Fractures and Osteoporosis

Fractures and osteoporosis

As the gap between the various medical systems narrows down, the term ‘alternative medicine’ is slowly dying a well deserved death. It is being replaced by a more holistic term ‘integrated medicine’ where the best of all the system integrate to serve the humanity at its best. Slowly a lot many medicines from different disciplines are being accepted into the mainstream medicine because of their high efficacy in treating a particular illness. One such medicine from the homoeopathic system of medicine is Symphytum Officinale. Its extreme effectiveness in treating osteoporosis and healing fractures is what puts it into this category.

What is Symphytum?

Symphytum is a homoeopathic medicine made from root and leaves of the plant called Comfrey or Symphytum Officinale and is usually used homeopathically in a highly diluted form. The impressive wound-healing properties of Symphytum are due to the presence of allantoin. Allantoin is known to stimulate cell proliferation and so augments wound-healing both inside and out. Allantoin is known to stimulate osteoblasts, the bone building cells.

Osteoporosis and Symphytum

Osteoporosis literally means porous bones. It is a slow, progressive disease characterized by a gradual loss of calcium from bones until they become very porous and weak. Normally, bones are composed of a shell of compact or solid bone surrounding connecting plates and rods of bone (spongy bone) within which lie the bone marrow.

Two types of cell regulate the growth of bone: osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The osteoclasts function to dissolve older bone and leave tiny unfilled spaces behind. The osteoblasts then move into these spaces and produce new bone. After menopause or after middle age when the level of hormones go down ,the new bone forming cells also cease to function normally. Thus in osteoporosis, the amount of both compact and spongy bone is reduced. Thinning of the outer layer of compact bone greatly reduces its strength and increases the likelihood of fracture. Symphytum is of great help in osteoporosis as it increases the activity of osteoblasts which are ‘new bone’ forming cells. Thus helps in recovering from osteoporosis in the most natural way. It can also be of great help in fractures resulting due to osteoporosis. Other Homoeo-medicines such as Calcarea Carb, Calcarea phos are also of great help in treating osteoporosis by assimilating the various nutrients in the body.

Fractures and Symphytum

When a bone fractures, osteoblasts need to go into an overdrive around the fracture site, to lay down more collagen fibers and minerals on top to strengthen them. Symphytum acts as a catalyst in this situation. It increases the activity of new bone forming cells (osteoblasts) in the area of fracture. Symphytum is to be used only once the broken bone has been brought to its original position. Symphytum is indicated in cases where the healing of fracture is delayed e.g. in old people, osteoporosis etc .It is also recommended for pain in old fractures.

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Preventing and treating Osteoporosis

Exercise and Lifestyle

Taking regular exercise is the single most important action anyone can take to improve the strength of their bones. The sort of exercise that’s beneficial in preventing osteoporosis is weight-bearing, such as walking or aerobics.

Regular Calcium Intake

Regular intake of calcium is essential throughout life for healthy bones. The recommended intake of calcium for an adult of calcium is 800mg. On average, 250ml milk or 150g yoghurt contains 300mg of calcium.

Early diagnoses

Early diagnoses can help in reducing the complications associated with osteoporosis. A bone density scan early in midlife can be of a great help in diagnosing and thereby preventing osteoporosis.

This feature ( authored by Dr. Vikas Sharma ) was earlier published in The Tribune(North India’s largest circulated daily newspaper). Dr. Vikas Sharma is regular Homeopathic columnist for The Tribune.You can mail him at vikas@drhomeo.com