Osteoporosis is a conditionin which the bones become weak, fragile and brittle with susceptibility to fractures. The word “osteoporosis” comes from the Greek words “osteon” meaning bone, and “poros”, meaning a pore or a passage. It is not only confined to elderly people, but can also occur at an early age. Interestingly Caucasians and Asians have a higher risk for developing this condition. Osteoporosis is a silently progressing metabolic disorder in India. Fracture of bones due to osteoporosis is one of the common causes of morbidity and mortality in men and women of India. It was estimated that from 23 Crores of people in India over the age of 50 years in 2015, 4.6 Crores (20%) women would be affected with osteoporosis.[i] As per reports, 48% of osteoporosis affects the lumbar spine, 16.7% affects the femoral neck, and about 50% on the remaining sites.[ii]Low calcium intake, lack of outdoor activity, early menopause, genetic predisposition, lack of diagnostic facilities,increasing longevity, gender inequality, and poor knowledge of bone health, have contributed toward the high prevalence of osteoporosis. According to International Osteoporosis Foundation, bone mineral density (BMD) in Indian women, aged 30-60 years from low-income groups, at all the skeletal sites, were much lower than the adequate parameters as per the study conducted in2009.[iii] In recent study conducted on 792 males and 808 postmenopausal females in Delhi, 24.6% male and 42.5% female were suffering from osteoporosis, whereas 54.3% male and 44.9% female were suffering from osteopenia.[iv]
Interestingly prevalence of osteoporosis increased with age in females, but not in males. Conventional treatment generally manages the condition superficially with supplements, but do not solve the purpose in entirety. On the other hand homeopathy has been in use for bone disorders since its discovery. This centuries long time tested use has been scientifically validated in recent times. Such recent scientific studies have been presented in this article in coming pages. Nevertheless, this article also provides general information on osteoporosis, link between conventional treatment for thyroid disorder and osteoporosis, and common homeopathic medicines used in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Common causes, symptoms, diagnosis and general management of osteoporosis
Lack of sun exposure andlack of physical activity or exercise decrease the rate of bone mass in both men and women. Formation of vitamin D from exposure to sun light helps in calcium assimilation from the gut and maintenance of bone mineral density. People who are thin and weak have greater risk for osteoporosis. Usually, women have two to three times the higher risk of developing hip fracture than men. People who drink a lot of coffee and alcohol andwho smoke cigarettes are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis than the other people of their own age group. Taking corticosteroids and medicines for thyroid diseases for long periods predispose to developing osteoporosis.Osteoporosis can be prevented by eating a diet rich in calcium (1000 – 1500mg/day) like milk, cheese, water caltrop, beans, lentils, almond, yogurts, spinach, etc. from the age as early as childhood.
To detect the bone mineral density accurately, a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry or DXA is preferable. Apart from this , other diagnostic imaging techniques like CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasounds are also used. “Body composition analysis” may be helpful ifthe tests are performed regularly and the results are tracked and recordedevery year to detect the period of bone loss.
Link between the conventional treatment for thyroid disorders and weakening of bones
There have been studies which have found that bone problems are triggered by conventional drug therapy for thyroid disorders. In a cross-sectional, retrospective study of primary care patients to estimate the incidence of osteoporosis in patients being treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy it was revealed that 67% in the experimental group were detected with bone mineral deficiency, of which 87% had osteopenia and 14% had osteoporosis. 56% of those suffering from bone loss were women. It was concluded from the study that there is a high prevalence of bone loss in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism treated with exogenous thyroxin.[v] Another study reported that treatment for hyperthyroidism with L-thyroxin can also decrease bone density.[vi]
Recent researches showing positive role of homeopathy in osteoporosis and other bone disorders
- Arnica montanaup-regulated bone morphogenetic protein (BMP2) revealing its therapeutic role in bone problems by influencing gene expression.[vii]
- An in-vitro study reveals the efficacy of Rhus toxicodendron 1M, 10M, and CM potencies in arthritis. It has significantly reduced the serum levels of CRP and an improvement in pain threshold. Primary and secondary lesions are reduced by the drug. It also improved body weight gain and protected against CFA-induced hematological and radiological perturbations.[viii]
- In a study with battery chickens which usually have low bone minerals shows, it was found that Symphytum officinalis (9CH), Tricalcarea (4CH) (*P < 0.05) and Calcarea carbonica (30CH) (***P < 0.001) have increased 30%, 36% and 63% respectively the sternum spongy-bone mineralization after 2 years treatment . [ix]
- This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of Plumbum metallicum on mandibular bone repair in rats. 60 rats of approximately 3 months old had been divided into 3 groups i.e. control, treated with calcitonin, and treated with Plumbum metallicum 30CH. The animals were sacrificed after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days for histological and histomorphometric analyses.The group treated with Plumbummetallicum had complete filling of the surgical defect throughout its extent, although there was not difference in histomorphometric data.[x]
- In a pilot studymedium-potency calcarea group medicines were given to lower bone density women over a period of one year. Majority of women in the trial was of post-menopausal group. Lab investigation revealed that eleven out of the fifteen participants who completed the trial had increased bone density. [xi]
Homeopathic remedies useful to increase bone mineral density, thus helpful to manage osteoporosis[xii],[xiii],[xiv]
As reported in the above studies, there are specific drugs which could be helpful to manage the cases of osteoporosis. Though there is no direct supplement to provide calcium, homeopathic remedies improve calcium assimilation. Below are some of the remedies that are helpful to treat osteoporosis.
Asafoetida: Caries of tibia.Pressive pain from within outward.Ulcers affecting bones; thin, ichorous pus.Tearing stitches in upper arm and forearm down to tips of fingers.Pain in the periosteum, accompanied with great sensitiveness.Pain as if a splinter of bone was sticking in right fibula, just above outer malleolus.
Acidum phosphoricum: Pain in the hip joint, long bones between the joints, better by motion.Pains in the tibia at night. Bone feels as if scraped. Cold hands and hot feet.Ulcers on the legs with watery, offensive discharge.Cramps in upper arms and wrists.Great debility.Burning, gnawing, and tearing pains in bones of extremities.Weakness of extremities after loss of fluids.
Calcarea carbonica: Swelling of the joints, especially knee. Sharp sticking pain, as if parts were wrenched or sprained. Profuse perspiration over the scalp. Feet are habitually cold and damp, as if they had on cold damp stockings. Lack of vital heat. Tendency to cough and cold. Costive, fatty and flabby constitution. Weakness and trembling in legs, especially above and below knees, after coition.Cold feeling in gluteal region.
Calcareafluorica: Chronic synovitis of knee-joint.Chronic pain in the lumber region. Pain at the beginning of motion and relief after continued motion. Crackling of joints. Pain in back, extending to the sacrum.
Calcareaphosphorica: Stiffness and pain, with cold, numb feeling, worse any change of weather.Feels complaints more when thinking about them.Rheumatic pains in shoulder and arm, also with swelling of the diseased part and febrile heat.Paralysis of the joints of the hand and of the fingers, esp. in the thumbs, sometimes from a chill.Buttocks and back “asleep,” with a sensation of uneasiness.The back pains are worse in cold, stormy weather, attended with stiffness, and worse in the morning. Stiffness of joints after resting, and in the morning. Aching in the bones, like growing pains.
Calcareasuplurica: Legs tender to touch, feet slightly swollen.Pain in knee from a blow.Coldness of the extremities, of the hands, legs and feet. Cramps in the calves.Pain in upper limbs at night. Pain in the shoulder; elbow, wrist and fingers.Stretching out the lower limbs aggravates the pain. Rheumatic swelling of the knees and legs.
Pulsatilla: Suitable for women of weeping tendency; likes sympathy; timid, fears in evening to be alone, dark, ghost.Drawing, tensive pain in thighs and legs, with restlessness, sleeplessness and chilliness.Pain in limbs, shifting rapidly; letting up with a snap. Pain in joints as if dislocated.Drawing and tension of muscles in lower limbs in the evening in bed. All the limbs are painful; drawing, tearing pains in the limbs, better from motion and after motion; worse from a warm room and better from cold applications.Thirstlessness, with moist or dry tongue.
Symphytum officinale: Very helpful in wounds penetrating to periosteum and bones, and in non-union of fractures. Pricking pain and soreness of periosteum.Irritability at point of fracture.
Syphilinum: Rheumatic stiffness and lameness in back.Inflammation of joints. Rheumatism, muscles are caked in hard knots or lumps. Pain in the limbs ameliorated by heat, and aggravated from sunset to sunrise. Rheumatic pains and swelling of joints of upper limbs.Rheumatism of deltoid, painful on raising the aim.Pains in arms on motion.Ulcers on back of hands.Tearing in hip and thigh, aggravated during night, ameliorated at day-break, ameliorated by walking.
[i]Malhotra N, MithalA.Osteoporosis in Indians.Indian J Med Res. 2008 Mar;127(3):263 8.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18497441.
[ii] Thomas Paul, Hesarghatta Asha, Nihal Thomas, MandalamSeshadri, Priscilla Rupali, Ooriapadickal Abraham, Susanne Pulimood and Arun Jose. (2010) Hypovitaminosis D and Bone Mineral Density in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Men from India, with or without Antiretroviral Therapy. Volume 14, Issue 6 (September 2008)
[iii]Shatrugna V, Kulkarni B, Kumar PA, Rani KU, Balakrishna N, Bone status of Indian women from a low-income group and its relationship to the nutritional status. Osteoporos Int. 2005 Dec; 16(12):1827-35.
[iv]Marwaha RK, Tandon N, Garg MK, Kanwar R, Narang A, Sastry A, Saberwal A, Bhadra K, Mithal A, Bone health in healthy Indian population aged 50 years and above. Osteoporos Int. 2011 Nov; 22(11):2829-36.
[v]Pedro J. TárragaLópez, Carmen Frias López, Francisco Naharro de Mora, José Antonio Rodríguez Montes, Juan Solera Albero, Antonio NaharroMañez, and Arancha Galvez Casas, Osteoporosis in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism treated with thyroid hormone, Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism. 2011 Sep-Dec; 8(3): 44–48.
[vi]Douglas S. Ross, Douglas S. Ross, Robert M. Neer, E. Chester Ridgway, Gilbert H. Daniel,Subclinical Hyperthyroidism and reduced bone density as a possible result of prolonged suppression of the pituitary-thyroid axis with L-Thyroxine, The American Journal of Medicine, June 1987Volume 82, Issue 6, Pages 1167–1170
[vii]Debora Olioso, Marta Marzotto, Clara Bonafini, Maurizio Brizzi, Paolo Bellavite, Arnica montana effects on gene expression in a human macrophage cell line. Evaluation by quantitative Real-Time PCR, Homeopathy, Volume 105, Issue 2, May 2016, Pages 131-147
[viii]DhanrajRamanlal Patel, Imtiyaz Ahmed Ansari, Yasin Nasir Kachchhi, RachnaBipinchandra, Patel, Kalpesh Ramdas, PatilRamchandra, BaburaoJadhav, Chandragouda, RaosahebPatil, Toxicodendronpubescens retains its anti-arthritic efficacy at 1M, 10M and CM homeopathic dilutions, Homeopathy. Volume 101, Issue 3, July 2012, Pages 165-170
[ix]Sergio Canello, Gabriele Gasparini, Patrizio Luisetto, Alessandro Di Cerbo, Fabio Pomerri, Bone computed tomography mineral content evaluation in chickens: effects of substances in homeopathic concentration, Homeopathy 2016; 105(01): 92-95 DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2015.07.003
[x]Janete Dias Almeida, Emília Angela LoschiavoArisawa, Ivan Balducci, RosileneFernandes da Rocha, Yasmin RodarteCarvalho, Homeopathic treatment for bone regeneration: experimental study, Homeopathy 2009; 98(02): 92-96, DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2009.02.010
[xi]Carina Harkin, Effect of Homeopathic Calcium on Bone Density, Homeopathic Links 2008; 21(1): 44-49, DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-989460
[xii]J. H. Clarke, Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, Reprint Edition 1992, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.
[xiii]H.C.Allen, Allen’s Keynotes and Characteristic Materia medica, B Jain Publishers Pvt Ltd, New Delhi
[xiv]W. Boericke, New Manual of Homeopathic Materia Medica& Repertory [with Relationship of Remedies], Second Re-Augmented & Revised Edition Based on Ninth Edition, Reprint Edition 2002, B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi.