The Ayurvedic Approach to Strengthening the Bones

Osteoporosis is a common bone metabolic disease worldwide, often referred to by medical professionals as the silent epidemic of this century. It progressively impairs bone quality, reduces bone mass, and is the leading cause of pain, disability, and death due to fractures among older men and postmenopausal women.

Patients with Osteoporosis can have bone fractures due to minor injuries or falls. When the condition gets severe, the bones become sensitive to even simple actions that put very little stress on the body, like bumping into the furniture, bending, lifting, coughing, sneezing, etc. The associated fractures mostly occur in the wrist, hips, or spine.

As per estimates of the National Osteoporosis Foundation,

over one in four men and one in two women will break a bone in their lifetime because of Osteoporosis (this also shows that women are more likely to develop this condition)
half of all adults aged 50 or older are at risk of breaking a bone due to this condition
this disease is responsible for approximately two million broken bones per year

Symptoms of Osteoporosis

The patients do not exhibit any symptoms during the early stages of bone loss. They might not even know that they have the disease until they fracture a bone. When the damage to the bones has been considerable, the following symptoms occur

fractured or collapsed vertebra leading to severe back pain
bones breaking more easily than expected
a stooped posture
decreased body height over time
breathing issues resulting from smaller lung capacity due to compressed disks

Causes Of Osteoporosis

The bone is a living tissue that, when old, is gradually broken down by the body to be replaced by healthier tissue layers. It is a constant and natural renewal process. Osteoporosis occurs when the loss of old bones is higher and quicker than the creation of new ones.

A young body creates new bones faster than it breaks down the older ones. The bone mass increases as well in the process. But as people age, the process slows, and bone mass is lost faster than it’s renewed.

Women are more likely to suffer from Osteoporosis because, after menopause, hormonal changes cause a rapid decrease in estrogen levels, an essential hormone for bone health. This directly affects bone mass and mineral density and speeds up bone loss.

Low estrogen can also occur among premenopausal women because of an abnormal absence of periods due to hormone disorders or extreme physical activity.

Other possible causes of the condition include

Side effects of cancer medications, antidepressants, and steroids
Low testosterone levels in men
Slender and thin bones
Family history
Excessive dieting
Low intake of protein, calcium, and vitamin D
Underlying medical conditions like hormonal diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, certain forms of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid, etc.
Alcohol and tobacco consumption

The Role of ECS in Bone Health

The ECS or the Endocannabinoid system plays a vital role in bone strengthening, preservation, and skeletal growth. Bone cells and tissues contain cannabinoid receptors along with the metabolic enzymes of the ECS. They can regulate the local production, secretion, and biosynthesis of endocannabinoids (ECs).

The cannabinoid receptors are of two prominent types, CB1 and CB2. The former is highly concentrated in the skeletal nerve cells, while the latter is dominant in the bone cells (osteoblasts and osteoclasts).

Together, they both stimulate bone formation and maintain a balance between the formation of new bone cells and the loss of the old ones, while preventing excess loss of the latter. Activating these cannabinoid receptors further helps in preventing age-related bone loss among people.

The cannabinoid receptors control the transfer of chemical signals between the bones, muscles, glands, and nerves. Besides that, they help with healthy and balanced bone resorption, i.e., replacing the old bone cells with new ones for improving skeletal function and overall health and well-being, while preventing excess cell loss.

Trailokya Vijaya Vati for Osteoporosis

Because of the ECS’ direct influence on bone metabolism, Ayurvedic medicines like Trailokya Vijaya Vati become highly useful for relieving Osteoporosis. This concoction consists of two essential Ayurvedic herbs, Vijaya and Vansh Lochan, both known for their therapeutic potency and direct and quick action on the system.

Here are a few studies that show these herbs’ effectiveness in attenuating Osteoporosis:

A 2020 study showed that Vijaya improves bone healing and homeostasis by acting on the body’s ECS. As the ECS cannabinoid receptors interact with Vijaya’s chemical compounds, they become active against bone diseases. This allows the herb to regulate bone health and reduce Osteoporosis symptoms, especially pain and inflammation.
As per a 2021 study, the chemical compounds in Vijaya (cannabinoids) can help reduce the development of Osteoporosis and other bone diseases and improve fracture healing. It showed that activated cannabinoid receptors exhibit anti-Osteoporosis properties as they can increase bone mass by enhancing the activity of osteoblasts (cells in the bone tissue).
These compounds can even increase intracellular calcium levels to help improve bone health.
Another study showed that the herb slows down and prevents bone degeneration associated with Osteoporosis, accelerates healing, and improves bone density.
Vijaya helps alleviate Osteoporosis symptoms, including pain (acute, chronic, fracture, post-injury pain), inflammation, sleep difficulties, depression, and anxiety.
As per research, the juice of Vansh Lochan leaves helps strengthen the cartilage and bone integrity in Osteoporosis. The herb is the richest known natural source of silica (silicon dioxide), an essential nutrient for bone health and maintenance. Over 70%-90% of Vansh lochan is composed of this vital nutrient.

Study shows that silica helps improve bone matrix quality, aids bone formation and mineralization, increases bone mineral density, and improves bone strength. It optimizes the function of iron, boron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium, some of the nutrients essential for bone development. It makes silica an immensely beneficial dietary element for alleviating Osteoporosis.

Medical professionals worldwide have conducted several more studies and clinical trials to evaluate Trailokya Vijaya Vati’s medicinal potential. They acknowledge Ayurvedic medicine’s wide-ranging health benefits and are increasingly prescribing it to ease Osteoporosis and other bone health issues.

Get the best Ayurvedic consultation to fully leverage this herbal formulation’s benefits, provide relief from Osteoporosis, and improve your overall quality of life with Ayurveda’s comprehensive approach.