[A close friend told me a week ago she was diagnosed with osteoporosis and that she was prescribed calcium and Fosamax. She wanted to know if there were other things instead she could do. I am writing this nuanced answer for her.]
This article will consider several things:
• Is calcium supplementation safe?
• Are bone density tests accurate?
• Are osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates (like Fosamax) safe?
• What are the natural alternatives and are they effective?
1. Is Calcium Supplementation Safe?
Dr. Suzanne Humphries, MD, who I have shared here before and respected for many years, explains: “It saddens me to see older women diagnosed with “osteopenia” or “osteoporosis” listening to their doctors and taking supplemental calcium and problematic drugs called bisphosphonates. These are irrational, dogmatic, harmful approaches to the problem of degrading bone as we age.“
Dr. Suzanne continues, “In my time practicing nephrology and internal medicine, I saw numerous patients suffering from vascular disease while taking the recommended doses of calcium. X-rays revealed perfect outlines of calcified blood vessels and calcified heart valves.
“Pictured here is a calcified breast artery, often seen in women who are being treated for hypertension. The primary drug used in high blood pressure, a thiazide diuretic, causes the body’s tissues to retain calcium and lose magnesium and potassium – which causes many more future serious problems for them. We also see these types of calcifications in the large arteries of the entire body, not just the breasts.
I believe these problems are avoidable.
The matrix of bone will incorporate calcium and nutrients where they belong as long as the proper hormones and nutrients are present. Needless to say gravitational force in the form of weight bearing exercise is essential and should be the foundation to a healthy skeleton. Don’t be afraid to exercise with some weight in a backpack if you have no disk disease or low back pain.
You still have to look at what you can do nutritionally. The first thing to do is research foods high in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, magnesium and minor minerals such as boron and silica which are important for bones. But if time feels of the essence, then supplementation is one route which could be taken.
While the medical profession supplements with calcium and fosamax, in my opinion, a more constructive supplementation regimen would include Vitamin C, Vitamin K2, Vitamin D3 (supplement in winter months, sun in summer) and boron, silica and magnesium.
These are all far more important to preventing fracture and keeping bone healthy than calcium. [We get more than enough calcium from diet alone]. (source)
Supplementing calcium (as they recommend) will ultimately land too much in muscles of the heart, the heart valves and the blood vessels, leading to cardiovascular disease.
However if you are getting enough Vit C, D3 and K2, your body will direct the calcium you ingest from your food, to where it belongs, not in your heart and blood vessels. (source)
2. Are Bone Density Tests Accurate?
I’ve long wondered about the accuracy of bone density scans and recently ran across some research supporting skepticism.
Two studies, here and here, determined that your body size — meaning your height and weight — can falsely skew the results of bone density tests.
So called “bone density tests” do not truly measure bone mineral density. This is because bone density machines are highly influenced by area or size. For example, small-boned or thin people are likely read as having lower bone density than they really have.
Also, when the hip rotation is not done properly (which is fairly often), that can increase or decrease the bone density score by as much as 7% and would result in inappropriate clinical decisions.
This study verifies bone density tests are often inaccurate:
“A variety of devices and technologies are used to measure bone mineral density (BMD)… Measurements…are often reported according to different standards, and …values obtained with different instruments is often poor. In addition, there is a high degree of variability in the skills of the technologists performing the tests and the clinicians interpreting the results… poor-quality BMD testing and reporting can result in inappropriate clinical decisions, causing unnecessary worry and expense for the patient and possible harm due to unnecessary treatment or treatment being withheld.” (source)
3. The Dangers of Supplementation with Bisphosphonates such as Fosamax
The allopathic medical recommendations for osteoporosis are problematic, too. Here are 27 abstracts listing injuries caused by Alendronate (trade name Fosamax). Common examples include spontaneous femoral shaft fractures, osteoporosis of the jaw, and esophageal and gastric ulcers.
Here are more downsides of Fosamax according to Drugs.com:
If you take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side-effects likely to be experienced include:
• The most common side effects are abdominal pain, bone muscle or joint pain, hair loss, itch, constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, dizziness, headache, vertigo, and swelling of the ankles or feet.
• Fosamax can irritate the esophagus and stomach. Cases have been severe enough to warrant hospitalization. The risk is greater in people who lie down soon after taking Fosamax or who don’t take it with a full glass of water. Take exactly as directed: Fosamax should be taken with a full glass of water and the person taking Fosamax should remain upright for at least 30 minutes after taking it.
• Severe bone, joint, or muscle pain, necessitating discontinuation of Fosamax in some people, has been reported, occurring from one day to several months after starting the drug.
• Not suitable for people with kidney disease, pre-existing esophageal conditions, low blood calcium levels (hypocalcemia), or who are unable to stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes.
• Long-term Fosamax use has been associated with atypical femur fractures, osteo-necrosis of the jaw (bone death in the jaw), and esophageal cancer.
• The optimal duration of therapy with Fosamax has not been established. Discontinuation of therapy should be considered by doctors after 3 to 5 years in patients at low risk of fracture.
• Fosamax may interact with antacids or supplements containing calcium or magnesium.
• Fosamax is only available as a 70mg tablet. This may limit the range of indications Fosamax can be used for. The liquid preparation of Fosamax has been discontinued.
Note: People on other medications are at even more risk of developing a wider range of side-effects. View complete list of side effects
4. What are the safe natural alternatives for osteoporosis and are they effective?
Back to Dr. Humphries’ recommendations:
Vitamin C does several things to strengthen bones:
• It mineralizes the bone and stimulates bone forming cells to grow.
• Prevents degradation of bone.
• Dampens oxidative stress, which is what aging is.
• Is vital in collagen synthesis.
When vitamin C is low, just the opposite happens. Studies have shown that elderly patients who fractured bones had significantly lower levels of vitamin C in their blood than those who haven’t fractured.[1] Bone mineral density- the thing that the tests measure, is higher in those who supplement with vitamin C, independent of estrogen level.[2],[3]
Do not fear taking vitamin C. It is the one of the most non-toxic and safe supplements known. Use liposomal vitamin C, sodium ascorbate; never take Ester-C or calcium ascorbate.
These days getting enough vitamin C is not so easy with diet alone. With the toxic load we all have, even with the most pristine diets, we are requiring more vitamin C internally than our ancestors did. Adults would do well to take 2-5 grams per day of sodium ascorbate as a general supplement. If you have active kidney stones, or kidney disease please read this and check with your doctor first.
Dr. Susan Brown Ph.D and Betterbones.com has really good bone supplement products and info. Her Alkalini-C is 100% as l-ascorbate, fully reduced, non-GMO and corn- and grain-free. She also has a fracture healing kit.
Other non-GMO 100% corn-free or 100% food-based vitamin C products can be purchased here and here.
Vitamin K2 is well known among holistic practitioners to be important in cardiovascular and bone health. Supplementing this is also a good idea if bone or heart issues are a concern.
And, of course, good old vitamin D3 with a level around 50-70 mg/ml will help keep the immune system functioning well and the bones strong.
Prevention & Adding Homeopathy for Osteoporosis
In addition to consuming nutrient-dense meals and bone broth (and the vitamins listed above), we can also take care of our bones preventatively and with homeopathy.
I was diagnosed with nasty thoracic spinal fractures from taking Lupron over 3 courses during infertility treatment. Thankfully, 5 years ago I started detoxing all remaining toxins from the fertility drugs out of my system and my functional doc said it stopped the rapid decline. I still detox with TRS at a maintenance dose (3-5 sprays/day). Even pregnant mamas can use this detox safely. My personal order link is https://inspiredhealthtrs.mycoseva.com/shopline_category.html
I also use this homeopathic remedy called Bone Strengthener Combo. It contains Calc phos 6 and other specific cell salts needed to restore bone density and strength. I will take it for the rest of my life.
Joette Calabrese, HMC, PHom M writes, “Calc phos 6 (Calcarea phosphorica) is the premier remedy for improving bone density. While homeopathic remedies are not supplements, Calc phos 6 can be taken to increase the strength of bones when they’re weak. If bones are breaking bones too frequently or easily, Symphytum 200 may also be added to the schedule, but only if there is a true pathology.”(source)
Note: To administer, don’t handle homeopathic pellets; just tap 3-4 pellets into the cap and toss them into a clean mouth away from food or drink for 15 minutes either side. Suck or chew them and don’t just swallow them.
My intro to homeopathy is here. All my posts on homeopathy are here.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.“ ~Proverbs 17:22
“In every bone, joint, and muscle, sinew, gland, and blood vessel, you see the presence of a God working everything according to the design of infinite wisdom.” ~C.H. Spurgeon
***For the Full Spike Protein Protocol to protect from transmission from the “V” and to help those who took the “V”, go here.
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