Osteoporosis: A Hole Cure

Best Single Herb: Nettle

Best Combinations: Alfalfa, marshmallow, plantain, horsetail, oatstraw, wheat grass, hops; liquid chlorophyll; sarsaparilla (for hormonal balance); wild yam

Other Helpful Supplements: Food enzymes with hydrochloric acid (especially a protein digestive aid); Omega-3 oils; and vitamin D

Possible Causes: Improper digestion; mineral imbalance; calcium deficiency

Complementary Help: Eat raw honey; don’t drink distilled water; avoid meat, carbonated beverages, citrus fruits, and coffee; juice carrots and celery, eat powdered goat’s whey (add to juices), nuts, seeds, and fresh fish (salmon)

Osteoporosis is a loss of bony tissue and condition in which the bones become porous, making them brittle and easily broken or fractured. It is estimated that one in three women in the United States will suffer from this in their lifetime.

Prevention is the key for fighting osteoporosis, and it’s not too late to start now.

Many factors cause osteoporosis, including:

> Infections

> Injuries

> Osteoporosis of an adjacent bone

> Cushing’s disease

> Long-term steroid therapy

> Calcium and other mineral deficiency

> Lack of estrogen (as in menopause or a hysterectomy)

Osteoporosis is commonly found in women. Regular exercise will build bone strength and is one of the best preventative therapies against osteoporosis.

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

World-renowned holistic practitioner Dr. Paavo Airola says that honey increases calcium retention in the structural system. Raw honey is best because the enzymes are intact Add a little to your herb tea daily, or take some on a slice of whole-wheat bread with peanut butter. Any way you do it, honey can help your bones — so eat your honey, honey!

Nettle for the Holey

Nettle (Urtica dioica) also earned another well-deserved common name, stinging nettle. This plant’s nasty stinging hairs under its leaves will give you blisters and burning if you are unfortunate to touch it. Some people have stung themselves on purpose, however, claiming that if you suffer from arthritis, the sting of the nettle will offer an immediate cure. I wouldn’t recommend this because I’m not into sadomasochism, but for those of you who get stung unwittingly, the remedy for the sting is in the juice of the plant. If you don’t want to be anywhere near it, try some yellow dock or plantain on your rash; this is also an effective antidote.

Terms related to herbs or holistic health

Nutritive is an herbal property meaning that the plant has plenty of food value and may be used as a nourishing food.

Singing properties aside, nettle is a wonderfully useful herb. It is salty to the taste, and if you remember what that means from “What to Expect with Herbs,” when we talked about energetics, you might remember that the salty taste indicates a high amount of minerals, making it a nutritive. Nettle is rich in iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A, Bs, C, D, and K.

You can use nettle for osteoporosis to feed your body necessary minerals from nature. Nettle is also known by many moms as a great enhancer of breast milk. Likewise, if you are a farmer or have chickens, try feeding nettle to your chickens to help them produce more eggs. This herb has been used to treat infertility in females and has come in handy as a remedy for arthritis, gout, kidney inflammation, rickets, and jaundice. I could go on and on about the uses of this herb, but for now, we will get onto some other herbs and supplements that can help you with osteoporosis.

Other Herbs to Fill in the Gaps

Many times, those suffering with osteoporosis are already taking calcium supplements, but the calcium needs to be absorbed to be properly utilized. If digestion is insufficient to break down and absorb calcium, the minerals won’t help in the rebuilding of bone tissue.

Consider supplementing with a natural form of calcium (herbs), such as the combination listed in the table in the end of this chapter, since herbs will ensure you that you are getting a wide range of minerals. Otherwise, make sure your vitamin calcium supplement includes vitamin D. This vitamin is synthesized by our body when we get sunshine and helps us utilize calcium.

Some controversy arises over whether drinking distilled water leeches out minerals from the body. I suggest drinking distilled water only if you are on a short cleansing diet. Drink purified water, such as reverse osmosis water, instead. Wouldn’t it be nice if they had “reverse osteoporosis” water?

Juicing and ingesting vegetables daily will help you get easily absorbed minerals in your diet. Eat carrots for calcium and celery for sodium. Add powdered goat’s whey to this mixture for extra minerals. Also eat a more wholesome diet with more alkaline foods in case you are over-acidic (acid can be eating away at the holes in your bones).

About overcoming an ailment with herbs

You only need about 15 minutes per week in the sunshine for your skin to capture the vitamin D that you need, but some of us don’t get out much! Make sure you are getting your minimum sunshine intake — it’s good for you and your bones.

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