Bone DEATH

A recently released study in the Journal of Rheumatology shows that individuals with severe bone necrosis were three times more likely to have been treated with oral bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates include the drugs Boniva, Fosamax and Actonel, which are used to treat osteoporosis by slowing bone turnover, which is supposed to increase bone density. Naturopathic physicians, however, have been arguing for years that the bone tissue these drugs create is not healthy.

Bone necrosis essentially means bone death. From a naturopathic perspective, if you slow down metabolism of bone enough, it makes sense that the tissue may die. Most individuals are unaware that bone is an active tissue, filled with cells that are constantly breaking bone tissue down and building it up again. Cells called osteoclasts are responsible for breaking down old bone tissue, and cells called osteoblasts are the ones that build new, fresh tissue. Stimuli like resistance training and Vitamin D activate osteoblasts to build up bones, while drinking soda or smoking promotes bone breakdown.

Naturopaths work with patients to eliminate causes of excess bone breakdown, while simultaneously promoting bone-building supplementation, foods, and exercise. We’ve seen bone scans improve many times with these simple changes, and we would never advocate taking a drug like Boniva or Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis.

ALETRIS Center of Integrative Medicine is a Scottsdale, AZ wellness center serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Glendale, Arrowhead, Peoria, Sun City, Chandler, Tempe, Ahwatukee, and Mesa, AZ with specialties in naturopathic medicine, natural hormone therapy, women's health, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, natural skincare and sugar hair removal.

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