Midnight Sun Herbal Health
A Complimentary and Alternative Health Practice
TCM view of Oseoporosis
Osteopenia and Osteoporosis is considered deficiency or thinning of the bone mass, which generally shows up in individuals after the age of 50. More women are affected by this than men and for women it generally begins with the onset of menopause. The Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that about 55 % of Americans over 50 suffer from some degree of osteoporosis. They estimate that about 10 Million with Osteoporosis and about 34 Million who have low bone mass. The decade between 2001 through 2010 has been declared "The Bone and Joint Decade” by The World Health Organization for this reason.
Traditional Chinese Medicine’s (TCM) states that “the Kidneys are in charge of the bones”. The Kidneys are comprised of the kidneys and the bladder in an organ system pair that TCM calls a husband/wife relationship. When we are born we are born with an original Qi or natal Qi (vital essence) gotten from our parents which is housed in the Kidneys. This natal, birth Qi has to be nurtured throughout life or it may become prematurely consumed (used up). We nurture it through diet, lifestyle, exercise and attitudes throughout our whole life. The Qi is believed to be responsible for health and vitality in the body from birth to death.
The TCM theory says that among the several jobs the Kidneys has is that that they are in charge of the growth of the bones and marrow. Based on this theory then the growth, development, repair and aging of the skeleton are closely related to the Kidneys. The Kidneys as viewed by TCM are also in charge of other processes in the body, many of which from a Western medical perspective is known to be part of bone health. Since as seen from a TCM perspective the physiological and pathological mechanism of the bones is dominated by the function of the Kidneys the energy of the Kidneys and other organs will also become weaker as a person ages. Though the decline may vary from person to person depending on genetics, natal Qi, overall life health, life style, diet, exercise, etc, that this person has provided for themselves throughout his/her life to maintain overall health and well being.
As we age the body has a harder time coping with cleansing the system of toxins, coping with stresses of life, of regeneration as well as the digestion and assimilation of nutrients which can cause a decline in the level of minerals in the bones. While women are seen as loosing bone density starting around age 50, the bone density loss for men is seen as becoming more significant after age 60. Research done on the bone density of women over 50 at a TCM research facility in China found the earlier a woman entered menopause the lower bone density she was likely to have. One of the conclusions they reached was that a higher level of bone mass a person had, has a close relationship with the abundance of the Kidney Qi in that person. Conversely, the lower the bone density the more Kidney Qi was likely to have declined. The study also established that individuals suffering from kidney failure are likely to have lower bone density than people of the same age who are healthy.
Another issue which from a TCM perspective is linked with bone health is what TCM calls Blood stasis. Stagnancy or stasis of Blood is closely related to stagnancy of Qi. Research has shown that Q i and Blood stagnation is closely related to the causes for orthopedic diseases. Blood in TCM is a larger concept than just the blood in our arteries and veins in the Western view and Blood has to be abundant to circulate well. Promoting blood circulation through exercise and/or through herbs and/or acupuncture removes this stasis, and is an important component for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. This position is supported by Western medicine as well, because they view for example weight bearing exercise as contributing to an increase in bone density.
In the TCM view therefore treatment of Osteoporosis aims at resolving deficiencies in the body, both of the Kidneys, the Qi and the Blood and removing any stagnation. This then becomes part of the overall TCM diagnosis and treatment plan to promote overall health and well being and provides the basis for selection of herbal formulas, acupuncture points, diet , exercise and lifestyle adjustments.
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