Bone Health

Bone health can refer to many different health issues. Most people think only of osteoporosis. Bone health involves more than just that. The quality of bone is essential to blood and immune health as well.

Bone marrow is the gelatinous and flexible tissue inside the bone cavities. There is red and yellow marrow, both having different functions. The red marrow is the functional marrow which contains stem cells and several other cells important to blood formation. The yellow marrow mostly stores fats and produces some of the leukocytes (white blood cells which are part of the immune function). Bone marrow is vital to the balance of fats, minerals, leukocytes and lymphatic system health.

Bone cells, such as osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts are important for bone formation, mineralization of the bones, nutrient and waste exchange via blood, and bone metabolism. Bone is complex, and in order to have a healthy body, you need healthy bones.

The quality of the matrix of the bones is rarely considered when someone has osteoporosis. Lack of bone density is the only attention-grabber, because it is the only part with a drug to “treat it”. Bone quality takes good nutrition and that isn’t easy to manage. Bones with good bone density and poor bone quality are brittle. Bones with less than optimal density, but good quality, are less likely to break. Bone health, especially the matrix/marrow is the most important goal for improving any bone-related health condition.

Acupuncture along with a good solid nutritional protocol is an effective way of resolving a variety of bone issues, including blood disorders, osteoporosis and bone fracture. The combination frequently shortens the healing time of bone trauma by about 1/3.  Used properly, acupuncture and nutrition are the best ways of supporting bone health.