In Australia, 66% of people of the age of 50 years old, an estimated 4.74 million people, have osteoporosis or osteopenia, which is low bone density but not to the level of osteoporosis. In 2012, there were 140,822 fractures due to osteoporosis or osteopenia, with an expected increase of 30% by 2022 to 183,105 fractures per year. This is not just a women’s disease as men account for 30% of fractures due to osteoporosis or osteopenia. So now it’s been impressed upon you, with statistics, the risks of osteoporosis, what can we do?

From a Western medical standpoint, we need three essential things to prevent osteoporosis, so please do make sure you get enough of all of these:

• calcium for building and maintaining bone
• Vitamin D for absorbing calcium, supporting growth and maintenance of skeleton and regulating calcium levels in the blood
• exercise to maintain and improve bone density by having extra strain placed on them via weight bearing exercises or progressive resistance training

In Chinese Medicine theory, the Kidney system “is in charge of the bones” and as one ages, the Kidney energy declines naturally, though some quicker than others depending on their constitution and lifestyle. If our parents had weak Kidney energy, we will tend to have weak Kidney energy, and if we overwork with little rest, take recreational drugs or use up too much sexual energy, we will weaken our Kidney energy. So, if we have not been able to preserve what Kidney energy we have, it is not unexpected that people will have weaker bones when they are older – women from around the age of 50 years old and men from around the age of 64 years old. So it is for this reason that we treat the Kidneys for osteoporosis.

We also work with improving the circulation because improved blood and oxygen supply to the bones improves bone nutrition, which improves bone density. This is one of the reasons why exercise is effective in supporting the treatment osteoporosis.

With this knowledge at hand, Chinese Medicine has developed ancient time-tested formulas to assist with bone health in a way that supports the root cause with an emphasis on strengthening health without harmful side-effects. We also look at your particular diet and lifestyle to see how we can supplement your treatment so we can get a more effective outcome for you.

If you’d like to find out more, please feel free to get in touch with us.

Ross, Kate. (2005), “TCM Solutions for Osteoporosis and Bone Disease”. Acupuncture Today 06(06).

Osteoporosis Australia, https://osteoporosis.org.au/ [ Accessed 19th October 2020].

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash