Chinese herbal medicine prevents and reverses osteoporosis

Western bisphosphonate drug treatments for osteoporosis linked to weakened bones

Osteoporosis (meaning “porous bones”) is a condition in which bone tissue loses its density over a period of time, leading to weakness and an increased risk of fracture. These risks can be reduced with lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, and exercise programs designed to strengthen bones, improve balance, and prevent falls. But if your osteoporosis is advanced and you are currently under the care of a Western doctor, chances are you have been prescribed a bisphosphonate such as Fosamax® or Boniva® to artificially increase your bone density. These drugs have been the treatment of choice since the mid-1990s. However, as with all seemingly good things, it’s worth following the latest research studies that actually prove the effectiveness and safety of the drugs you use long-term. term.

Recent studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine have exposed a significant link between long-term use of Fosamax® and unusual transverse fractures of the femur, indicating that prolonged therapy with these drugs tends to weaken bone integrity rather than to strengthen it. (1)

In April of this year, Dr. Pauline Camacho, of Loyola University Medical Center, told Reuters Health that current AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) guidelines recommend that patients take a 3-year break from bisphosphonate therapy after 4 or 5 years of treatment. (two)

Here in the West, there is no pharmaceutical alternative to bisphosphonate therapy other than the usual recommendations for mineral supplements like calcium citrate, Vit. D-3, Magnesium, Potassium, Boron, Vit K-2 and Strontium Ranelate. However, traditional Chinese medicine has been helping people successfully deal with all aspects of aging for some thousands of years.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach:

Traditional Chinese medical theory approaches a disease state like osteoporosis from a multifaceted point of view, taking into account the relative balance between all aspects of your body and its environment. If we use the metaphor of a tree to describe a particular medical condition, the Chinese physician will begin his investigation by inspecting the leaves, stems, and branches, as well as the trunk and root system of the tree. He will also assess the local ground environment and air and water sources before arriving at a diagnosis of what is out of balance. Even if a set of symptoms describes a disharmony in the trunk and branches, such as “osteoporosis”, the doctor will design a treatment plan that replenishes the resources for the use of the tree and rebalances all the systems that are responsible for maintaining the vitality of the tree. tree.

According to the ancient Chinese, the health and vitality of the bone matrix depends on the quantity and quality of Kidney Jing (literally “essential resource”). Jing is a useful metaphor to describe the source of “water” for bone growth and remodeling activities during the life of the tree. In simple human terms, along with many other activities, Jing tells osteoblasts to go to work making new bone and provides osteoclasts with energy to break down old bone.

During her life, a woman can deplete her Kidney Jing, especially during pregnancy and childbirth, overwork, stress, or excessive sexual activity. As a result, she will lose bone density. Brittle bones, however, are not the only symptom she will suffer from. Other signs of Jing loss include premature graying of hair, baldness, loose teeth, hearing problems, lower back and knee pain. These symptoms can also be found in men, although less frequently and usually later in life.

In TCM theory, the hepatic system stores blood and controls the vigor of tendons and sinews. If the patient’s liver resources are depleted, he or she may also experience dizziness, dryness, blurred vision, tinnitus, thirst, night sweats, and arthritic tendons and joints.

These same patients may also complain of muscle aches and weakness, poor digestion, and fatigue. In TCM theory, Spleen/Pancreatic Qi (literally “energy”) is responsible for transforming and transporting food resources to all parts of the body, including the bones. The energy of the spleen also recycles the blood and maintains the health of the vessels and muscles.

Chinese herbs to treat osteoporosis

Given this broader picture of possible signs and symptoms, Chinese medicine aims to replenish each of the organ systems that are responsible for bone health: the liver, spleen, pancreas, and especially kidney Jing. Chinese herbal formulas have been used with great success for more than two thousand years to achieve this end. Herbal specialists know precisely which roots, plants, fruits and natural substances replenish these resources. When these substances are simmered in water, they release their therapeutic nutrients into the water, turning the resulting broth into valuable medicine.

Soup broth: an essential form of food therapy for osteoporosis

Most Chinese hospitals deliver herbal recipes to their patients in thermoses of hot broth. Patients who use soup broth therapy recover their health faster and are able to maintain a higher level of vitality for a longer period of time. Tablets and capsules, while useful, are absorbed more slowly into the body and take longer to achieve the desired effect.

“Chinese Soup Broth for Healthy Bones and Prevention of Osteoporosis®”

This broth recipe has been passed down from one Chinese doctor to another for centuries. In many of my osteoporosis patients, it has completely replaced the need for bisphosphonate medications. You make it yourself by simmering pork neck bones and carefully selected herbs in a crock pot for 6 to 12 hours. Each batch lasts 16 days and can be stored in your refrigerator or freezer until needed. The herbal ingredients for the broth can be obtained through my clinic in convenient kitchen-ready packets accompanied by very simple cooking instructions and can be mailed anywhere in the country.

Although the exact formula is proprietary, the basic broth ingredients include Chinese goji berries, longan fruit, red jujube dates, codonopsis root, astragalus root, angelica sinensis root, American ginseng root, glehnia root, fresh ginger and deer antler jelly. Adjustments to the prescription may be made for patients who also suffer from arthritis or hip/joint disease.

In my more than 11 years of clinical experience, every patient who has continued therapy for more than nine months has increased their bone density by 15-30%. All patients also committed to 30 minutes a day of exercise, a garden-fresh diet, and some basic vitamin and mineral supplementation. There have been no side effects from using this broth recipe so far and it appears to support bone health as long as you incorporate it into your lifestyle.

Sources:
(1) “Atypical Femoral Shaft Fractures in Postmenopausal Women Taking Alendronate,” The New England Journal of Medicine, March 20, 2008; volume 358: pp. 1304-1306. Joseph M. Lane, MD and Dean G. Lorisch, MD

(2) Osteoporosis: A Guide for Physicians by Pauline M. Camacho, MD and Paul D. Miller, MD Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; April 2007