Osteoporosis is a serious health issue that causes lots of suffering and might compromise one’s overall health, leading to death earlier than expected. The current treatment recommends use of the prescription medications in the bisphosphonate family: Fosamax, Actonel, and Boniva. The unfortunate part of this treatment is that it is likely to cause a serious bone condition called osteonecrosis, which means dead bone. These medications work by replacing part of the bone with an inert material that delays the breakdown of bone thereby slowing osteoporosis, but they do not build new bone. The problem is that, over time, this inert or dead material will make the bones more brittle. The worse news is that it stays in the bone for 18 months up to ten years. Current medical guidelines suggest use of these medications for no more than five years because this treatment can cause brittle bone. Hmm. These products do improve the DEXA bone density scan test results, but they do not make healthier bone, it just appears more dense on the test.

 

Then what are you supposed to do?

 

You might want to read a fascinating story that broke on National Public Radio in 2009. It was titled “How a Bone Disease Grew to Fit the Prescription” and written by Alix Spiegel. Google this if you are interested. It seems that a particular pharmaceutical company hired an advertising agency to create a name for a new disease, which they named Osteopenia. This was literally done to create a bigger market for one of their already-existing products. This story will give you some insight into how a medicine can be recommended by your doctor, yet he might not really know the whole story.

 

Natural treatment for osteoporosis must include exercise. I once saw a 14-year-old boy with osteoporosis in his leg after a fracture that was treated with no weight bearing for six weeks. Bone needs stimulation from low impact of mild to moderate exercise.

 

Elimination of acid-producing foods, such as pork, pop, sugar, fruit juice with sugar added, processed dairy products, potatoes, and tomatoes, is a must if you are facing osteoporosis. An interesting statistic is that the three countries with the highest consumption of processed milk are United States, Australia, and Sweden, and they also have the highest osteoporosis rates. Hmm. That is probably not just a coincidence. Homogenizing milk releases an enzyme, xanthine oxidase, that is very acidic and is not present in raw dairy. Calcium citrate, 250 mg, with magnesium, 250 mg, two times per day gives adequate absorbable calcium. High doses of calcium may actually be detrimental to your body. Vitamin D3, 4000 to 6000 IUs per day, is needed for healthy bone.

 

There are many skeletal support products on the market for additional minerals. Bioplasma, a product by Hyland’s, is a combination of 12 cell salts, all of which support structural tissues. Take 6 pellets twice a day. Homeopathic Symphytum 30C, one pellet per week, will help heal any micro-fractures that are occurring. The mineral Boron, 3 mg per day is necessary for health bone. The Vitamin K2 (we like the brand MegaQuinone) two daily is now thought to be very important. The element strontium 3-400 mg per day is very helpful. Please note Strontium should be taken away from calcium supplements. Homeopathic Calcerea Carbonicum 6C one pellet once per day, with herbal Hydrangea (take the hydrangea, one capsule three times per day on days 1-25 of each month to maintain effectiveness of this herbal medicine) will reduce bone spurs, remove soft tissue calcium, and enhance the deposition of calcium back into normal bone. Limit Hydrangea to 3-6 months depending on severity of symptoms.

 

All of these things support the natural production of bone and none interfere with normal physiology of bone like the prescription medication. To take them all is a bit expensive, but at least do some of them. Your bone density can be improved.

 

Put Your Health in Your Own Hands.