This time of year is so fun – with spooky skeletons, ghosts and witches out on display in yards and in our homes. Seeing all the fun skeleton decorations makes me think of our own skeleton, and what we can do to
keep this important part of our bodies healthy.
The skeletal system is more than just a framework for the body, it provides protection for the brain, spinal cord and organs; it works with the
muscular system to produce movement; it stores calcium salts, which may be reabsorbed into the blood if calcium is needed; and it produces blood cells in the red marrow. Bones are living tissues and have their own nerves, blood supply and lymph. The skeletal system works closely with the rest of the body to keep us healthy and strong.
We get a lot of calls from people concerned about osteoporosis, a condition where the bones become brittle and fragile. This condition is often due to a lack of usable calcium for the bones. Calcium is needed for bone health, blood clotting, and keeping the nerves, heart, and muscles in working order.
It’s not simply the amount of calcium in the body that is important. Without other vital minerals the body is unable to utilize the calcium it does have. Dr. Christopher talks about this in his book Every Woman’s Herbal. He teaches:
“When a woman with osteoporosis has a blood test, the calcium level is usually not low….In order to be assimilated, calcium must be present in the body with the appropriate synergistic minerals, in particular phosphorus, which must be approximately twice the amount of calcium and also silica. Without these minerals, and probably other trace minerals that haven’t been linked to the problem yet, the body cannot absorb calcium; it
just flows through the body, sometimes depositing and causing gout, arthritis, etc. The amount of calcium in the body doesn’t matter; it’s the balance you take in foods that’s important.” (Every Woman’s Herbal, pp142-143)
Cathy Gileadi, co-authored of Every Woman’s Herbal, shares an experience of how eating healthy foods helps improve calcium utilization:
“When my fingernails have become soft in the past, I have taken calcium supplements in order to harden them, without very good results. But when I am eating many raw, leafy greens, the high concentration of proper minerals harden the nails right up.” (Every Woman’s Herbal p 143)
Dr. Christopher also created the Herbal Calcium formula to assist people who are chronically deficient in these essential minerals. This formula contains horsetail and oat straw, both are high in silica and other essential vitamins and minerals that help the body utilize calcium present in the body. Using this formula helps to quickly correct an imbalance and is best
used with nutrient rich foods like dark leafy green vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fresh fruits.
As you enjoy the skeletons out haunting this time of year, let them remind you to take care of your living skeleton. Give it proper nutrients and it will serve you well for years to come!
