One of the medicine men I studied under in India, specialized in fractures. People came to him with their hand swinging freely off their wrist, a leg hanging off their thigh, etc. He would bandage them carefully, but before doing so, he used crushed herbs, or herbal oils that worked as both pain relievers, but also as bone builders.
Herbs can play a strong role in bone health, including building them, supporting absorption of minerals like calcium and phosphorus, and acting as a cast of sorts by way of being used topically as a poultice. Whether you are suffering from osteoarthritis, an arthritic condition, an injury, or just wanting to prevent bone degeneration, the herbs listed below will be a great supplement to your bone health tool-belt.
Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) is a nutritive; originally from the middle east and Central Asia, Alfalfa derives its names from the Arabic. It is nutritional profile has made it a feed of choice for horses, livestock and human consumption. It is as close to a multivitamin in an herb as you can get. It is high vitamins - A, D, E, K, all the B vitamins; thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, folic acid, etc. It is also rich in minerals, including: calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, etc.
Burdock - among other things, burdock is a nutritive. Nutritives support bone health because of the combination of minerals and vitamins that support the assimilation of these minerals. Burdock also boasts a full profile of vitamins and minerals – B vitamins, antioxidants like E, and C. Like all herbs, they operate with extreme intelligence. For instance, our body produces uric acid as a byproduct of protein metabolism. When there is too much, uric acid circulating in our body, calcium is leeched from our bones. Burdock facilitates the excretion of uric acid, making it possible for calcium to be more readily absorbed, and preventing the build up of uric acid in the joints, which leads to arthritic conditions.
Horsetail herb (Equisetum arvense) – recognized as a nutritive, a cooling healing herb that addresses ulcers, and blood loss, as well as a woman’s herb. This herb which resembles a horse’s is commonly prescribed by herbalists as a diuretic for urinary tract issues associated with uric acid build-up. It is also used for women dealing with peri- and post menopause and the bone loss that is associated with this stage of life. Horsetail is rich in silicon, which supports bone health.
Nettle (Urtick Diocia) – also commonly known as stinging nettles, this herb is often used in soups to make a highly nutritious broth. Nettles and alfalfa are often spoken of in the same breath when referring to herbs richest in vitamins and minerals. Additionally, it has a strong phytonutrient profile, including chlorophyll, and carotenoids. It makes a great supplement for bone health due to its high content in minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, and phosphorus, among many many other components.
Oatstraw (Aveena Sativa) – This herb is a nexus between mental stresses and bone health. It is used as a nervine, to address the mental anguishes that keep one from sleeping at night. Oat straw is also mineral rich, especially in calcium, and is highly recommended by herbailsits for bone issues as well as sleep issues. Because of minerals like magnesium, and gaba, it’s also calming, and soothing to the mind and body.
Red clover (Trifolium Pratense) - Red clover is also a source of many valuable nutrients including calcium,chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, andvitamin C. Red clover is considered to be one of the richest sources of isoflavones, which are water-soluble chemicals that act like estrogens (known collectively as phytoestrogens).* As estrogen levels drop during menopause, a woman's risk for developing osteoporosis (significant bone loss) goes up. A few studies suggest that a proprietary extract of red clover isoflavones may slow bone loss and even boost bone mineral density in pre- and perimenopausal women.**
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) this common weed, is a boquet of vitamins and minerals. It is a great addition to smoothies and teas, and the best part is that it can be found almost everywhere. It ‘s rich in both fat and water soluble vitamins, as well as in minerals, like potassium and zinc.
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