Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis (porous bone) is a bone disorder in which bones lose density, become weak and likely to fracture. As age increases, bone mineral density decreases mostly in late 30's. Osteoporosis affects male and females especially females are more likely to develop resulting with hip, wrist and spine fractures after menopause.

Many people have no symptoms until they have a bone fracture

1. Bone fracture or loss of height
2. Back pain, caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra
3. A stooped posture
4. A bone that breaks much more easily than expected

According to Ayurveda there are three elements present in our body : vata, pitta and kapha  which should be in balance. Osteoporosis is considered as Asthi Dhatu kshaya (Asthi - Bone, Dhatu - tissue). Vitiated vata elements and toxins (ama) produced by the body because of an unhealthy lifestyle cause obstruction in the body channels and impair the process of bone tissue formation.

• Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis than are men
• The older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis
• Greatest risk of osteoporosis is white or of Asian descent
• Family history - parents having osteoporosis
• Small body frames tend to have a higher risk because they might have less bone mass to draw from as they age
• Poor diet and lifestyle - Low calcium intake and deficiency of vitamin D
• Health conditions like Rheumatoid arthritis, Cushing's syndrome and Hyperthyroidism
• When a person is under stress or reacting to stress with anxiety
• Physical exhaustion; mental strain and overwork without giving the body a chance to relax and rejuvenate
• Lack of sleep
• Suffering emotionally from grief, fear or shock
• Travelling (flying or long car journeys)
• Stringent diets
• Eating cold, raw or dry foods frequently
• Living in cold, dry and windy weather

Treatment protocol aims at

1. Enhance the calcium deposition in bone.
2. Strengthen the bone and whole body.
3. Support the bone metabolism and prevent the progression of disease.

The first line of treatment should always be avoiding the causative factors. If the problem persists then consider the following treatment protocol.

• Bone fracture, back pain, stooped posture -The loss of calcium weakens the bones and makes them more susceptible to fracture. Also the spine (vertebrae) can weaken at the point that they crumple causing characteristic stooped posture. The bone becomes so porous to the extent that a fall, a cough or lifting a heavy object may cause a fracture of the back bones and cause back pain.                                                                                             Pravalapanchamruta, Pravala bhasma are used to help low bone density especially menopause and elderly and regulate the calcium, phosphorus and bone metabolism to give stronger, healthy and mineral rich bones. Laksha, Lakshadi guggulu, Ashwagandha  enhance calcium deposition on bones. It helps to increase the bone strength. It helps in deposition of calcium at the right place in the body.
• Support the bone metabolism and prevent the progression of disease - Bala, Nagabala, Arjuna will provide strength to the bone.It will balance Vata dosha.

(The above mentioned Ayurvedic drugs are Herbs and Herbomineral preparations)

Other therapies - Abhyanga(oil massage), Basti (enema), Kati Basti (An external Ayurvedic treatment of localized application of medicated oil used in a particular region on the back), Shashita shali pinda sweda Virechana/Purgation therapy (cleaning digestive tract and purifies blood), Vasti (enema) to reduce inflammation and cleanse the system, Shashtika shali pinda sweda (a type of fomentation), Lepa (type of therapy wherein paste of drug is applied to the affected part)

 Pravalapanchamruta, Pravala bhasma,  Laksha, Lakshadi guggulu, Ashwagandha ,Bala, Nagabala, Arjuna.