing and treating osteoporosis. These medicines are taken in any mode such as orally or intravenously. Other medicines such as calcitonin, Ralxifene, are also used, and they do have some side effects in few individuals.
• Other therapies such as Hormone replacement therapies, parathyroid hormone, for postmenopausal women.

Exercises for osteoporosis

To maintain healthy lifestyle, one should follow regular exercises, weight bearing exercises depending on condition, resistance exercises, balance, exercises, stationary bicycle riding are indicated with proper care. Avoid exercises that may cause risk of falling, or high impact exercises that may cause fractures.

DIET for osteoporosis

Diet is very important factor to prevent osteoporosis, and nutrition requirement recommends 1200 milligrams per day of calcium and up to 1000 units of vitamin D3 is important. Vitamin D is helpful for calcium absorption. There are calcium rich foods which include cheese, Green leafy vegetables (spinach, collard greens etc.), Ice cream, low-fat milk, salmon, yogurt etc.

Lifestyle in Osteoporosis

• If a patient is having a habit of smoking or alcohol, one should be cautious while walking or running, and prevent the risk of falling which may lead to easy fractures of bones, hence one should be careful and avoid sedating medications, free from household hazards, vision should be good, be careful in bathrooms and wet floors.
• Women who is on estrogen should keep check-ups like routine mammograms, pelvic exams, and Pap smears.
• Though there are no surgeries for osteoporosis, but if there is any fractures, one can go for surgery accordingly, usually vertebroplasty is indicated in spinal column, other surgery called kyphoplaty is also done for proper spinal posture.

Complications

There are many complications when osteoporosis is not treated such as easy fractures, compression fractures of spine, weak bones, hip and wrist fracture, difficulty in walking.

Alternative Remedies

Alternative system of medicines and therapies are very helpful to prevent and control osteoporosis. As calcium is essential one should get proper source, and Vitamin D which is also important for proper absorption of calcium, hence one should follow balanced diet.

Ayurveda and Osteoporosis

In ayurveda, there are many methods to prevent osteoporosis, Panchakarma treatments such a mild body massages, medicated enema called vasti and other therapies which are helpful. Similarly, Naturopathy is also very useful therapy where Mud therapy is beneficial.

Ayurvedic Medicines for Osteoporosis

Ayurvedic medicines such as Asthiposhak - Calcium Supplement, Divya Lakshadi Guggulu, Osteoseal are the medicines which are helpful to prevent fractures and helps in uniting bones and strengthen them.

Osteoporosis package Medicine is a combination of multiple medicines which are effective to maintain stability and this package contain following medicines such as Divya Giloy Sat, Divya Swarna-Maksika bhasm, Divya Pravala Pishti, Divya Godanti Bhasm, Divya Brihadvata Chintamani ras, Divya Yograj Guggulu, Divya Chandraprabha Vati, Divya Shilajit Rasayan vati, and Divya Ashwagandha Churna are the medicines used in combination which are helpful.

Conclusion

One should get exposed to morning sunlight or sunshine to get sunshine vitamin or Vitamin D3 which is essential for proper calcium absorption in the body. Hence one should perform some exercises or yoga such as Suryanamasakara, and other yoga poses which are helpful. There are many herbal and herbo-mineral or siddha medicines which are having bone strengthening properties.