Osteoporosis and menopause

Homeopathy, Menopause | 0 comments

Another risk associated with menopause is osteoporosis. There are a few things we can do to prevent or reduce osteoporosis. I will try to explain how lifestyle changes and homeopathic remedies can improve our bone health.

According to recent statistics from the International Osteoporosis Foundation, worldwide, 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 years and 1 in 5 men will experience osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime.
As women enter menopause, their estrogen and progesterone levels begin to fall. Estrogen acts as a natural protector and defender of bone strength. The lower estrogen levels contribute to the development of osteoporosis. Decreased estrogen is not the only cause of osteoporosis.

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What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis, which literally means porous bone, is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased. The loss of bone occurs silently and progressively. Often there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs. For more information about bone health, read here.

osteoporosis, menopause

What can be done?

  • Exercise  – Exercise makes bones and muscles stronger and helps prevent bone loss.  Weight-bearing exercises are best for prevention and should be done 3-4 X per week, for 30 minutes.  This could include playing tennis, walking, running, dancing and many more. Balance – It is important to include balance exercises which may help prevent a fall and reducing your chance of breaking a bone.
  • Nutrition – Have in your diet foods high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamins. Eating healthy, balanced, freshly cooked food is a good start. Try to include plenty of vegetables, protein, seeds, nuts, healthy fats and fruit. More information about the diet you can read here. Consulting a nutritionist may be an option.
  • Other – Limit alcohol consumption, don’t smoke.
  • Steroids and certain medications can increase the rate of bone loss, and your awareness of this enables you to compensate through other means. Get advice from your Doctor.
  • Based on current evidence, melatonin might be used as a safe nutritional supplement to improve bone density in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Still, its efficacy needs to be further affirmed. More about melatonin read here.
  • Vitamin D3 is essential for bone health. Most of us living in the northern hemisphere need to supplement, especially during the cold weather. Speak with your Gp and get your levels checked.

Homeopathy for osteoporosis

These remedies can be used for male and female clients when the symptoms fit. The treatment is tailored to the patient.

  • Tissue salts are useful in promoting bone health. They are working on a cellular level. Calcium fluoride, Calcium phosphate and Silica can be used daily over a few months to improve absorption of those minerals and proper utilisation. This can be repeated as needed. For the best outcome, a healthy diet alongside the tissue salts will provide the minerals which the remedies will help absorb.

 

  • Calcarea carbonica is often helpful to individuals who are easily tired by exertion and tend to feel anxious and overwhelmed from work or stress. The person may be chilly, flabby or overweight, and feel worse from cold and dampness. Back pain, swollen joints, and a sweaty head at night are often seen. People who need this remedy often have strong cravings for both eggs and sweets.
  • Calcarea phosphorica has stiffness, soreness, and weakness of the bones and joints. Aching in the bones of the neck, upper back, and hips can be distressing. Deep tiredness frequently is felt, especially after exercise. Calcium deposits and bone-spurs may develop, even while general bone loss is taking place, and fractures may be slow to heal. People who need this remedy often see a feeling of dissatisfaction and a strong desire for travel or a change of circumstances.
  • Phosphorus is often helpful to people who are sensitive, suggestible, imaginative but easily tired or weakened physically. Bones may be less strong than normal or be slow to heal after fractures. Weakness is often felt in the spine, with burning pain between the shoulder blades. A desire for refreshing foods (especially ice cream) and a strong thirst for cold or carbonated drinks are other indications for this remedy.
  • Silicea- People who need this remedy are often nervous, easily tired, very chilly, and tend to sweat at night. They have a refined or delicate appearance and often have weakness in the spine. Their injuries are slow to heal, and they tend to have a low resistance to infection. Moderate exercise often warms the person up and improves energy.
  • Argentum metallicum is well suited for treating osteoporosis and is also indicated for juvenile bone growth disorders and fractures of the metatarsal, scaphoid, tarsal and anterior tibia bones.
  • Symphytum is indicated for osteoporosis and is known for “knitting” bones that refuse to mend or are slow to fuse after a fracture. When osteoporosis is a problem, fractures often occur from mild trauma. This remedy can be useful for strengthening and healing bones when new fractures occur and also helpful when pain persists in old, healed fractures.
  • Homeopathic Cortisone has the exact opposite action of its pharmaceutical form. Overprescribing regular cortisone causes a reduction in bone matrix and may induce osteoporosis. In homeopathic form, Cortisone helps reverse this condition.
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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and not intended to replace the advice of your physician or health care provider.