Osteoporosis Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones deteriorate and become brittle and fragile because of low bone mass and bone tissue loss.
The condition is often referred to as a “silent disease” because you cannot feel your bones getting weaker, and many people don't even know they have the condition until after they break a bone.
Osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures, particularly of the hips, spine, and wrists. In fact, osteoporosis causes an estimated nine million fractures each year worldwide.



Causes of Osteoporosis:

Symptoms of Osteoporosis:
Osteoporosis often has no symptoms. The first sign that you may have it is when you break a bone in a relatively minor fall or accident (known as a low-impact fracture). Fractures are most likely in the hip, spine or wrist.
Some people have back problems if the bones of the spine (vertebrae) become weak and lose height. These are known as vertebral crush fractures. They usually happen around the mid or lower back and can occur without any injury. If several vertebrae are affected, your spine will start to curve and you may become shorter. Sometimes vertebral crush fractures can make breathing difficult simply because there’s less space under the ribs.
If you have a vertebral crush fracture, you'll also have a greater risk of fracturing your hips or wrists.

Ayurveda for Osteoporosis :-
According to the traditional Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, osteoporosis is a vata disorder. This is an element or a dosha, which is condensed from the element of space. Ancient texts claim that bones become porous due to an excess of air and ether, which results in this particular health condition.
To balance the vata dosha or to treat osteoporosis, the most commonly used Ayurvedic Herbs for osteoporosis are Harjor, Arjuna, and Guggulu:

1. Harjor

Harjor (Cissus quadrangularis) is an Ayurvedic herb that is renowned for its bone healing properties. It is often used as a decoction as well as an external application to treat fractures. Harjor can reduce the convalescent period after a fracture. Animal studies suggest that phytoestrogens in harjor increase the thickness of cortical bone – which is the outermost hard layer of bone that is responsible for bone strength.

2. Arjuna

Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna)is a tree that is native to Asia. The bark is used to prepare a decoction that offers cardioprotection and supports bone health. The bark contains tannins, calcium carbonate, and sodium chloride, along with several other bioactive agents that improve bone health. The powdered bark is used to treat and prevent bone diseases as well as aid bone fracture treatments.

3. Guggulu

Guggulu or guggul (Commiphora mukul) is one of the most widely used herbs in Ayurvedic medicine, commonly recommended for the management of obesity and elevated cholesterol. However, the plant’s resin, which is the main medicinal ingredient, is also used to promote bone healing and strength.

Other used herbs for osteoporosis are Amla (Emblica Officinalis) Fruit, Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosus) Tubers, Gokhru (Tribulus Terrestris) Fruit, Manjistha (Rubia Cordifolia) Root, Punarnava (Boerhavia Diffusa) Root, Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum) Leaf, Nishoth (Ipomea Turpethum) Root, Giloy (Tinospora Cordifolia) Stem, Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera), Vidhara (Argyreia Speciosa) Root, Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus Pluricaulis) Plant, Jivanti (Leptadenia Reticulata) Root, Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri) Leaves, Pipali (Piper Longum) Fruit.

For more details on how Ayurveda can help you with osteoporosis, please contact Ayurvedic practitioners at Life Line Ayurvedic Herbal Clinic Adelaide.