The term
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone. It means "porous bone". It's a
condition that causes bone to become thin and porous, decreasing bone strength
and leading to increased risk of breaking a bone. It happens when an individual
loses too much bone; make too little bone or both. As a result, the bone become
weak and may break from a minor fall or, in serious cases, even from simple
actions, like sneezing or bumping into furniture.
A healthy
bone that is viewed under a microscope has parts that look like a honeycomb. If
an individual has osteoporosis, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb would be
much bigger than they are in the healthy bone. This apparently means that the
person's bones have lost density or mass and that the structure of the bone tissue
has become abnormal. As the bones become less dense, they also become weaker
and more susceptible to break.
The risk
factors for Osteoporosis include:
·
Age
·
Sex
·
Vertebral compression Fracture
·
Fragility fracture after age 40
· More than 3months usage of glucocorticoid drugs
·
Medical conditions that contribute to bone loss
Symptoms:
Osteoporosis
is called the "silent thief" because loss of bone occurs without any
symptom, unless one has fractured. Symptoms which could be experienced over a
long period include:
·
Gradual loss of height
·
Bone fracture
·
Acute lower backache
·
Nocturnal leg cramps
·
Reduction or loss of mobility
·
Rounding of shoulders
Ayurvedic Treatment for Osteoporosis:
Vata
body-type people in the vata stage of life are likely to experience loss of
bone density at a higher rate. Some of the behavioural patterns that can
create an imbalance of vata in the body are being in stress or reacting to
stress with anxiety, physical exhaustion, mental strain, lack of sleep, fear or
shock. Thus, the risk for osteoporosis will be higher in persons with a vata
body type, old people and women after menopausal age. For women, a regular
menstrual cycle is important for building and maintaining bone strength
throughout her reproductive years.
Line of treatment:
Balancing
the vata and nourishing the Kapha.
The
treatment modalities includes panchakarma, external therapies, internal
medications, Activities, Advice of food and life style changes.
Panchakarma
– Basti
Externally
– Abhyanga, PPS, SSPS, Sarvanga Dhara, Kashaya Seka
Internally
– Combinations of herbs as Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Medicated ghee, Sallaki,
Guggulu, etc
Activities:
Specific
Asanas, Physiotherapy, Aqua Yoga
Food and lifestyle changes: specific to the individuals
constitution, nature of work and geographical conditions.