Amla Osteoporosis, Osteopenia herb.

Amla Osteoporosis , Osteopenia reversing herb  is native to India. Its Botanic name is Phyllanthus emblica. And it is also called Emblica officinalis. 

In Sanskrit, this herb is called Amalaki or Dhartiphala. It has several 'popular names' : Indian Gooseberry, Emblic myrobalan, Amla and Amalaki. (NOTE: I mention all these names since the herb may be sold under any one of them. It may not always be called Amla.)

In India the Amla tree has been regarded as a sacred for many years. It was worshipped as Mother Earth and it is believed to nurture humankind because its nourishing fruits.

Description. The herb has gray bark. Its leaves are feathery and smell like lemon. Amla flowers in Spring and has greenish yellow flowers. Fruit starts to develop by mid-spring and these fruits ripen towards early autumn. The fruit looks very much like Gooseberry, hence it is sometimes named: Indian Goodeberry.

As for its healing properties, Amla is used for many different conditions:

1. There are several animal studies showing that an extract of this Amla reduces oxidative stress to the liver. 

2.The herb has restored levels of glutathione and superoxide dismutase, two important anti-oxidants. 

3. It is used to treat gastrointenstianl disorders and colitis

4. And it is sometimes used to prevent early graying of hair and

How Amla is used for building bone

 Amla is often used as a decoction and infusion of leaves and seeds. It is also used as a liquor, an essential oil; a confection; a powder and a paste. The one caution you need to be aware of is that some people (Pita doshas) can experiences acute diarrhea when using Amla. So if you get diarrhea after taking the herb, stop using it.

Studies concerning effectiveness: Amla Osteoporosis, Osteopenia treatment.

 In 2008 the Journal of Complimentary Alternative Medicine published an article concerning the Amla for the treatment of Osteoporosis. 

This article is titled,  Induction of apoptosis of human primary osteoclasts treated with extracts from the medicinal plant Emblica officinalis (Amla) and it presented research done by Letizia Penolazzi, Ilaria Lampronti and Roberto Gambari.

In their study these researchers found that Amla induced Osteoclasts cells to programmed cell death. Since Osteoclasts are our bone removing cells, their death would mean that less bone is removed. As a result bone density can increase. This is the same mechanism used by a number of pharmaceutical drugs such as the bisphosphonate class of drugsl

If you wish to read the article in its entirety just go to Amla Osteoporosis, Osteopenia herb from India

(I note that there is a pharmecudtical class of drugs, bisphonates, that work in the same manner - slowing the removal of 'old bone' )

If you are near an Indian grocer or herbalist, it may be worth asking about Amla.Be sure to buy a small quantity until you are certain that you will be one of those who sometimes have a negative reacting to this powerful herb.

Click here to read more  Alternative Medicine treatments for bone loss.