You probably know that the mainstays for preventing bone loss are weight-bearing exercise, vitamin D, and hormone restoration.
But every now and then I get a patient whose bone loss is so significant that I want something else.
Let me tell you what I did recently…
The bisphosphonate medications (Actonel, Fosamax, etc.) are out of the question for me because of their unacceptable side effects.
So I decided to try a little-known classical herbal formulation that offers an extra therapeutic edge to those who might need it. The formulation is called Panchatikta Ghrita.
To assess the effect of Panchatikta Ghrita on bone formation, the researchers in a recent study used the help of 65 men and women aged 40 to 75 years, all of whom had mild bone loss. (They had BMD T-scores between -1 and -2.5 in at least two of the three joints tested-lumbar spine L1-L4, left femur-neck, left forearm-radius total).
They were all taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.
The researchers divided the group up and gave some of them two tablespoons of Panchatikta Ghrita twice a day.
Before they began the study, the researchers checked four different biomarkers of bone health: bone mineral density (BMD), vitamin D blood levels, TRAP-5b, and osteocalcin. All of these markers for healthy bones are increased when bone-building therapies are effective.
The study went on for 12 months, and all of these tests were done at six months and at 12 months. Here’s what they discovered.
Everyone improved in all the measurements. But the men and women who got the Panchatikta Ghrita showed “significant improvement compared with the standard treatment group.”
The authors concluded that, “The study findings demonstrate that Panchatikta Ghrita slows down the bone degeneration processes by its stabilizing effect on the bone-specific biomarkers, indicating its potential usefulness as preventive therapy in osteopenia [weak bones].”
Like I said, most men and women can keep healthy bones for life simply with exercise, vitamin D, and hormone replacement.
But, for various reasons, some people may not be able to exercise or take hormones. So, for them, I prescribe Ultimate Bone Support. And now that I know about Panchatikta Ghrita, I have an additional supplement to use in the more difficult cases.
You can find a good and inexpensive source of Panchatikta Ghrita here. Take as directed.
Yours for better health,
Frank Shallenberger, MD
REF: Munshi RP, Kumbhar DA, et al. Assessing the Effectiveness of Panchatikta Ghrita, a Classical Ayurvedic Formulation as Add-on Therapy to Vitamin D3 and Calcium Supplements in Patients with Osteopenia: A Randomized, Open-Labeled, Comparative, Controlled Clinical Study. J Altern Complement Med. 2019 Aug 28.