Bone spurs, also known as osteophytes, are bony protuberances, or projections, that manifest on the edges of your bones, especially your spinal bones, or vertebrae. Bone spurs, states MayoClinic.com, are usually painless, although they may contact nerves and other bones, causing pain in the affected area or other parts of your body. Natural supplements may best be used as a preventive measure against bone spur development. Always review supplement-related topics with your doctor before using these natural substances.
Bone Spurs
Bone spurs are one of the most common signs of degenerative joint disease, or osteoarthritis. According to Spine-Health.com, bone spurs, especially spinal bone spurs, are exceedingly common in people over the age of 60. In most cases, bone spurs do not cause negative health effects and may be part of your natural aging process. In addition to osteoarthritis, possible causes of bone spurs include diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis; plantar fasciitis; spondylosis; and spinal stenosis, or narrowing of your spinal canal.
Natural Supplements
Natural supplements are unlikely to reduce or eliminate existing bone spurs, but supplements may be helpful in treating the conditions that cause this health problem -- especially osteoarthritis -- and may, therefore, best be used to help prevent bone spurs. Some of the most commonly used natural supplements in treating osteoarthritis, notes naturopathic physician Joseph Pizzorno, author of "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine," include devil's claw; boswellia; yucca; vitamins A, B-6, C and E; SAMe; and glucosamine sulfate. More research may be required to better understand the role of supplements in preventing bone spurs.
A Useful Supplement
Methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM, may be one of the most useful supplements in preventing bone spurs. According to certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," MSM is an organic, sulfur-containing compund that may help reduce joint inflammation -- a common cause of osteophytes -- and may help repair joint and soft tissue damage. MSM is a substance that is found in certain plants, foods and beverages.
Disclaimer
The use of dietary supplements in treating bone spurs does not guarantee a cure or even a positive result. In most cases, dietary supplements should only be used as a preventive strategy in treating bone spurs. Natural supplements, like prescription medications, contain numerous active ingredients that can have profound biological effects within your body. Before using dietary supplements, discuss supplement-related issues -- drug interactions, dosage, side effects -- with a licensed health care professional.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Bone Spurs
- Spine-Health.com: Bone Spurs (Osteophytes) and Back Pain
- "The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Medicine"; Joseph E. Pizzorno, Jr., N.D.; 2002
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
