Abstract

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF OSTEOPENIA/ OSTEOPOROSIS

Dr. Brijesh Singh*

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a condition of major health importance because of its association with fractures. During the past decade, it has increasingly been perceived as serious disabling disease needing substantial involvement of all medical sciences to develop and assess potential treatments. We, being the learners of great science of life-Ayurveda, it is out moral duty to apply this invaluable system of medicine to assist people in journey towards better health in the latter half of life and add quality to life. In the contemporary science Osteopenia means decrease in the bone tissue. Osteoporosis is defined as “a progressive systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and loss of bone tissue that may lead to weak and fragile bones and increased risk for fracture of bones (broken bones), particularly in the hip, spine, and wrist”.[1] Osteoporosis is a global dilemma that will increase in significance with the growing elderly population. The condition affects both the sexes and all races albeit to different degrees. Women are at high risk compare to men. The risk increases at menopause, which is a transition period of hormonal imbalance. Around the world, one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will experience an Osteoporotic fracture in there life time.[2, 3] Osteopenia is a condition where bone mineral density is lower than normal (T score – 1.0 to -2.5). Osteoporosis has been operationally defined on the basis of bone mineral density (BMD) assessment. According to the WHO criteria, Osteoporosis is defined as a BMD that lies (T score of

Keywords: Osteopenia, Osteoporosis, Shodhana, Samana, Taila, Ghrita, Guggulu Kalpa, Ksheera Paka, Rasayana, Pathyapathya.