In traditional Chinese medicine, osteoporosis – or ‘weak bone disease’ - is directly related to kidney essence and qi deficiency. The energy of the kidney looks after the activities of the bone marrow, the blood and the adrenal glands, while the energy of the kidney is directly affected by the energetic function of the liver, stomach and spleen.

Numerous factors are implicated in osteoporosis, a disease characterised by thinning bone density resulting from calcium loss. The disease is not purely the result of declining oestrogen levels. Conditions such as hyperthyroidism, poor digestion function, malabsorption, malnutrition, gut toxicity, bowel permeability, athletic amenorrhoea, kidney disease, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, liver malfunction and infection, anorexia, blood sugar abnormality, adrenal exhaustion and blood malignancies can all lead to osteoporosis. Lifestyle factors include alcoholism, chronic smoking, chronic mental and emotional stress, lack of exercise, chronic dieting, and long-term use of steroid therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Many western women start HRT therapy to prevent osteoporosis, even though they are aware of a possible increased risk of breast cancer. I never just prescribe calcium or estrogenic herbs for women when they have concerns of osteoporosis because, unless the underlying factors are addressed, calcium supplements and HRT will have limited therapeutic value.

Osteoporosis is preventable, but prevention should start early - women in traditional eastern cultures start during their thirties. The keys to prevention are lifestyle correction, good health foundation and a balanced emotional state. Because good digestive and hepatic function are fundamental to optimal health, I always start with two to three months of bowel and liver detoxification therapy. Poor digestion and liver function can only further deplete kidney function, which leads to greater and faster calcium loss. Additionally, if the gut is toxic and digestive function poor, even the best nutrient will have little therapeutic value. So I follow detoxification with gut and liver repair and a supporting program to ensure effective absorption of nutritional supplements.
The majority of women with osteoporosis complain about physical and emotional fatigue. Clinically, these women also suffer from adrenal fatigue. This can be from multiple births, competitive sports, overwork, poor nourishment, hormonal imbalance, chronic emotional stress and trauma, and lack of love and support. Physical and emotional nourishment are needed to support the adrenal activity in these women.

Many women are at risk of developing osteoporosis, which is a serious and complex health condition. For this reason self-treatment is not recommended. Each patient needs to be assessed individually to determine an accurate treatment approach that will produce an effective result. Conventional treatment with oestrogen and calcium may to some degree delay osteoporosis, but in the majority of women it will not reverse it.

Following are some prevention tips.
Avoid alcohol, coffee, refined sugar, antacids, steroid, smoking, and fluoride. Don’t use aluminium cookware.

Restrict intake of animal protein because excessive consumption increases urinary output of calcium and accelerates bone dissolution. Eat more vegetable protein - especially soy protein, which is rich in absorbable calcium and also provides plant oestrogens. Use bone stock (see recipe) for soups, and for cooking rice and vegetables. Bone stock is rich in mucopolysaccharides, which improve bone strength and integrity.

Screen for underlying conditions such as liver disease, thyroid malfunction, blood sugar abnormality, and menstrual disorders.
Check for family history of osteoporosis. If there is a family history, of if you have given birth to more than three children, have a history of hormonal imbalance, perform competitive sports, or consistently over work, make an appointment with a naturopath for an osteoporosis screening test.

Always start with a therapeutic detoxification under professional supervision to ensure your system is clean before you take supplements. Vitamin D, vitamin C, cod liver oil, folic acid and a multiple mineral such as calcium citrate, silica, zinc, magnesium, copper, and are all of great therapeutic value.

Forty to fifty per cent of postmenopausal women have low gastric acid secretion, so supplements may be necessary.
Avoid the ingestion of high levels of calcium alone because it increases magnesium loss, which leads to reduced bone mineralisation and increased bone malformation.

Here is an excellent Vietnamese recipe for bone stock.
2 kilograms veal joints
4 litres water
1 cup of crushed fresh ginger root
1 tablespoon of vinegar
Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring the water to boil, and continue boiling for thirty minutes, reduce heat and simmer for one hour. Refrigerate the stock and drink two cups per day.

This article was first published in the magazine “Nature and Health”

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