Popular Talk Forums : 12/26/07

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Menopause: Osteoporosis And Bone Disease

Menopause: Osteoporosis And Bone Disease

Osteoporosis This condition is characterized by a progressive decrease in bone density. The person may experience back pain, stooped posture, increased curvature of the spine, and an ever-greater likelihood of fractures. Osteoporosis is particularly common in post-menopausal women

An estimated 10 million women in the United States have osteoporosis; millions more have low bone mass and thus are at risk of developing the disease. Aging, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking, and genetics are major risk factors.

Prevention should begin in childhood, with a diet containing sufficient calcium and vitamin D, both critical for building strong bones. Weight-bearing and strengthbuilding exercises are important throughout life. Calcium supplements and certain medications help build and maintain bone mass.

The drug calcitonin is used to treat osteoporosis. (Source: NYT Guide to Essential Knowledge: http://www.nytimes.com/gtk) Ten million Americans over the age of 50 have osteoporosis; another 34 million are currently at risk of developing it. These statistics come from the U.S. Surgeon General, who recently issued his first-ever warning of the seriousness of rising cases of osteoporosis and bone disease in the United States.

The widely held view that osteoporosis is a natural and unavoidable consequence of aging is being challenged by Dr. Richard Carmona, who is trying to increase awareness about the importance of better bones as the problem increases incrementally with our aging population.1 Each year, over 1.5 million Americans suffer a bone fracture because of osteoporosis. The surgeon general estimates that within 15 years, half of all Americans over age 50 will be at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures. The point of his warning is a call for action to increase awareness, diagnosis and treatment of this bone disease, which has been referred to as “the silent killer.”

The World Health Organization declared 2001 through 2010 as “The Bone and Joint Decade” for the same reason: bone health is woefully in need of attention and repair worldwide, irrespective of cultural, social or economic differences.

Traditional Chinese medicine’s approach to health offers the most holistic solution for eradicating the source of bone diseases. Traditional Chinese medical theory states, “The kidneys are in charge of the bones.” This theory from The Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic believes that the growth, development, repair and senility of the skeleton is closely related to the kidneys. It is the kidneys that dominate the bones’ growth of marrow and promote the general of vital essence (qi), the vital energy believed to be responsible for health and vitality throughout the body. The understanding of the kidneys being “in charge of the bones” means the physiological and pathological mechanism of the bones is dominated by the function of the kidneys.

As one ages, often the kidneys and other organs become weaker and burdened with toxins, and the level of minerals in the bones begins to decrease gradually. Beginning from the age of 50 for females, the mineral levels in the bones drop quickly. For males, the decease of minerals in the bones becomes more significant after age 64.

Studies done at the Traditional Medicine Research Institute in western China measured the bone mineral level and bone density of women after menopause. The research showed that the earlier the onset of menopause, the lower the bone density became, along with the appearance of kidney weakness. One of the conclusions was that “the increase of bone mass in amount and density and the increase of age have a close relationship with the abundance of, or decline of, kidney qi.”

The same study also found that “people suffering from kidney failure have lower bone density than healthy people of the same age. The more deficient the kidneys, the lower the bone density.” Blood stasis, also associated with qi, is the second root cause for bone diseases according to traditional Chinese medical theory. Research findings reported stagnancy of qi and blood stasis at the core of orthopedic diseases.

Promoting blood circulation to remove the stagnancy and stasis to produce new bone are considered important measures for preventing and treating osteoporosis. Western medicine strongly supports this theory, and repeatedly encourages vigorous exercise for general well-being and weight-bearing exercise for bone health. Both cultures agree that when blood and oxygen supplies to the bones are increased, bone nutrition improves and bone density increases.

Traditional Chinese medicine, having been present for thousands of years, has ancient formulas for every aspect of human health and wholeness. Of course, the TCM emphasis has always been on strengthening health without causing harmful side-effects. In addition, the other modalities, Chinese herbal remedies for different problems have been time-tested for thousands of years. ancient herbal formulas seem to be experiencing an upsurge of interest from the West, as modern science looks for harm-free and proven remedies to age-old problems.

Ironically, it is modern science, with its precise forms of laboratory testing, that can validate the results found in ancient texts and formulas, which were developed with a more profound understanding of the relationships between plants (herbs), humans, and the cosmos. One of these ancient formulas specifically designed to heal bone problems by strengthening the kidney, liver and spleen originated in the southern Yunnan province, which is known for its plants and healing herbs.

These ancient herbal formulas, newly revived, take into account not only the yin/yang balance of the body and the specificity of herbal contributions, but also the “hosting,” or receptivity, of different parts of the cells with particular herbs. The ancients were keenly aware that bone remedies, in addition to strengthening the kidneys and overall vitality (qi), had to include herbs that would specifically be directed to the ends of the bones, where callous tissue grows and new bone cells can contribute to new bone growth.

Clinical research conducted at a number of top hospitals in China, including the Traditional Medicine Research Institute, has found that specific formulas with rich kidney tonic ingredients, as well as amino acids and compounds that could revitalize the cell systems, had a good effect on the treatment of osteoporosis. Other clinical research found that the herbs were effective in treating necrosis of the femoral head and promoting faster recovery from traumatic fractures, shortening the period of treatment by as much as one-third to one-half.

The formulas exhibited anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, reduced pain and swelling, and improved blood circulation and microcirculation of injured tissue and organs.

Acupuncture professionals can play an important role in identifying and treating those with risk of bone disease. The ancient, tested, natural herbal formulas of traditional Chinese medicine offer promise for treating the root causes of osteoporosis and bone disease, providing the body with a beneficial environment and conditions for maximizing bone health.

Reference Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General. Published Oct. 14, 2004. Available online at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/.

Kasly Phytoestrogen

is a natural nutritional supplement with no side-effects. It can complement estrogen and prevent aging. Soy Isoflavone the main ingredients of KASLY Phytoestrogen, has passed the safety accreditation certificate.Function of Estrogen, one kind of female hormone, is not substitutive.

The well-balanced estrogen leads to the healthy and beautiful life of females. Low levels of estrogen causes skin laxity, menstrual turbulence, low sexual desire, loss of emotions etc. So females have to maintain a balanced estrogen level in order to keep good health and to prevent aging and Kasly Phytoestrogen Capsule is the best choice.

Kasly Phytoestrogen is the best oral hormone replacement for women seeking to safeguard themselves from estrogen deficiency and the consequent problems associated with menopause.

After 7 days administration: sleep meliorate, vaginal secretion increase and easier faeces excretion

After 15 days administration: mood stabilizes, skin becomes smooth and lustrous, menopause syndromes reduce or disappear.

After 30 days administration: weight loss, color of nipples and mammary areola become light, waist and leg ache alleviates.

Ingredients: Soy Isoflavone, Magnesium Stearate, Radix Paeoniae Alba Extract, Polythene Pyrrolidone, Starch, etc. Specifications: 500mg X 90 tabets Dosage: 2-3 tablets, two times per day with water. Nutritional information: 0.602 g Soy Isoflavone 1.110 g Paeoniflorin per 100g

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TASLY CARDIOTONIC PILL: IMPROVING YOUR HEART AND BLOOD MICROCIRCULATION SYSTEM

Is a Chinese herbal product that is one of the top selling herbal products sold in China for heart health. Dan Shen (Salviae Mitiorrhizae), Cardiotonic Pill main herb, first appeared in China’s “Shen Nong Herbal Classic” and has been clinically used for decades as a blood moving herb in promoting circulation.

Combined with other blood moving and Qi tonifying herbs, Cardiotonic Pill or Danshen Plus Capsule is a convenient, alternative therapy for heart health based on Traditional Chinese Medicine principles and modern day research.

Its droplet pill formulation offers many advantages such as low dosage, rapid and complete absorption, fast onset of action, high potency and convenience.

Tasly Cardiotonic Pill

Main Ingredients:
Dan Shen (Salviae Mitiorrhizae)
San Qi (Panax Notoginseng)
Huang Qi (Astragalus membranaceus)
Jiang Xiang (Dalbergiae Odoriferae)

Suggested Use:

Take 1 pill orally three times per day. The effect was achieved faster when taken under the tongue, let dissolve in mouth and swallow. Improvement for healthy heart function has been seen after only 2-4 weeks.

The Dripping Pill, a Prevalent Dosage Form for Higher Bioavailability:

Innovation in herbal medicine can be found throughout the world these days, and there is no better example of manufacturing and dosage vicissitude than the dripping pill, manufactured by Tasly Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., one of the top five largest pharmaceutical companies in China.

The Dripping Pill is a rapidly developing form of Chinese herbal medicine, prepared by blending an herbal extract and a matrix under thermal conditions and dripping the mixture into a cooling liquid in which the droplets are insoluble. The process of pill formation results in a solid-dispersoid in a pill shape.

Characteristics of the Dosage Form:

Dripping pills are a promising dosage form. The process of formation is similar to that of preparing a solid dispersoid by melting. Melting herbal extract and matrix together make the botanical molecules disperse evenly throughout the matrix, and when congealed to from a eutectic solution, both herbal extract and the matrix molecules turn into very fine, tiny crystals. These crystals are easily absorbed with a higher bioavailability, rapid biological activity and lower adverse effects compared with conventional dosage forms such as, tablets and capsules. This helps promote stability of the herbal extract. Fine crystals of the herbal molecules are tightly embedded in the matrix, with no herbal powder or dust produced during manufacturing. Each single dose is exact and reproducible due to the even distribution of the herbal extract.

Why Dripping Pills Increase Bioavailability?

Formation of tiny, fine crystals: In the preparation of dripping pills, herbal extract and matrix are melted together to make a solution in which the herbal extract is distributed in molecular form within the matrix. When the solution cools down the solubility decreases and the molecules of the herbal extract are separated out.

Due to rapid cooling, the viscosity of the solution increases rapidly, the solution is solidified, and the botanical molecules separated out cannot conglomerate into large crystals. As a result, micro-crystals are formed. These micro-crystals have a rapidly-dissolvable property within body fluids and a better bioavailability. For example, when Griseofulvin (an antifungal drug) Dripping Pill with PEG 6000 in its matrix is examined under a microscope, it can be seen that crystals at a size between 2-3µ account for only 5.39%, while the remaining is composed of crystals under 2µ.

Dissolubility, solubility and surface activity of the matrix: In dripping pills, the poorly soluble microcrystals of the herbal extract are surrounded tightly by a water-soluble matrix. The matrix dissolves quickly in body fluids, and the herbal extract will form a homogeneous suspension of micro-crystals when agitated slightly, allowing the herbal extract to come in contact with the body fluid closely and increase the dissolution process.

Elimination of aggregation and agglomeration of herbal extract powder: When an herbal extract with low water-solubility in powder form is put into water, some small conglomerations floating on the water surface usually occur during the course of dissolution. They are difficult to disperse, even with strong stirring. In the case of dripping pills, the tiny, fine crystals of the herbal extract are embedded in the water-soluble matrix, and thus no aggregation or agglomeration will occur. The herbal extract will become wet and begin dissolving quickly as the surrounding matrix dissolves.

As you can see, it is an intense and rigorous manufacturing process to create such an innovative new form as the dripping pill. But, when the benefits and effectiveness are so high, it seems essential to have access to such a dosage form. Honso is proud to be working with Tasly, who believes in the task of finding the most effective ways to help patients with herbal medicine, and bringing these products to the forefront of our industry worldwide.