It usually begins unnoticed until the first unexplained fractures occur from everyday movements that are slow to heal. Or back pain doesn't get better, perhaps even the height shrinks. Even today, it is often diagnosed late.
With around 30 million people affected in Europe, osteoporosis is a disease that causes a great deal of suffering and increasingly restricts quality of life. According to the WHO, it is one of the ten most common diseases worldwide - and the trend is rising.
The core problem of osteoporosis is the pathological reduction in bone mineral density. By the age of thirty, this increases to a maximum value of 100% (peak bone mass) and then gradually decreases again according to age.
European Ayurvedic medicine offers an effective holistic concept for the prevention and treatment of this widespread disease.
Ayurveda - a life science
Ayurveda literally means „knowledge of long life“ and originated around 2500 years ago in the ancient civilisation of northern India. Ayurveda is more than just a traditional natural medicine from Asia - as a life science, it encompasses numerous natural and human sciences such as medicine, biology, pharmacy, philosophy and psychology.
The Ayurvedic view of the world is holistic: Our life is understood as a combination of body, sensory organs, mind (psyche) and soul.
As one of the oldest health teachings of mankind, Ayurvedic medicine is dedicated to three overarching goals:
- Prevention through the application of health-promoting measures
- Healing of illness through the application of seven therapy pillars
- Promotion of Longevity with the best possible health and zest for life
Ayurveda follows a salutogenetic model. According to this model, we are not healthy by nature, fall ill due to unfortunate circumstances, heal ourselves with medicine and are then healthy again. No, health is not a gift from heaven, but the result of a beneficial lifestyle - day and night.
Goethe put it in a nutshell: „What is the greatest happiness on earth? To be healthy! I say no. The greatest happiness on earth is to be healthy!“
Three important concepts characterise the Ayurvedic paradigm:
- Loka Purusha Samya: We humans are seen as a microcosm in the macrocosm and our relationship to nature with all its laws takes centre stage.
- Pancha Mahabhuta: The material basis of our body are the five elements earth (body structure), water (body fluids), fire (transformation processes such as digestion and metabolism), air (movement processes) and space (hollow organs and spaces). These are carriers of properties such as hot-cold, light-heavy or dry-moist. Each cell is made up of a special combination of these element properties. If this sensitive balance is disturbed, diseases can develop.
- Tridosha: Functionally, the five elements work via three forces: Vata (air and space), Pitta (primarily fire) and Kapha (water and earth). Vata, Pitta and Kapha control all bodily functions and are also the basis of our innate constitution. Kapha stands for the structural principle and is responsible for building bone density in the first two decades. Pitta, as the thermal principle, controls bone metabolism and is highly active in middle adulthood. As the kinetic principle, Vata enables all movement processes and, due to its dryness, is responsible for all degenerative processes from the age of 50.
Ayurvedic medicine has developed its own system of diagnosis and therapy. The focus is always on the patient and not the disease itself. An initial diagnosis therefore requires 90-120 minutes in order to be able to holistically assess the individual situation.
Osteoporosis from an Ayurvedic perspective
The five elements form the basis of our anatomy and physiology. Ayurveda distinguishes between 7 main tissues, of which the fifth tissue (Asthi Dhatu) is assigned to the bones. The three most important elements for healthy bones are earth, fire and air.
„Asthi Dhatu Kshaya“ is the Ayurvedic term for bone loss. This mainly occurs when the air element (Vata) increases and the earth element (Kapha) decreases. This development occurs naturally from the age of 40-50. If we organise our lifestyle according to our age, we can effectively prevent this.
The four tissues described before the bone are nutritive fluid (including plasma), blood, flesh (including muscle) and fat. The two subsequent tissues are bone marrow and nerve tissue as well as reproductive tissue.
Healthy tissues develop from nutrient-rich food that is adequately digested and metabolised. Ayurvedic medicine describes a gradual process of tissue synthesis from the first to the seventh tissue. For this reason, every Ayurvedic therapy initially includes a correction of digestion and metabolism.
If a tissue such as the bone is disturbed in osteoporosis, the condition of all previous tissues is first diagnosed and treated as required. From an Ayurvedic perspective, the isolated treatment of one tissue is insufficient and hardly effective.
Holistic Ayurveda therapy for osteoporosis
Ayurvedic osteoporosis treatment has four objectives:
- Optimisation of bone tissue nutrition by strengthening the earth element
- Slowing down the degenerative development by reducing the air element
- Support for healthy bone metabolism
- Building mental strength to overcome fears and build confidence
Seven optional therapy pillars are used for treatment.
Nutritional therapy
The basis of the „flexitarian“ Ayurvedic diet for osteoporosis is a combination of mineral-rich vegetables, wholemeal cereals, pulses and dairy products. Meat and fish are supplements that are useful in cases of bone loss.
Eight factors are analysed and corrected as required: Food selection according to origin and composition (5 elements, 6 flavours), processing and preparation, combinations, individual and total quantities, times of food intake, digestibility and individual tolerance.
Lifestyle change
The most important measures of this therapy pillar are the promotion of a healthy daily rhythm and sleep architecture, daily body care with baths and oils as well as exercise appropriate to the load to build up muscles with optimum mobility.
Sufficient sleep of around 8 hours is required for osteoporosis, an optimal time would be from 10 pm to 6 am to 7 am. Oiling the body with medicinal oils is an important pillar in the prevention and treatment of bone loss. Effective formulations are Gandha Taila, Mahanarayana Taila and Kshirabala Taila.
Movement therapy must be carried out under the supervision of an expert trainer. We are also happy to consult yoga therapists with specialised training in orthopaedic conditions.
Phytotherapy
Numerous plants and minerals are used in Ayurvedic natural medicine therapy - mostly in the form of classical or individualised formulations. Examples of individual plants are Withania somnifera, Sida cordifolia, Asparagus racemosus, Terminalia arjuna, Commiphora mukul and Cissus quadrangularis.
Organic calcium is obtained from egg and mussel shells. Corals and marine algae such as Lithothamnion calcarea also have a high calcium content with good bioavailability.
If necessary, have yourself professionally diagnosed and adjusted by a qualified Ayurveda therapist - I strongly advise against self-medication.
Manual and physiotherapy
Ayurvedic manual and physiotherapy includes oil treatments (Snehana), baths, steam and heat treatments (Svedana).
Professional oil massages (Abhyanga), herbal stamps (Pinda Sveda), oil compresses (Kati Basti) and herbal compresses (Lepa) are the most important external treatments that are part of the daily programme in inpatient programmes and can also be carried out on an outpatient basis.
Drainage procedures and spa medicine
Years of maldigestion and metabolic disorders lead to residues in the body's connective tissue that cannot be adequately eliminated by natural excretions. The result is inadequate supply and disposal.
For this reason, elimination procedures via the gastrointestinal tract (especially intestinal enemas with herbal formulas and oils) are used as required to free the body of these burdens and regenerate the environment in the long term. This can significantly improve the nourishment of the bone.
Surgery
Already 2000 years ago there was a sophisticated Ayurvedic surgery, which today has been largely replaced by modern options. It is of course the last choice for osteoporosis, but may be necessary to stabilise the skeletal system.
Psychosomatics & somatopsychology
A lack of stress management and mental disorders promote an unhealthy lifestyle, which can favour the development of osteoporosis in the long term. Conversely, the diagnosis of osteoporosis leads to considerable psychological stress, often associated with anxiety, depression and increasing worry.
Ayurvedic psychosomatics helps those affected to lead a values-based, goal-orientated, socially connected and self-determined life.
Ayurvedic medicine offers highly individualised, holistic prevention and treatment of osteoporosis - from simple self-help aids to outpatient measures and inpatient treatment programmes as intensive therapy. In co-operation with osteologists from Western medicine, valuable synergy effects are created with great benefits for those affected.
Let an experienced Ayurveda doctor diagnose and advise you.
With best wishes for your health,
Ralph Steuernagel
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