Protect Your Bones with Herbs

Protect Your Bones with Herbs

March/April 2004
http://www.herbcompanion.com/Health/Protec-Your-Bones-With-Herbs.aspx

By Cindy Jones, Ph.D.

Increased consumption of herbs may be a useful approach to reducing the risk of osteoporosis. Researchers have found that common herbs, including sage, rosemary and thyme, can inhibit the breakdown of bone that contributes to osteoporosis.

Because these herbs are rich in essential oil components, the researchers also looked at essential oils and specific components of these essential oils to inhibit bone breakdown. We have known for some time that minerals found in plants, such as calcium, potassium and magnesium, are important to bone health. Plants also contain vitamins K and C, as well as phytoestrogens, that may contribute to bone health. But substances other than these that are found in essential oils may be equally important.

Testing the Theory

In their experiments, researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland used a model of osteoporosis in rats. Rats were fed a diet containing powdered herbs, essential oils or purified monoterpenes from these essential oils for a period of 10 days. Bone breakdown during this time was measured by the release into the urine of bone breakdown markers.

Besides the powdered whole herbs sage, rosemary and thyme, the essential oils that inhibited bone breakdown included sage, juniper, pine, dwarf pine, eucalyptus and rosemary. Pine oil was discovered to be the most potent. Protective effects were seen as early as two days following treatment. Orange peel, fennel and cumin were the only oils tested that did not inhibit bone breakdown.

Researchers investigated further to determine what components of essential oil were responsible for this inhibition of bone breakdown. They found that the essential oil components thujone, eucalyptol and camphor all had inhibiting activity. Borneol had limited activity and only at a higher dose. These components are all monoterpenes found in sage oil. Components of pine oil — alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and bornylacetate—also were inhibitors of bone breakdown. Additionally, menthol, thymol and medicinal turpentine were found to inhibit bone breakdown.

Take Them or Cook Them
In the study, the dried herbs were given in the food at a dose of 1 gram per day. To scale this up to human proportions, this would mean about 150 grams per day, or 10 tablespoons of dried herb. The essential oils were active between 30 to 100 milligrams per day, pine being the most active. Again, to scale this to proportion for a human would mean about 15 grams of oil, or about 3 teaspoons per day. It is not advised that you take these very large amounts because toxicity studies and clinical trials have not been conducted on their safety. However, since these are culinary herbs, there is no reason not to increase the use of sage, rosemary and thyme in cooking or in teas.

Bone breakdown that leads to osteoporosis is, unfortunately, a normal event that occurs in humans as we age. To slow its progression, medical science has suggested a regular exercise routine and ingestion of calcium-containing foods or supplements. A diet rich in vegetables, including onions, has been found to decrease bone loss, as well. This research further expands the list of foods known to prevent bone loss.
Reference
Muhlbauer, R.C., et al. “Common herbs, essential oils, and monoterpenes potently modulate bone metabolism.” Bone 2003; 32: 372 – 380.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Cindy L. A. Jones, Ph.D., Sagescript Institute (www.sagescript.com).

Care Package for a Breast Cancer Patient

Well - Tara Parker-Pope on Health
August 18, 2011, 9:00 am
Care Package for a Breast Cancer Patient
By TARA PARKER-POPE

How do you support a friend or loved one with breast cancer?

Frozen casseroles and offers to shuttle children to activities can be tremendously helpful, but many people want to do more. This weekend I stumbled across one of the best columns I’ve seen on the topic, written by a 32-year-old woman named Nicole who last summer opted for a prophylactic mastectomy after learning she had the BRCA2 genetic mutation, which put her at high risk for breast cancer.

In her blog, Losing My Boobs, Nicole, who asked that her last name not be used, offered a list of recommendations for women heading to the hospital for breast surgery. It contains a number of great suggestions for anyone wanting to prepare a care package for a woman they know.
Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

Comfy button-front pajamas: The softer the fabric, the better, said Nicole. She couldn’t raise her arms after surgery, so she lived in these pajamas for two weeks.

Soft, fuzzy socks: “I was freezing in the hospital all the time,” she said.

Dry shampoo: A woman can’t shower for days after surgery, but a dry shampoo can lift her spirits. Nicole said she will always be grateful to the friend who gave her a dry shampoo and braided her hair while she was recovering in her hospital bed.

Baby wipes: An important item for the bedside table of any woman stuck in a hospital bed.

Lip balm and moisturizer: During her stay in the hospital, Nicole said, she constantly felt parched and kept her lip balm and moisturizer close at all times.

Mineral water spray: Water sprays, like the brumisateur sold by Evian, can be particularly refreshing.

Mints: A box of Altoids is an essential for a hospital patient who can’t get out of bed to brush her teeth in time for visitors, says Nicole.

A battery-powered toothbrush: This gift from a doctor friend was surprisingly useful, said Nicole. Even a movement as small as brushing your teeth is too painful after surgery. “You can’t move your arms, so you need something that can do the work for you,” she said.

A soft blanket: Work friends gave Nicole a super-soft blanket and pillow from Brookstone, and she treasured it during her hospital stay. “Anything soft is good,” she said. “That soft material was so comforting . No position you get in after that kind of surgery is comfortable. You can’t move, you can’t sleep, so anything that can be the least bit comforting is wonderful.”

Entertainment: An iPod or MP3 player loaded with music and a few magazines or books that can be flipped through with minimal effort are a good idea. Nicole said she brought a laptop but never used it “because I felt so terrible, not to mention mentally foggy from all the drugs.”

Waxing: Before surgery, a wax treatment, particularly under the arms, is a good idea, said Nicole. With all the tubes and pain, the patient won’t be able to shave for a while, so a pre-surgery gift certificate would be a welcome treat.

To learn more about Nicole’s experiences, you can read her blog, or follow her on Twitter.

* Copyright 2011 The New York Times Company
* Privacy Policy
* NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018