Estrogen, Hormones, Osteoporosis and Bones: The Herstory of Bones

We demand and assume our bones will last our lifetime, yet may take them for granted or treat them like a rental car. Care or carelessness – the results are ours to choose. 

July 25, 2000

By Madeline Behrendt, D.C.

It’s 6:30 a.m. Eyes open to the sun painting a new canvas over the foothills. Ears alert to the sound of morning feet padding through the hallway, destination locked in. The body moves, sleep is surrendered as the commitment from horizontal to vertical is made. Feeling anticipation, the stomach shifts all focus towards the kitchen. Arms extend, fingers grasp, mouth waits… Coffee? Milk? Soda? Juice? Shake? Water? So starts a new day in the ‘Herstory’ of bones.

Bones are undercover dutiful workers, silhouettes barely visible; yet home to ceaseless invisible activity. They are a part of a passive subsystem, not able to move us nor themselves, yet our entire physical being depends on them for strength, support and protection. They are also home to part of our precious immune system.

Women and bones are linked in our culture, although men can also experience changes in bone health. During the different stages of a woman’s lifecycle, Innate changes the ratio of (new bone being built)/(old bone being broken down) and choices made within the normal rhythm of the day can support or interfere with the potential Innate offers.

In addition to daily choices, because our body is designed to achieve peak bone density during our 30’s, timing is also a factor, and paying attention during the early years can influence whether or not our peak is achieved.

Nutrition. Beverages. Exercise. Elective Prescription Drugs. Hormones. BONE CHOICES. And choosing to remain subluxated offers potential consequences we can never neglect.

We demand and assume our bones will last our lifetime, yet may take them for granted or treat them like a rental car. Care or carelessness – the results are ours to choose.

In Womanculture as described by the Symptom/Disease/Prevention model, osteoporosis (or the fear of) receives a lot of attention, especially in regards to its suggested relationship to menopause, estrogen deficiency and bone density.

Looking at the view from Inside, rather than Outside, are reports that offer clarity: – Poor bone health during menopause is not automatically attributed to this lifecycle as studies show that osteoporosis can start many years prior to menopause (early care is important!.)

We are told we lose estrogen (creating the image of estrogen deficiency), but what loss? Innate resets our hormone levels – making what is appropriate for this lifecycle, and protects us from the effects of having too much of a hormone, who’s excess can lead to cancer.

Estrogen is NOT the bone builder hormone; reports indicate that progesterone (not progestin) is responsible for this function.

Low bone density does not define osteoporosis; they are not interchangeable terms, LBD is a factor that can contribute, but not guarantee OP, as additional factors weigh in.

As hormones are involved in bone health, hormonal drugs are heavily promoted, but their sales are vulnerable to self-sabotage as inevitable side effects surface. Like revolutionary soldiers, new drugs stand poised to replace them, ready for their 15 minutes of fame, spinning promises and information often culled from self-funded studies before they too are shot down. The Public is questioning the credibility of endless cycles of “miracle” drugs that can deliver “miracle” side effects. Miracles? Real miracles can come from above, down, inside, out.

Interference in bone health can seem silent, but the effects are very loud, as the most common first site of fracture due to osteoporosis is the thoracic spine, which protects and houses our nervous system. In my practice, women speak of watching their mom’s quality of life decline as her spine crumbled, they want to be educated and informed as to how to help their spine be healthy for the long run. I am committed to helping them and their daughters through subluxation-based care and teaching the benefits of the chiropractic lifestyle.

It’s 6:30 a.m. A new day is waiting. Start off AWEsome and subluxation-free.

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Dr. Madeline Behrendt is the author of A Woman’s Experience/A.W.E.(TM) Reports On Women’s Health Topics.