- Alfalfa
|
(Medicago
sativa): Even in a book ominously entitled Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs (De Smet et
al., 1992) we read that alfalfa may contain enough estrogenic
compounds to cause deleterious estrogenic effects in cattle (37 ppm coumestrol). When fed
to pullets, coumestrol increases the age of maturity and depresses egg production (Leung
and Foster, 1995). Pure coumestrol, as measured by rodent assays, is 200 times less potent
than pure estrone, and nearly 3,000 times less potent than diethylstilbestrol. But alfalfa
may contain 10-200 ppms coumestrols, with its usual associates biochanin, genistein and
formononetin, which also occur in many estrogenic clover species. Phytoestrogens in these
plants may produce side effects such as difficult labor, infertility, and full-term fetal
death or abortion. These could well be synergic with the coumestrol. All are fungicidal.
Nature would favor synergy over antagonisms in closely related compounds from a given
species. All are estrogenic. If they are proven synergic as fungicides, perhaps we should
investigate their synergic potential as phytoestrogens. |
- Black
- Cohosh
|
(Cimicifuga
racemosa): Recent papers have been heralding black cohosh for osteoporosis. The Journal of
the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (Nov/Dec 1998) concluded that a
black cohosh preparation, Remifemin, is a useful alternative for menopause in their
compilation on menopause and osteoporosis. Steve Foster's 1999 article on black cohosh in
HerbalGram #34 is even more positive. Research |
- Calcium
|
Increase
natural calcium to 800-1,000 mg/day (Conservative Rosenfeld {1991} says
every woman should consume at least 1,000 mg of calcium a day beginning in her teens and
increase it to 1,500 mg as she approaches menopause.) For so long, the
FDA and physicians have told us we are getting enough calcium and that we don't need to
supplement. Dr. Robert P. Heaney, MD, tells us in JAMA, that "most Americans are not
getting enough calcium". So the story still goes, if your doctor has diagnosed you
correctly (and they're wrong more than half the time with Lyme disease) and if you're not
deficient in any nutrient ("most Americans are not getting enough calcium", if
Heaney is correct); and if there is no unrelated ailment comorbid with your ailment,
chances are your physicians silver bullet will help. But if most of us are deficient in
calcium, and all herbal leaves contain calcium, your herbalist has a better chance of
helping you than your physician's silver bullet (especially if you have incipient
osteoporosis). |
- Boron
|
USDA
studies showed that low-boron women, moved to a supplemental 3 mg/day for eight days, lost
40% less calcium, one-third less magnesium, and slightly less phosphorus through the
urine. According to Dr. F. Nielson, study director, "Boron had a remarkable effect on
indicators that the body is conserving calcium or preventing bone demineralization."
(CMR Nov. 9, 1987). |
- DHEA
|
(Dihydroepiandrosterone):
Though not herbal in itself, DHEA may be regulated by adrenal herbs like licorice. Dr.
Susan Lord, MD, Resident in Family Practice, Metro-Health Center, Cleveland hints that
DHEA may indeed be the fountain of youth. She says that in low physiologic doses, it can
enhance ones health. "Used like a medicine in higher doses, it appears to ameliorate
many serious disease processes.² The following have been associated with low DHEA levels:
Alzheimer's, autoimmune diseases (including AIDS), cancer, cardiopathy, Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome, diabetes, high cholesterol, infections, obesity, osteoporosis, and senility. The
most abundant steroid hormone in the body, DHEA is synthesized by the adrenals, ovaries
and testes. Secretion peaks at age 25 and decreases by 80-90% at age 70. An increase in
DHEA has increased bone mass in postmenopausal women. Autoimmune patients (lupus, MS,
rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis) usually have very low levels of DHEA,
especially if they are taking steroids. Supplemented lupus patients experienced
significantly improved kidney problems. Experienced physicians may prescribe 5-15 mg, 2 x
daily to women, and more than 100 mg to men. (Lord, 1995) Research |
- Evening Primrose
|
(Oenothera
biennis): Prudent use of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) and their metabolites may reduce
bone matrix collagen degradation while increasing bone mineral content. With increasing
evidence that prostaglandins and prostaglandin inhibitors influence bone metabolism, it's
nice to look at prostaglandin precursors in EPO and fish oils. Best results are maintained
with about 3:1 ratio EPO:fish oil. It has long been known that we need a proper balance
between omega-6 EFA's and omega-3's like ALA, with the target ratios 2:1 to 6:1 (Brown,
1996; Claasen, N. et al.. 1995) This year, I'll try my strange new antiosteoporotic bean
or tofu salad, ALA:GLA salad, with evening primrose leaves, evening primrose oil or seeds,
purslane leaves and walnut oil or seeds, (maybe with a little non-aromatic fish oil, maybe
even anchovies, and appropriate spices), giving the homeostatic equilibrium-seeking body
the opportunity to approach an evolutionarily appropriate ALA:GLA ratio. I don't know how
to balance these, but I'll bet my genes do. Research |
- Horsetail
|
(Equisetum
arvense): Holding a patent for a given activity for a given plant does not necessarily
make the plant efficacious. Albert Leung, Ph.D., Pharmacognistic Consultant, and Steven
Foster, Herbalist, in their Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients, report that there
is a French patent for using the isolated silica compounds from horsetail for bone
fractures, osteoporosis, and for the repair and/or maintenance of connective tissue, nails
and teeth. Silica, necessary for the formation of articular cartilage and connective
tissue, is taken up by the plant in the form of a bioavailable monosilicic acid, according
to Leung and Foster (1995). (Canadians warn that irreversible brain damage could possibly
accrue to the thiaminase poison in thiamin deficient individuals). According to Seaborn
and Nielsen (1993) aging and low estrogen levels decrease the ability to absorb silicon
(Reichert, 1994) Because silicon affects cartilage composition, including articular
cartilage, inadequate silicon nurture may be of consequence in some joint disorders such
as osteoarthritis. French studies suggest that silicon levels in the human aorta also
decrease with age as the silicon concentration in arterial walls decrease with the
development of atherosclerosis. The recommended intake is 5 to 10 mg elemental silicon per
day (Seaborn and Nielsen, 1993). Horsetail is rich in silicon, hence may have an impact on
the health of connective tissue throughout the body. (Reichert, 1994) Research |
- Folic
- acid
|
levels
have been shown to reduce levels of homocysteine, which is implicated in osteoporosis.
Homocysteine concentrations in postmenopausal women may play an osteoporosigenic role,
interfering with collagen cross-linking, leading to a defective bone matrix. It¹s hard to
get folic acid in the diet but the jute, known as Jew¹s mallow, is the best source in my
database. My highest credible entries are edible jute at 32 ppm, spinach at 27, endive at
25, asparagus at 18, parsley at 18, okra at 10, pigweed at 10, and cabbage at 9 ppm's, on
a calculated zero moisture basis. |
- Soy
|
(Glycine
max): Science News opened the New Year 1999 with high praise for soy. Even the title ³Soy
Compounds Help Preserve Bones², disseminates the soy message. Two studies reviewed
suggest that soy helps prevent the bone loss that might cause fractures and osteoporosis
in the elderly. One (Arjmandi et al.) found that rats in simulated menopause made more
bone than they broke down only when fed diets rich in soy proteins, but the authors
concluded that "for soy protein to reverse bone loss, long term consumption may be
necessary." (Am. J. Clinical Nutrition Dec. 1998). The same journal reported another
study that stated the phytoestrogens, mainly daidzein and genistein, "are responsible
for the bone sparing effects." How the compounds spur growth remains unknown. The
authors suggest soy as an adjunct to, not a replacement for, Estrogen Replacement Therapy.
James Anderson, MD, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, and long involved with
Food "Farmacy" Research, had much earlier indicated that soy protein may reduce
the risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis. Urinary calcium excretion can be an
indicator of bone mineral density and calcium balance. Some people blame the high rate of
osteoporosis in the west on the hypercalciuric content of too much animal protein.
Compared to animal protein, soy protein causes less urinary excretion of calcium.
³Parenthetically, the isoflavones in soybeans may also directly inhibit bone
resorption.² (Messina, 1995). Hudson (1997) says, a bit hyperbolically, that: ³Soy is
the only dietary source of daidzein. . .Daidzein is similar in shape to a drug called
Ipriflavone which is used in Europe to treat osteoporosis." In fact, the roots of
kudzu contain some 25 times more daidzein than soybean does. (Kaufman et al., 1997) Many
and more of those isoflavones can be found in several other species of more palatable
legumes, thank goodness. And as Tori Hudson hints, ³Much like the drug Tamoxiphen, with a
beneficial effect on bone density with simultaneous anti-estrogenic effects in breast
tissue, medicinal and dietary phytoestrogens may offer these same benefits.² But Hudson
wisely cautions, ³evidence to support the use of botanical medicines that contain
phytoestrogens for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is currently theoretical.²
(Hudson, 1997) And the following hints, as do several studies, that some of genistein's
effects may be reversed with high doses. Anderson, Ambrose, and Garner (1995) concluded
that low dose genistein (1 mg/day, but not high-dose {10 mg/day}-take note supplement
manufactures and capsule poppers) acts similarly to Premarin, administered orally at 5
ug/day in the feed for preventing bone loss in experimental rats. Research |
- Wild
- Yam
|
(Disocorea
villosa): I close with some words from Dr. John Lee, author of Osteoporosis Reversal - The
Role of Progesterone. (Internat. Clin. Nutr. Rev. 10(3): 384, 1990. and his book on
natural progesterone): ³Conventional treatment of oestrogen, with or without supplemental
calcium and vitamin D, tends to delay bone mass loss but cannot reverse it...Addition of
fluoride in doses up to 30-40 mg/day can result (after several years) in a modest increase
in bone mass but provides no protection against vertebral fracture and even increases the
incidence of non-vertebral (i.e. hip) fractures. Natural progesterone...is synthesized by
over 5000 plants (I disagree) and is inexpensively extracted from yams.² (I disagree). He
may be referring to steroid precursors like diosgenin, solasodine, etc. (I have no record
of progesterone in my FNF database). He rightly surmises that estrogenic hormones like
progesterone can help increase bone density and prevent osteoporotic fractures. With
topical progesterone for his postmenopausal patients, bone density improved significantly
(5-40%) in 97%. Lee strongly suggests women regulate their hormonal balance with natural
progesterone from Dioscorea villosa. But also, wild yam contains no natural progesterone,
unless it is spiked. Research |
- Vitex
|
Dr.
Beckham (1995) shares my feelings about "natural" progesterone:
"progesterone activity in plants is unlikely although some herbs, such as Vitex
agnus-castus, have an effect on luteinising and follicle-stimulating hormones on
prolactin." Self-testing, Beckham found that neither internal nor external use of
Aletris, Dioscorea, Smilax, Trigonella, Viscum nor Yucca significantly increase blood
progesterone levels - at least in post menopausal women. Research |
 |
- Bottom Line
|
- I try, but often fail, to exercise, moderately vigorously, at least 30 minutes a day, in one
30-minute period or three 10-minutes periods (Of postmenopausal women, those who
habitually walked more than 7.5 miles a week had leg and pelvic bones 3-4% denser than
those who walked less than 1 mile per week). Surprisingly, I almost concur with a JAMA MD
(NIH Consensus Development Panel on Optimal Calcium Intake), who replied that the ideal
way to get calcium is through foods, such as low fat dairy products, broccoli, calcium-set
tofu, kale, some legumes, canned fish, nuts and seeds. I'd also go for those dark leafy
veggies, also rich in boron, fluorine, and magnesium. I'd enjoy my ALA:GLA bean salad,
Bone Broth and Genistein Gumbos (for the phytoestrogens), avocado salad for the vitamin D
(if I couldn't enjoy the sunshine) and recommend that my wife take even more of them
proportionately than I do. I'd take my tea with cloves and clovers, to make sure I was
getting a good bit of manganese as well as estrogenic isoflavones.
-
| Avoid |
- Alcohol and caffeine, and restrict
sucrose. Lay off the booze. Studies suggest that blood levels of an important
bone-making compound decrease some 80% within minutes of consuming ethanol. Two drinks a
day can significantly increase risk of osteoporosis. (Men's Health, Jan/Feb/1996. p 94-5).
Avoid excess thyroid hormones and corticosteroids, and if possible exercise 20-30 minutes
3 times a week. Of postmenopausal
women, those who habitually walked more than 7.5 miles a week had leg and pelvic bones
3-4% denser than those who walked less than 1 mile per week. "Since women lose about
1 percent of bone density every year after menopause, the walkers' apparently small gains
actually meant they were preserving three to four years' worth of bone strength.² (CRH
8{1}: p. 6)
|
 |
Product
Recommendations |
|
- Osteoporosis Formula Each 4
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citrate/malate, carbonate) 1,000 mg, Magnesium (from oxide, citrate) 500 mg, Zinc 15
mg, Copper 1 mg, Manganese 5 mg, Boron 2 mg, Silicon 1 mg, Betaine HCI 40 mg.
|
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