Healthy Bones and Joints
Getting older means losing bone mass and density: Bones are at their peak in your early thirties and go downhill from there. This creates changes, some harmless (you might get shorter) and some problematic (you can develop osteoporosis and be more prone to fractures). Many seniors also develop osteoarthritis from years of wear and tear on their joints.
The Challenges of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a chronic condition that attacks the cartilage in the joints, wearing it away and eventually leaving bone rubbing against bone. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, in seniors as well as the rest of the population. See Chapter 8 for more.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis involves a loss of bone mineral density that can lead to fractures. It occurs most often — about 80 percent of the time — in postmenopausal women, but it can also strike men or people with hormonal imbalances or who have used steroidal medications.
Around age thirty, most people stop building more bone, and the process of degradation begins. In women, this process accelerates right after menopause, but by age seventy, the rate of loss levels off in both men and women.
Many seniors can have balance and vision difficulties, suffer from conditions like Parkinson's disease and arthritis (which can affect gait), and take one or more medications — including antidepressants and antianxiety drugs that can cause muscular problems, dizziness, and confusion — all of which make them vulnerable to falls.
Falls and Fractures
According to the CDC, one of every three U.S. seniors falls each year. Fractures are the most serious consequence of falling, and bones that are weaker than average due to osteoporosis simply break more easily. In fact, half of all women and a quarter of all men will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetimes.
Treatment Options
Conventional medicine treats osteoarthritis with NSAIDs, which can cause stomach bleeding and increased risk of heart attack. Many people also use topical creams that contain capsaicin, which is the primary constituent of the herb cayenne (Capsicum annuum, C. frutescens). Osteoporosis is usually treated with a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, the best known of which is alendronate (Fosamax). Fosamax can cause abdominal pain, gas, acid reflux, bone and joint pain, and nausea. Herbal treatments for osteoporosis include:
• Evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis)' |
The seeds of this plant are rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and linoleic acid, which are used in the body to manufacture anti-inflammatory substances. Studies show that taking evening primrose oil can decrease bone turnover and increase bone mineral density in people with osteoporosis. |
• Red clover (Trifolium pratense) |
The isolflavones in red clover seem to inhibit bone loss in women by acting like weak estrogens in the body. |
• Soy (Glycine max) |
Soy can both prevent bone loss and increase bone mineral density. Research has shown that soy can reduce signs of osteoporosis in preand postmenopausal women. |
• Tea (Camellia sinensis) |
Tea contains compounds that seem to build and strengthen bone. Research suggests that drinking green tea for several years can increase bone mineral density in both men and women. |
Herbs for osteoarthritis include the following:
• Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) |
Studies show that extracts of this South African herb can reduce osteoarthritis pain. |
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale) |
Ginger is an anti-inflammatory, and studies have shown that ginger extracts can reduce the pain of osteoarthritis. Ginger also seems to act as a structure-modifying agent, meaning it can foster changes in the arthritic joints instead of just masking the pain. |
• Guggul (Commiphora wightii, C. mukul) |
This Indian shrub produces a resin that's a traditional Ayurvedic remedy for arthritis. Modern researchers have shown that oral preparations can relieve osteoarthritis pain. |
• Nettle (Urtica dioica) |
Best known as an herbal remedy for allergies, nettle extracts-taken orally or applied topically-seem to reduce arthritis pain, too. |
