Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the structure and strength of bone changes. It occurs when the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the loss of old bone.
Naturopathic Medicine and Osteoporosis
The naturopathic view on osteoporosis is multifactorial. It isn’t just the need for one single supplement, nutrient or treatment.
Some bone loss is normal as we age. However, pathologic bone loss is the end result of many intersecting elements which have accumulated over a lifetime.
Why Bone Loss Happens
Bone loss is driven by a number of factors, including:
- Normal aging and body type/size/genetics
- Digestive function or digestive health which impacts nutrient absorption
- Thyroid and sex steroid hormone levels (including estrogen, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone)
- Past and present levels of inflammation in the body
- Lack of bone-building physical activity
How Bone Loss is Treated Allopathically
While many allopathic Doctors prescribe bisphosphonate pharmaceuticals (Actonel, Fosamax, Boniva, Reclast, and Aredia), Naturopathic Doctors rarely prescribe these medications as the ‘side effects’ are very concerning. While these drugs have their place, there are many more tools to use to help bone loss before resorting to their use.
The Naturopathic Approach
Naturopathic Doctors use standard conventional testing, less-utilized conventional testing, such as NTx urine testing used in predicting skeletal response to hormonal antiresorptive therapy in postmenopausal. In addition, there are other tests available can help your doctor understand the components of health that contribute to your individual abnormal bone loss. Some of these include:
- nutrient blood testing,
- functional stool testing,
- hormone testing, and
- food sensitivity testing
When you come to see your doctor at Natura concerning your bone density or concerns about bone loss, we will take your complete history into account, and make individualized recommendations to improve your health.
To make an appointment with one of our Naturopathic Doctors, call Natura’s front desk.
Read more about Dr. White here.