Other Names:
Broken Bone

Symptoms:
There may be extreme pain and tenderness in the injured area, a protruding bone, blood under the skin, or swelling. There may be tingling, numbness, weakness, or paralysis below the fracture.

A digit, or limb, may be at an abnormal angle or there may be pain at a specific place on a bone.

A major fracture can cause a loss of pulse below the fracture, weakness, and inability to bear weight.

Cause:
A fracture is a crack or break in a bone. If the skin over the bone remains intact, it is a closed or simple fracture; if the bone breaks the skin, it is a compound fracture.

Accidents are not a common cause of broken bones, but the bone can also be weakened from osteoporosis, bone tumors, or metabolic disease. A weakened bone can break much more easily—even from a slip of the foot, a slight fall, or knocking against something.

Malnutrition can also be involved. There can be a deficiency of calcium and/or magnesium, or there may be an improper calcium/phosphorous ratio.

A vibrating tuning fork can be placed against the area; if it causes pain, there is a fracture. X rays will confirm whether it is a fracture or strain or sprain.

It is important that the bone be properly set, so it will not thenceforth be deformed, and not function as well.

Older people do not absorb calcium and other minerals as well. This begins at 40, increases at 50, and very much so beyond 60. It is believed that 200,000 hip fractures occur in people over 65 every year. Very often, this results from osteoporosis. The bone has somewhat hollowed out and the break more easily occurred.

Older people who take tranquilizers have 70% more hip fractures than other people their age.

When a break occurs, protein fibers form a bridgework between the two parts. Then calcium, phosphorous, and silica are deposited between the protein fibers.

(Oddly enough, although phosphorous is needed for good bone formation, you will find, below, that it is important that you avoid phosphorous foods if you want strong bones. This is due to the fact that phosphorous is the one mineral which is abundantly found in food. Yet too much of it in a meal locks into the calcium and removes it from the body.)

First aid includes covering any wound and immobilizing, or splinting, the broken part in the position it was found (so the problem will not worsen during transport). Take the person to a physician or the hospital, depending on the seriousness of the problem. Medical treatment involves placing the bones in their proper position and keeping them there while healing occurs.

Treatment:
• Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme which acts to reduce swelling and inflammation. Eat half a fresh (not canned or processed) pineapple daily, until the fracture heals. Canned pineapple or pineapple juice may contain aluminum salts, pulled by the acid from the can by the very acid liquid.

• During healing, the diet should include enough calories in order to provide the energy necessary for new bone-cell formation.

• You may use clay poultices to alleviate bruising and swelling.

• Helpful herbs include comfrey and alfalfa. Also helpful are plantain and mistletoe.

• Also place comfrey over the site of the fracture, to speed healing and reduce pain and swelling.

• Too much calcium supplementation, during bone healing, can induce kidney stone formation during the immobile period while the cast is on. The problem is that the person is not active enough at that time.