Osteoporosis Discover The Ayurvedic Preparation That Strengthens Your Bones And Prevents Fractures

According to the National Osteoporosis Society, the UKs leading osteoporosis charity, one in three women and one in 12 men over the age of 50 will develop this debilitating condition 1.

Osteoporosis is a disease which causes your bones particularly those of the wrist, hip and spine to become increasingly fragile and more likely to break. Most sufferers are unaware they have a problem until they experience an unexpected fracture caused by a minor fall. This is why osteoporosis is often referred to as the silent disease.

Fortunately there are simple steps you can take to prevent the condition. These include eating a balanced diet thats rich in calcium (present in milk and dairy products), magnesium (high amounts of this mineral are found in whole grains, nuts and beans) and vitamin D (found in oily fish, egg yolk, liver and butter); avoiding cigarettes, excess sugar and alcohol; and doing regular weight-bearing exercises such as walking.

A further way to prevent and even reverse osteoporosis is with a new product called Reosto. Despite being new to the UK it is based on an Ayurvedic (ancient Indian medicine) formula that has been scientifically proven to help in the fight against osteoporosis. It is made up of five Indian herbs: Sida cordifolia, Withania somnifera, Terminalia arjuna, Commiphora wightii and Vanda roxburghii; and two naturally occurring minerals Kukkutandatvak bhasma and Godanti bhasma.
Are your bones vulnerable to this silent disease?

Common risk factors for osteoporosis include gender (women have a higher incidence as they have less bone tissue), age (your risk increases with age), family history (susceptibility may be, in part, hereditary) and bone structure (small-boned and thin women are at greater risk).

The likelihood of developing the disease also increases during and after the menopause due to reduced levels of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone both of which help maintain bone mineral density.

Oestrogen suppresses osteoclast activity bone cells that break down bone tissue while progesterone stimulates the activity of osteoblasts bone cells that promote the formation of new bone. Therefore when oestrogen levels decline the rate at which calcium is lost from your body is increased.

While some women rely on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to prevent osteoporosis its been shown to reduce the incidence of fractures in post-menopausal women well-documented studies have now linked its use to an increased risk of breast cancer, thrombo-embolism (blood clots) and high blood pressure.

This makes finding safe, natural alternatives like Reosto so important in the fight against the disease. Preliminary studies carried out so far have shown that it has exciting potential both as a preventative and treatment for osteoporosis.

Reosto boosts your calcium levels and helps prevent bone loss

According to a pilot study involving 40 post-menopausal women, Reosto helps prevent and even reverse bone loss. Before the trial the women were given a detailed examination and serum calcium levels and bone mineral density were measured. The patients bone loss ranged from 5% to 57%.

All the women took Reosto twice a day for six months. Following a re-examination, serum calcium levels were found to have increased and total bone loss was reduced. Common symptoms of osteoporosis such as backache and leg pain were also reduced 2.

As this was a short-term study on a small population group, a further study involving a larger number of women is now planned, and HSI promises to keep you fully updated on the findings as soon as they become available.

Dual action makes Reosto even more effective at maintaining bone health
Reosto appears to work by addressing two of the main factors associated with bone maintenance the intake of sufficient calcium and appropriate hormone balance.
Two of the compounds contained in the formula are rich sources of natural calcium that are present in the correct levels for the management of osteoporosis. Kukkutandatvak bhasma is based on calcium from hens eggshells and Godanti bhasma (calcium carbonate) is a main component of seashells 3, 4.

Two of the herbs contained in the formula, country mallow (Sida cordifolia) and winter cherry (Withania somnifera), contain phyto-oestrogens hormone-like substances that are similar in structure to oestrogens found in the human body and which provide mild oestrogenic activity. Recent studies carried out to assess the effects of phyto-oestrogens in post-menopausal women showed a significant increase in the bone mineral density of their spines 5.

Studies have also revealed that phyto-oestrogens are able to stimulate osteoblast formation (bone-promoting cells) and suppress osteoclast formation (bone breakdown cells) 6. Phyto-oestrogens also appear to slow mineral loss from bones and stimulate collagen synthesis a protein present in bone tissue 7.

Reosto provides additional health benefits for post-menopausal women
The remaining three herbs in Reosto have bone-protective benefits too. Terminalia arjuna has been used extensively for the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone-related disorders, as it improves the synthesis and secretion of female hormones 8.

Commiphora wightii helps in remineralisation of the bones especially in old age, and Vanda roxburghii has been included in the preparation because of its anti-inflammatory properties, which appear to contribute to pain control in people suffering from osteoporosis 9, 10.

Dr Amitha Rudraraju, an Ayurvedic consultant working at the Shymala Ayurvedic clinic in Holland Park, London, uses Reosto regularly in her practice. She says: Reosto is the only alternative herbal calcium supplement available which definitely increases bone mineral density in post-menopausal women. It not only helps in remineralisation of the bones but also treats other concerns of post-menopausal women such as muscle pain, general debility, reduced libido, nervous exhaustion and emotional instability.

What to take for best results

The recommended dosage for Reosto is one to two tablets a day. Studies show that Reosto does not cause any side effects when taken at this dose.