If you’ve never broken a bone yourself, you certainly know someone who has. Falls are serious at any age, but especially for older people who are more likely to break a bone when they fall.
If you have a disease called osteoporosis, you are more likely to break a bone if you fall. Osteoporosis is called the “silent disease” because bones become weak with no symptoms. You may not know that you have it until a strain, bump, or fall causes a bone to break.
Natural Ways to speed up healing of you have broken bones
Lifestyle
- Stop smoking. Smoking slows the blood flow to the bones, thereby slowing healing. Smokers take longer to heal broken bones.
- Stop drinking. Alcohol slows the formation of the osteoblasts.
- Decrease or eliminate caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea, and colas which increase calcium excretion. Since your body needs all the calcium it can get to heal your bones, it is wise to minimize sources of calcium loss.
- Avoid eating foods with preservatives; they contain Phosphorous which can lead to bone loss.
Nutrition
Because the bones need protein to build, add proteins to your diet. Meat, fish, soy, nuts, beans, and dairy are all good sources. Dairy has the added advantage of containing calcium.
Increase antioxidants: Now is the time to start eating those foods rich in antioxidants. While it’s important to include antioxidants for cellular health, these compounds are also important in reducing inflammation at the site of the break. Inflammation can continue for weeks after the initial injury, and until inflammation starts to go away, the healing process will not fully engage.
Supplements
- Vitamin C is important link in the formation of collagen. Adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet can fill this need.
- Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption. Take 2,000 to 4,000 daily. Be sure to take in that much while healing bones.
- Vitamin K, found in leafy greens, also aids bone repair.
- Take calcium: Calcium is essential to bone health, but if you don’t have the right amino acids, it isn’t going to be as productive as it could be.
- While calcium is a must, experts indicate most people are deficient in essential minerals even when they aren’t trying to heal a broken bone. Make sure you get enough calcium, zinc, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, and silicon.
Homeopathy
If you have broken bones you will gain the greatest benefit from seeking treatment from a homeopathic practitioner. Homeopathic remedies are safe and can be very effective in helping with stress. Of course, your constitutional remedy will work best at a holistic level to help with broken bones and all other symptoms, so you may choose to have your constitutional case taken by a qualified homeopath. The selection of homeopathic remedies listed below are the most obvious range of remedies that can be helpful in speeding up the healing process:
Arnica: In any homeopathic first aid, Arnica is the first drug of choice. Its remarkable ability to reduce bruising and swelling from trauma has been well documented. Arnica can be used immediately after the break, to reduce swelling and vascular congestion. 
Symphytum: It has a remarkable ability to speed the healing of bones. Symph is a great remedy when the bone refuses to knit together and also if the pain remains long after the fracture is healed. Herbalists have long used comfrey, or Knitbone.
Ruta: To treat bruised bones and for bones that are slow to repair. Ruta is also beneficial to the connective tissues around the bones and the periosteum. This remedy is indicated if the pains are worse from the cold and damp.
Calcarea phoshoricum: A homeopathic remedy also used as a tissue salt. The salt is essential in facilitating the union of broken bones. The homeopathic indication for this remedy is bones that are slow to heal and a cold sensation in the limbs. The pain is worse at night and in cold, damp weather.
Falls are especially dangerous for people with osteoporosis. If you break a bone, you might need a long time to recover. Learning how to prevent falls can help you avoid broken bones and the problems they can cause.
How Can I Prevent Falling?
At any age, people can make changes to lower their risk of falling. Some tips to help prevent falls outdoors are:
- Use a cane or walker
- Wear rubber-soled shoes so you don’t slip
- Walk on grass when sidewalks are slick
- Put salt or kitty litter on icy sidewalks.
Some ways to help prevent falls indoors are:
- Keep rooms free of clutter, especially on floors
- Use plastic or carpet runners
- Wear low-heeled shoes
- Do not walk in socks, stockings, or slippers
- Be sure rugs have skid-proof backs or are tacked to the floor
- Be sure stairs are well lit and have rails on both sides
- Put grab bars on bathroom walls near tub, shower, and toilet
- Use a non-skid bath mat in the shower or tub
- Keep a flashlight next to your bed
- Use a sturdy step stool with a handrail and wide steps
- Add more lights in rooms
- Buy a cordless phone so that you don’t have to rush to the phone when it rings and so that you can call for help if you fall.
You can also do exercises to improve your balance. While holding the back of a chair, sink, or counter:
- Stand on one leg at a time for a minute and then slowly increase the time. Try to balance with your eyes closed or without holding on.
- Stand on your toes for a count of 10, and then rock back on your heels for a count of 10.
- Make a big circle to the left with your hips, and then to the right. Do not move your shoulders or feet. Repeat five times.
How Can I Prevent Broken Bones if I Fall?
Sometimes you cannot prevent a fall. If you do fall, you can try to prevent breaking a bone. Try to fall forwards or backwards (on your buttocks), because if you fall to the side you may break your hip. You can also use your hands or grab things around you to break a fall. Some people wear extra clothes to pad their hips or use special hip pads.
I hope that you found these hints helpful and wish you a safe, fun, and healthy winter. If you have any questions or comments about this article, homeopathy, or any other of our offered services and products, please contact us at (519) 603-0505 and we will be happy to talk to you. Or, to book an appointment, please call us or go online to www.kwhomeopathicmedicine.com
Irene Schwens, C.Tran., DHMHS
Homeopath
