Osteoporosis Part I: Defining Osteoporosis

 

 They are the framework of our body, they allow us to move, live and experience the world, they are our bones! Being the house of the prana and the nervous system, the importance of healthy bones cannot be exaggerated enough. From a physiology perspective, the bones are in a constant state of remodeling. The osteoclasts are breaking bones down and the osteoblasts are building bones back up. However, when there is an imbalance in osteocyte activity and the clasts are breaking down more than the blasts can build up, the bones start to deteriorate, become fragile and are more prone to fractures. This is known as osteoporosis and is becoming increasingly prevalent as it now affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12 men. A decline in bone mass and estrogen with age, puts older women as the most vulnerable population to this disease.

The Ayurvedic perspective views osteoporosis as the exact same issue: an imbalance. Specifically, an imbalance in the Vata dosha. Vata is ether and air, and when the qualities of the vata dosha become aggravated or elevated, they can weaken and deteriorate bone tissue. This happens because the bones are hollow and house the nervous system. When too much of the ether and air elements come into them, it disrupts the nervous system, and dries, weakens and vitiates the tissue.

The prevention and care of osteoporosis is a lifelong journey but becomes increasingly prominent with aging, as Vata increases in later stages of life. Ayurveda aims at getting to the root cause of osteoporosis and not just merely managing symptoms. Through Ayurvedic treatment one can reduce and restore Vata to rebalance their constitution, and strengthen the bones naturally.

Follow along in this 4 part series including diet, exercise and lifestyle to learn about treatment and prevention of osteoporosis through Ayurveda. 

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Resources: 

Putnam SE, Scutt AM, Bicknell K, Priestley CM, Williamson EM. Natural products as alternative treatments for metabolic bone disorders and for maintenance of bone health. Phytother Res. 2007 Feb;21(2):99-112. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2030. PMID: 17106868. 

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