Bone Up to Speed Healing of Fractures.

Simple. Open. Hairline. Stress.
Those are all names for different types of fractures, the medical term for broken bones. Fortunately, Mother Nature (usually with a little help from a cast to immobilize the break) heals a simple fracture in 2 to 3 months.

A hot, itchy, confining cast may have you thinking about ways to speed up that process-ways to help the body build new bone faster. Well, most conventional doctors won't have many (or any) ideas to help you do that. Alternative practitioners, however, offer several home remedies that you can bone up with.

PROBIOTICS: Boost Your Vitamin K
Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum are two kinds of intestinal bacteria that are thought to help manufacture vitamin K. This nutrient in turn helps your body synthesize osteocalcin, a protein that aids in building bone.
You can find supplements containing these bacteria in most health food stores, says Thomas O'Bryan,  a chiropractor, nutritionist, and director of the Omnis Chiropractic Group in Glenview, Illinois. Look for a brand that must be refrigerated; it's probably of higher quality. Follow the dosage recommendations on the label; the usual dose is 1 teaspoon of powder.



VITAMIN D: For Calcium Absorption
For the first 4 weeks after your injury, take a daily supplement of 400 international units of vitamin 0, a nutrient that helps the body absorb calcium, says Dr. O'Bryan. "1 also recommend that my patients get out in the direct sun for 15 to 30 minutes a day. This allows your body to make its own vitamin 0," says Dr. O'Bryan. "Glass blocks ultraviolet rays, so sitting near a sunny window won't work" Be sure to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, and avoid the peak sun hours of 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. when possible.

MULTIMINERAL SUPPLEMENT: Building Blocks for Strong Bones
You know that calcium is crucial for healthy bones, but you may not know that the kind of calcium you take can make a big difference. And there are other key minerals that your body needs to build strong bones, says Dr. O'Bryan. Look for a supplement that contains the following minerals.

• Calcium: When a highway is built, cement is poured on cross-linked cables. When new bone is built, bone is "poured" on a supporting understructure. Microcrystalline hydroxyapatite is the best form of calcium for providing that understructure, Dr. O'Bryan believes. He recommends 1,000 milligrams a day.
• Silicon: "This trace mineral hasn't gotten the positive press it deserves," says Dr. O'Bryan. He cites a scientific study in which laboratory animals with fractures were given silicon; their breaks healed completely in 17 days. A group of animals that did not get the mineral showed little or no healing after 17 days. Dr. Bryan recommends 1 milligram a day.
• Magnesium, boron, and manganese: Dr. a' Bryan suggests 250 to 500 milligrams of magnesium (which works with calcium to help build bone), 2 milligrams of boron, and 10 milligrams of manganese.

HORSETAIL: Sip for Silicon
If you can't find a mineral supplement with silicon, Dr. a' Bryan says to drink two to three cups a day of tea made with the herb horsetail, which is rich in the mineral. To make the tea, use 2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Pour the desired amount of water over the measured amount of herb in a saucepan, boil for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and steep for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, says Dr. a' Bryan. Be sure to use dried herb, not powdered extract.

FOOD: Turn Over a New Leaf
Dark green, leafy vegetables such as collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, broccoli, and parsley deliver calcium and magnesium. Try to eat at least one serving of these vegetables a day, Dr. O'Bryan says.

COFFEE: Cut Back
Coffee blocks your body's absorption of calcium, so try to avoid drinking it while you're healing, Dr. O'Bryan says.

SODA: Can It
Did you notice the ingredient "phosphoric acid" on the label of the soda you're drinking? It sucks calcium out of your bones like a leech. "Drinking soda every day will inhibit the formation of new bone," Dr. O'Bryan says. His advice: Drink milk, sparkling water, or fruit juice instead. In addition, research shows that when soft drinks displace milk and fruit juices in the diet, you get fewer of the nutrients found in milk and juice, such as calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C.