Alternative Solutions for Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

More Negative Effects from Bone Drugs

September 18th, 2007

I got two emails and a newsletter today dealing with drug reactions to the bone drugs – the pace seems to be stepping up.

One customer who bought my vest after taking Actonel for ten months now has found out that she has a jaw-bone calcification. Here is her story:

Hi Pam, I have been on actonel 10 months. 5 months ago I developed a hard protuding sore spot on my lowest part of the bone in my jaw. The dentist and family dr. had no idea what it was. Today I was talking to a pharmacist who was telling me about a women on actonel who developed the same on the roof of her mouth and had to stop actonel and have it removed surgically.

It seems according to the pharmacist that 1% of people on actonel develope these jaw calcifcations. Lucky me! This is not well known and there is very little on the internet as it is so rare.Thought I would let you know- am curious to see if you knew of it.

I hadn’t heard of it, and yet I wouldn’t call 1% of users to be ‘rare’. We’ll probably hear more about it as time goes by. Here is the second story:

Hi Pam, I am up to 6 lbs in my weight vest and am finding it comfortable to wear and it has definitely improved my balance! I rate it a ’10′. Now my sister also has one.

My doctor is not going to be happy that I am not taking Fosamax (used it for 19 months out of the last 36 months. But I am going to give him a brochure about what I am doing instead. He diagnosed me with gastritis this summer. I believe it was caused by the medicine, or at least, contributed to, several months of living mainly on cream of rice when all foods made me too ill to eat. He scorned my concern that the Fosamax was part of my ‘problem’ and wanted me to go back on it as soon as my stomach was ‘better’. I haven’t, even though I am feeling fine now.

THANKS for designing this vest!

The final story from Dr Robert Rowen’s newsletter concerns a woman who took Fosomax for nine years and woke up one day with incredible pain in her jaw. She had repeated surgeries and multiple courses of antibiotics and finally had a titanium plate to replace part of her jaw. She lost teeth and has a permanent loss of sensation in her face. Can you imagine the agony she went through? And what a drastic downturn her life has taken just from trying to make her bones a bit better. What a nightmare! And she’s not alone. More people are having this happen every day. If anyone you love is still on these drugs, please get them off before it’s too late.

Sorry to be a downer – but if you save one woman you love from this stuff, that would be a huge gain!

Pam

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Difference Between Testimonials and Studies

August 31st, 2007

I was thinking this week about all the people who need to see "scientific studies" before they are willing to believe anything. If they only realized how slanted, inaccurate and downright devious most studies are, they would probably be surprised.

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association "proves" that diet does not help prevent recurrance of cancer. When you actually read the study you see that the definition of a good diet that the subjects were on included a recommended 20% of calories from fat. The actual participants found that hard to do, so they averaged 27% of fat. It has been well proven in Alternative Medicine that people who have cancer are better off to stay at about 10% of calories from fat. Then it has also been well-proven in the past that fresh, raw, organic food can help heal the body. There were no recommendations about that. Basically the only difference between the two groups was that one group tried to eat more veggies and fruits and tried and failed to eat less fat.

What a stupid study! If you really want to prevent the return of cancer such half-hearted attempts at diet modification are bound not to work. You have to get serious about what you put in your mouth.

Another study recently said that vitamins C and E were not helpful for health. What baloney! It turns out that the study used synthetic versions of both antioxidants. They are just useless chemicals, of course they don’t help. They can make a study prove whatever they want by the way they set it up. Drug companies are very interested in making supplements look useless. They have millions to spend on setting up these bogus studies and then trumpeting them through the media to confuse people.

I think that once people get it that allopathic medicine is in league with the drug barons to strip us of our money and our health, then we can start to do our own research and find out what works for us.

I love testimonials. I love to read about people like me who had found something that works. I know there is the possibility that they are bogus or planted. I take that risk. But, since companies are so constrained now by the FDA in what they can claim for their products, sometimes you can only tell what they do from the testimonials.

I am looking into the vibration platforms to improve osteoporosis right now. I have heard so many different pros and cons. The studies shown on the sites do not seem to be conclusive at all. But someone I trust is selling the best of them so, when finances permit, I will just go ahead and try one out. They are very expensive so it was only the testimonials from women like myself that convinced me it was worth a try.

I myself give testimonials whenever I think a product is life-changing. And it’s a joy to read the emails I get about the results of my weight-vest.

So don’t believe the headlines, they are distorted to sell the news. Last week the news was full of how many over-70 year old women were enjoying healthy sex lives. I was surprised until I read the small print and it turns out that to be called sexually active you had to have had sex once in the past year. That’s pretty funny!

Blessings, Pam

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The Alternate Realities of Diet

August 29th, 2007

We all tend to hang out with people from our own sub-cultures, whatever they are. We tend to see those groups of people as ‘normal’ and forget that not everyone thinks the way we do. The people I identify with, here on the California coast, are usually very alternative health-minded, they eat right and go to Farmer’s Markets for their food. They are informed consumers of food. They think and do research before they make considered food choices. They really do believe that we are what we eat.

Going into a regular supermarket for the few items that I buy there, I am always amazed at the garbage that people have in their carts. I think, "Doesn’t she know that most of that stuff is poison?"

Well, obviously, she doesn’t know. This is the alternate reality of food. She has never seen the pictures of puny rats that are born to mothers who were fed Monsanto’s GMO soybeans. She has never read all the books on sugar and sugar substitutes and what they are doing to America’s health. She doesn’t connect the constant ill health of her children with allergies to everyday non-foods. She merrily believes everything the FDA and the government says. She usually believes that if something was bad for her family the government would stop it somehow.

I pass an older man on my walk on the bluffs every day. He has a cane and walks slowly and in his other hand he carries a soda can that he is drinking from. He looks totally acidic to me and pretty sick. He is obviously walking for his health, sun or shine. I am so tempted to give him a package of my pH sticks and a printout of my pH article to read. I am sometimes even tempted to grab his cola and say "This is killing you!"

But I’ve learned not to interfere in people’s food habits unless they ask – or unless they are my grandchildren.

Most of the processed foods that Americans eat all day long have addictive stuff in them – intentionally for the manufacturer’s profit. People don’t like it when you mess with their addictions. And, until they’ve done the research themselves, seen it with their own eyes, there is not much possibility of change.

It is such a huge step from the major food culture into the healthy eating subculture. When I tell women on the phone that they have to give up soft drinks entirely if they want healthy bones, it’s like taking candy from a child. When I tell my own mother that the reason for her suddenly dripping nose at the age of 87 is that her body is tired of dealing with dairy every day – her allergies are now showing. She says things like, "It’s my only pleasure." Nope, that’s not true, or shouldn’t be. If all our pleasures come from our taste buds then our lives are pretty messed up.

Yes, eating healthy food does tend to restrict your dining out experiences and your enjoyment of parties. That is difficult. But isn’t your health and vitality and well-being worth it. Sadly, most people have to get pretty sick in order to change their way of eating. Osteoporosis is not such a bad disease really. If you have to have a wake-up call, then it seems to be the most subtle one. Anything that causes us to take that big step sideways into the subculture of healthy eating is a blessing.

Pam

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Improving Osteoporosis with the Weight Vest

August 21st, 2007

I got another testimonial email from a customer today. It’s exciting to have them start to roll in. I have to rely on people’s memories because my privacy policy says that I will not contact customers. But I’m sure happy when they contact me with the good news.

Hi Pam,
Just to let you know, I have been wearing the weight vest since the day I got it and I love it. I started with 4 lbs. and up to 10lbs. now.

Along with taking a small dosage of strontium and calcium, eating lots of vegetables & fruits and excercise which consist of an 8lb medicine ball, walking, floor excercise and wearing the weight vest for 1 hr every morning for 5 days a week, I have gained 4.2% density in my spine. I was a hair away from having osteoporosis.

My results showed a mild case of osteopenia in my spine and my hip was normal. I was so excited about my results, I have been beyond myself. My doctor says he wants to repeat the test in 2 years and for me to continue what I am doing. I have had a bone density test for the last 7 years every year as I have been losing density.

I am 66 years old, small weighing 110 lbs and have been told by my physician because of my age and size my bones would not absorb calcium. I told him I was not willing to accept that and I would go the alternative way and through prayer and faith in God, he has been proven wrong. No matter what size or how old a person is, it can be reversed and without Fosamax, Boniva or any of those chemicals. I tried them all and could not take them. This is a more natural and healthier way which I love.

Thank you so much for sharing your research about osteoporosis.
Name on file

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The Role of Inspiration in Health

July 17th, 2007

I have been doing a huge amount of inner work lately and taking great leaps forward in my life, which is wonderful. But I am realizing the enormous importance of our own inner vision for our life and our future in our daily health habits. It is impossible to convey to someone who is calling about problems with their bones, that the problem may actually be in their life force, their vision for the meaning of their life.

But in the wisdom of hindsight I see my own path up to and through ill-health so clearly that I thought I would share some of that here in the hope it helps someone.

Up until menopause, around 50, I was very strong, very healthy, optimistic and already had a lifework of helping women in healing circles. I don’t know what came first, the lowering of my hormonal output, or the dissolution of my relationships. It’s like the chicken and the egg. But I had a series of disappointments and losses in major relationships and I could no longer see my way forward. I no longer had a clear vision of where my life was headed.

Without our own strong vision of the future we fall back on cultural visions. Unfortunately the cultural vision for women ‘of a certain age’ is very undermining and depressing. The common true goals of most of our lives are to help make a difference in the world in some way – after we have moved through bringing up our own families and taking care of our own needs. I suddenly felt that I had nothing to offer that the world needed. A huge error in perception, of course, for anyone. An obvious indication of hormonal and chemical imbalance.

Errors in judgement and financial losses followed and then, naturally, ill health. Fortunately for me, my inner wisdom brought me Candida, Diabetes and Osteoporosis, not one of the quicker and more final diseases. I truly believe that all diseases are a wake-up call, telling us that there are huge changes necessary in our lives. Look how many people who have recovered from major disease, say that they are much better for having lived through it.

So, after a long time in the gloom and pessimism of cultural expectations of getting older and what it would bring, I started to fight back. I decided that just wasn’t good enough for me – I wasn’t going there. I slowly but surely took small steps to creating a new life, a useful life. But still in a small and modest way. After having stuck my head above the crowd once and having it chopped off, I was satisfied with minor successes. Besides, I didn’t see any role models whose lives I envied.

Now, through various tools, which I won’t go into here, I’m done with that. I’m committed to being the best that I can be in this lifetime – and time is marching on, so I am determined to get on with it. My diabetes is under control, my health has improved rapidly, and now I am going to work on gaining visible muscle and ever-more radiant health. I plan on being the poster-woman for a post-menopausal come-back, without going to the gym for two hours a day.

I’m studying for my nutritional counselor license, back into raw foods, learning qigong and having daily adventures into the power and creativity of my mind. It turns out that my picture of what was needed for success was that I would have to go on mind-numbing talk radio or speak to women’s groups ad nauseum. Nope, I’m not gonna go there, I’ll do it my way. Spirit will bring the women who need my help to me. I don’t have to concern myself how. I can step back from the enormous pressures of web-marketing: test your headlines, change your site, get to the top in Google, do the latest hot thing.

Now I have my life purpose clear and I am moving forward, Spirit will take care of the details. That frees up a huge amount of energy for personal growth. My first goal is visible muscle. Strong muscles are enormously beneficial to older women. Since I’ve never been a fan of exercise, I figure if I can do it, then other women can too. As soon as I get some muscles to show you, I will post a picture.

Blessings, Pam

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The Role of Health Counselors

July 15th, 2007

I got a testimonial this morning -
The weightvest is very comfortable. I wear it around my home while I am doing chores, it aligns the spine beautifully. I feel strong and empowered. I am now using all the weights supplied. I am telling people about your weight vest and exercise/supplement protocol. I am so pleased I found you here on the web.
Alexia Dunay, Holistic Health Counselor

Alexia is a graduate of the Health Institute that I was looking into. I am really happy that there are so many women like me who are interested in helping others to help themselves to get well. There is a crying need for this service for people who don’t have the time or the resources to figure out what to do from the zillion choices that are now offered.

In truth, there is no perfect diet and lifestyle that fits everyone. Like a health coach, a Holistic Health or Nutritional Counselor can find the one that fits you best. I am studying for the accreditation right now myself and looking forward to setting up a practice. I study health all day long anyway. I may as well have a better way to pass on what I learn.

So many women I speak to on the phone say, "I don’t have time to research this, just tell me what to do." I can honor that. I am at a stage in my life where I don’t have the interruptions of kids or a primary relationship or a regular job and I can focus completely on health research. It is my joy to learn and grow and find new tools for health.

I think these counselors will become more common everywhere before long. Just a few years ago, life coaches and personal trainers were unknown and look how widespread they are now. Of course, like coaches, they will vary in skill sets and personalities. You will have to find someone that you resonate with and, primarily, one whose own health is something you would aspire to. Unlike doctors, who can be smokers, overweight and junk-food eaters, health counselors will have to walk their talk in order to command respect.
That looks good to me!

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Update on Thyroid and Adrenal Hormones

June 27th, 2007

Well, it’s been just over two months since I started the homeopathic solutions for my low thyroid and adrenals. I am amazed at the progress I have made. I will definitely not take any thyroid medication or cortisol now.

My temperature chart shows steady progress, a big difference at first and now slowing down but still improving. I originally had temps that occasionally went as low as 95. My chart before I started the homeopathics for the month I was on Armour thyroid went up and down between 96.8 and 97.8. This was taking temps twice a day, not on a schedule but just when I remembered to do it.

Now my chart shows less daily bouncing around and ranges between 97.6 and 98.3. This indicates that my hormonal system is in recovery.

You can get an explanation and a sample chart from drrind.com.

But what is truly amazing is how much it has changed how I feel. I really hadn’t noticed how restricted my life had become. It was so gradual it felt normal and, when I did notice, I put it down to age. But I started doing projects around the house again for the first time in 5 years. I used to be the project queen. I was always remodeling or changing something. Suddenly I found myself doing that again! I love it.

And my poor garden had been just hanging in there for years. Now I am back out there every day and it looks a picture, people stop to admire it. I finally have energy for other things than my business and my computer.

So if you are feeling less than your best and think your hormones may be out of whack, I really recommend that you buy the book, "Revitalizing Your Hormones" by Theresa Dale. That’s where I began. Just to think I almost went on pills for life. That’s nuts. There is no pill that can do what your own body can do. No pill that can fine-tune your dose for your particular body in each moment. The small bottles of the three hormonal balance homeopathics will last me for the full three months. I think I will probably take them once a year to keep tuned up.

I hope this helps someone,
Pam

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Your Teeth Can Predict Osteoporosis

June 21st, 2007

Many dentists have been noticing the connection between gum and tooth problems and bone loss. It seems that people who have periodontal problems often also have osteoporosis.

Now the link between periodontal problems and osteoporosis has been proven by a major study looking at bone-mineral density and oral health in nearly 3,000 postmenopausal women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Their analysis showed a strong and direct relationship between bone loss, gum-attachment loss and tooth loss.

While many people with osteoporosis do not show signs of weak jawbones there are now ways to tell from digital dental x-rays if osteoporosis is present. In a recent study 49 post-menopausal women had their dental x-rays analyzed by a computer program and 92% of the patients with osteoporosis were identified. 96% of those who had no osteoporosis were also correctly identified.

Your dentist could get the software to analyze the x-rays and then you would be able to find out a lot sooner about the health of your bones just in the course of your normal dental check-up. You would need to follow up with a Dexa scan prescribed by your doctor.

I first found out about this from Dr Robert Rowen’s newsletter, Second Opinion. This is a great newsletter, one of the few that I still read regularly, there are so many now. Dr Rowan is usually way ahead of the crowd and often has some very unusual solutions. He is an integrative physician.

My question would be: would dentists really want to be advising their patients about their bones? Would that involve them in some kind of responsibility issues? Given their total ostrich attitude to the use of mercury in people’s mouths, which has shortened many lives, I think many would not offer the information – but it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

Pam

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Nutrition Counselor Training

June 7th, 2007

As you may have noticed, I have a lot of opinions about nutrition. I’ve researched the topic for years and I think I’ve tried everything that had any merit at all. I’ve been at this since the ’70′s when I grew my own food and kept bees. Several times in the past I have thought of becoming certified in some way around nutrition, but when I looked into the courses available all of them were so outdated and recommending such awful stuff – remember margerine?

Now I’ve heard of a school in New York – Integrative Nutrition – that teaches nutrition as I learned it, through experience. They check out every diet on the planet so you have a broad understanding of what’s available and they seem to be saying that no one way is right for everyone at every stage of their lives. Nice! I like that!

Attending would be a no-brainer if it didn’t mean crossing the country to New York one weekend of the month for ten months. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings but going from the bliss of winter in California to New York through the long cold months, dealing with red-eye flights and insane airports, really makes me think long and hard. Apparently they are a long way from opening a school on the West Coast, more’s the pity, and I have to make up my mind pretty soon. So if any of you readers have any insights that may help me to decide, I would really appreciate hearing them. You can email me or leave a comment here.

Thanks,
Pam

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More Jawbone Problems with the Bisphosphonate Drugs