Strong herbs for strong bones

There is an old tale of a band of thieves robbing the dead and the dying during a European plague. When caught, the thieves offered to reveal their secret recipe, which had allowed them to commit the robberies without catching the plague, in exchange for leniency. The concoction forever known as Four Thieves Vinegar often included sage, rosemary, and thyme.

Though sage, thyme and rosemary will not ward off the black plague, they may keep another recent plague at bay, the plague of osteoporosis.

Bone breakdown that leads to osteoporosis is normal as we age. To slow its progression, regular exercise and eating a diet rich in vegetables, including onions, can help decrease bone loss.

Research shows that common herbs, including sage, rosemary and thyme, actually slow down the breakdown of bone that contributes to osteoporosis.

Minerals found in herbs, such as calcium, potassium and magnesium, are essential to bone health. These herbs also contain vitamins K and C, as well as phytoestrogens, which may aid bone health.

While rats may spread the plague, they also help find a cure. In experiments, researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland fed rats a diet containing powdered herbs, and tested for bone breakdown.

The powdered whole herbs sage, rosemary and thyme all inhibited bone breakdown.
For similar amounts, an average human would need to eat nearly 10 tablespoons of dried herbs.

It is never a good idea to take large amounts of any herb, moderation in all things being the wise course.

Since these are all culinary herbs, you can simply increase the use of sage, rosemary and thyme in cooking or drink them as soothing herbal teas.

Sage (Salvia officinalis) is an evergreen, woody plant with gray or bluish leaves and purple flowers.  It is easy to grow from seed and does well in a big pot or container. Sage leaves dry easily.   Sage goes well with poultry and is a major component in breakfast sausages.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a pine-scented, woody perennial herb known for flavoring pork, lamb, and poultry.  Rosemary also aids the memory.  It even has carnosic acid, which might help stave off strokes and Alzheimer’s disease.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a low, growing, woody perennial, usually under 10 inches tall, so it does well in pots.  It is commonly used to flavor meats, soups, and stews, especially lamb, tomatoes and eggs.  Because thyme is subtly flavored, it will not overpower other herbs and spices. Thyme is not only essential in the Arabic spice mix Za’atar; it is also included in the French herb mixes of bouquet garni and herbes de Provence. Thyme’s essential oil is antiseptic and used to treat toenail fungus.

So pot up these herbs or even make your own Four Thieves Vinegar, and you may just steal a few extra years of strong bones.