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Osteoporosis Treatments
Because osteoporosis is the most potentially serious of the 34 menopause symptoms, it is the most important symptom to identify and treat. Women are especially susceptible: three out of four adults with osteoporosis are female. Women around age 50 who are approaching menopause, especially women who did not receive enough calcium as teenagers, begin to lose bone mass at a rapid rate. This period of time is marked by low levels of the hormone estrogen, which plays a major role in calcium absorption in the bones. When estrogen levels are low bones are vulnerable to painful and debilitating fractures.
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Fortunately, it is possible to treat this hormonal imbalance. Though it used to be in vogue to prescribe hormone replacement therapy to treat this fundamental imbalance, persistent links to breast and ovarian cancer, along with heart disease and blood clots, have caused most healthcare professionals to rethink this drastic option. Many agree that the most effective approach is to combine a few changes in lifestyle with alternative treatment options. Continue reading to learn about how to treat osteoporosis.
Three approaches for treating Osteoporosis:
Three levels of approaches can be considered for treating osteoporosis. These are categorized as: (1) Lifestyle Changes, (2) Alternative Medicine and (3) Drugs and Surgery.
It is recommended to begin with the least risky option, lifestyle changes, before progressing up to the next stage of treatment. Drugs and surgery should be used only in extreme cases. |
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1: Lifestyle Changes for Osteoporosis:
This primary level of treatment involves the least amount of risk, though conversely it requires the highest amount of self discipline. Simple changes in lifestyle can reap huge benefits in fighting osteoporosis, and achieving a higher overall level of health. Because low estrogen levels leading to low calcium absorption is greatly responsible for osteoporosis, getting adequate amounts of calcium is extremely important for strong bones. Vitamin D is also crucial for strong bones because it aids in the absorption of calcium in bones. Here are the recommended amounts of both calcium and vitamin D a person should take everyday depending on her age: |
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Recommended daily dose of calcium
• 50 and older: 1200 mg
• 19-50 years old: 1000 mg
• 9-18 years old: 1300 mg
• 4-8 years old: 800 mg
• 1-3 years old: 500 mg
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Recommended daily dose of vitamin D
• Ages 19-50: 5ug or (200iu)
• Ages 51-70: 10ug or (400iu)
• Age 71 and older: 15ug or (600iu)
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Foods to eat for osteoporosis
The following foods are rich in calcium and vitamin D and are good to eat to either avoid or slow the progression of osteoporosis: yogurt with extra dry milk added, skim milk, defatted soy flour, calcium fortified orange juice, green leafy vegetables (collard greens, bok choy, kale, etc.), broccoli, sesame seeds, carrots (lightly cooked), pumpkin, sweet potatoes, squash, oatmeal, shredded wheat, at least 97% or greater fat free chicken or turkey breast, salmon and other fish, tofu with calcium sulfate, fresh and dried, unsweetened fruits, low fat tomato sauces and pasta, nuts, grape juice. |
Another good way to regain bone mass and stymie osteoporosis is with strength training. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, jogging, jumping, stair climbing, push-ups, and other forms of exercise that forces weight through the bones help to keep bones dense and strong. Avoiding alcohol and cigarettes will go a long way to slow the loss of bone mass as well, because both substances quicken this loss.
Making lifestyle changes is easier said than done, especially if one is accustomed to a certain routine. In addition, while these changes will help alleviate many symptoms, they do not address the problem directly at the hormonal source and so further |
treatment may be necessary. Alternative medicine has proven to be excellent for treating osteoporosis and the other 34 menopause symptoms in a safe and natural way.
2: Alternative Medicine:
Alternative approaches involve little to no risk and can be an extremely effective way to treat osteoporosis. This level of approach can involve several different therapies. Herbal remedies are the most prominent. Plus, most women find that herbal remedies are the easiest alternative treatment to follow, as the others, such as acupuncture, require a greater time and monetary commitment. In addition, herbal remedies are the only viable option to treat the hormonal imbalance directly at the source of osteoporosis. |
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There are two types of herbs that can be used for treating the osteoporosis: phytoestrogenic and non-estrogenic herbs. Phytoestrogenic herbs (e.g. Black Cohosh) contain estrogenic components produced by plants. These herbs, at first, do treat the hormonal imbalance by introducing these plant-based estrogens into the body. However, as a result of adding outside hormones, a woman´s body may become less capable of producing estrogen on its own. This causes a further decrease of the body´s own hormone levels.
By contrast, non-estrogenic herbs, as the name suggests, don't contain any estrogen. These herbs stimulate a woman´s hormone production by nourishing the pituitary and endocrine glands, causing them to more efficiently produce natural hormones. This ultimately results in bringing estrogen levels up and reducing the loss of bone mass. Non-estrogenic herbs (e.g. Macafem) can be considered the safest way to treat these osteoporosis naturally as the body creates its own hormones and doesn´t require any outside assistance.
From "Nature and Health Magazine," Dr. Chacon says:
"Macafem nutrients help restore natural hormones in women. Unlike hormone drugs, which are basically resumed in taking synthetic hormones, Macafem acts totally different in your body. It nourishes and stimulates your own natural hormone production, by inducing the optimal functioning of the pituitary and endocrine glands". Click on the following link if you want to read and learn more about Macafem.
A combination of approaches is usually the most effective route to take. Lifestyle changes combined with alternative medicine will most likely be the best way to alleviate the symptoms of this hormonal imbalance. However, for some women the symptoms will be so severe that a more drastic treatment is necessary. In taking the leap into pharmaceutical options, side effects are inevitable, yet sometimes they can be worth it if the benefits will outweigh the risks.
3: Drugs and Surgery:
Interventions at the third level involve the highest risk and often the highest costs. The most common drug therapy for treating the osteoporosis in the United States is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This may be a quick and strong way to combat hormonal imbalance; but, unfortunately, it entails serious side effects and increases the risk of different types of cancer among women, as the following study has proven.
In 1991 the National Institute of Health (NIH) launched the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the largest clinical trial ever undertaken in the United States. The WHI was designed to provide answers concerning possible benefits and risks associated with use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This study was canceled in July 2002, after it was proven that synthetic hormones increase risks of ovarian and breast cancer as well as heart disease, blood clots and strokes. The findings were published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and to this date have not been disputed.
There are other medications that may help osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates and calcitonin slow the loss of bone mass, while teriparatide increases bone formation.
If symptoms are at the level of severity that a woman is still considering this final option, it is wise to speak to a healthcare professional for guidance.
These three levels of approaches are not mutually exclusive. A woman may use different approaches at different times or any combination of them, depending on the duration and severity of symptoms. Today more and more women find that dealing with menopause symptoms is best accomplished via a combination of healthy lifestyle and alternative treatments.
A safe way for treating osteoporosis:
Non-estrogenic herbs for treating hormonal imbalance, as seen in the second approach, are considered to be the most effective solution. Low costs and the non existence of side effects are only some of the reasons why this treatment option is preferred.
Macafem, for example, is an excellent non-estrogenic herb. It's simple: rather than putting hormones from the outside into the body artificially, Macafem stimulates your hormone glands into producing the necessary hormones naturally. This is what makes Macafem so unique. Click on the following link if you want to learn more about Macafem.
Return to home page and learn more about the 34 Menopause Symptoms.
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