Did you ever try to imagine what our world will be like in the year 2050? While watching the news last night, I asked myself the question and, not surprisingly, my thoughts quickly led to – what else…our bone health. Even though increasingly negative news about osteoporosis drugs keeps popping-up in the media, we really don’t know what the long-term outcome will be. In other words, will doctors still prescribe osteoporosis medicines in the future?
With that in mind, I came up with two imaginary opposing scenarios for the year 2050, as reflected in a news broadcast. One is where the “cure” of osteoporosis and osteopenia revolves around prescription drugs, similar to nowadays. The second scenario pictures a world where everyone manages their health in a natural and drug-free way.
Oh! And please don’t forget that what you're about to read is ONLY the product of my imagination. So join me on a time travel trip to the year 2050…
Here’s the first scenario
BREAKING NEWS
Good news for those diagnosed with osteoporosis. Pharmaceutical giant Profit & Gamble announced today that the FDA has finally approved their new drug Cementex to treat advanced osteoporosis. Dee Seat, a spokesperson for the company, told WBS News this morning that “we are thrilled to launch our latest drug that will help millions afflicted with osteoporosis, a crippling and potentially deadly disease. Thanks to Cementex, we can guarantee to both women and men a fracture-free future”.
Unlike current osteoporosis treatments, Cementex requires only one dose that will last a lifetime. It is injected directly into the bones under light sedation, and the whole procedure typically takes no more than a couple of hours.
Ms. Seat went on to explain that reported side-effects are negligible: “The most common side effect is stiffening of the joints, which happens when Cementex leaks out to the cartilage and joints, affecting mostly the knees, elbows and fingers. We can cure osteoporosis, but unfortunately, we can’t fight gravity…yet.”
Doctors can easily treat this side-effect and the occasional pain by prescribing Dieoxx , a new drug developed by Quirck & Co..WBS was not able to reach anyone at Quirck to get more information on this drug.
Ms. Seat also confirmed that Cementex is covered by Mediscare, and that the first one thousand patients will receive a $200 discount coupon toward the purchase of a wheelchair, compliments of Profit & Gamble.
Stay tuned because when we come back, we’ll show you the latest umbrella designs that are stylish and give you 100% protection from acid rain…
Here’s the second scenario
BREAKING NEWS
TNN just got news that pharmaceutical giant Quirck & Co. filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. Quirck is one more casualty added to the long list of prescription drug manufacturers that have had trouble with the dwindling demand for their products.
“We regret that this is yet one more drug producer that has failed” said Roland Paulman, a spokesman for the privately owned Health and Human Services Marketing, Inc., “but consumers are staying away from the type of drugs they manufacture”. He went on to comment that “This is further proof that our aggressive Just Say No to Prescription Drugs campaign continues to show great results. Ultimately, patients make their own decisions, and the trend clearly points to an ever increasing choice of natural supplements and herbal remedies.”
We were not able to reach anyone at Quirck & Co. However, TNN’s financial sources told us that it’s been long known that Preventive Medicine was taking a big bite out of the now doomed company’s profits. In the last twenty years osteoporosis, arthritis, heart ailments, and diabetes, to name a few, have literally become a thing of the past.
Among the sector's biggest gainers is Natural Supplements, Inc. Upon hearing Quirck’s filing, investors rushed to purchase Natural’s shares causing an unprecedented rally. Our financial correspondent at the New York Stock Exchange reports that Natural Supplement’s shares have gone up by more than 5% in today’s trading session.
When we come back, we’ll interview Dee Tocks, the owner of Stay Healthy Walk-in Centers, a nationwide franchise. You won’t believe what she has to say about the reduced visit prices starting next month, and she’ll reveal who qualifies for the new Stay Healthy mail-in rebate.
Whoa! Back to reality now
Stay healthy!
Vivian
Thank you Vivian for your forward thinking into the future. Projecting myself into the year 2050, I see the issue of Osteoporosis today will no longer be an issue.By the time we get there we will have irradicated every disease known to man. perhaps we will no longer need to eat,or sleep for that matter, for we will have entered a period where the mind and consciousness is power, and the body is conditioned to function by nanotechnology!!
Natural products are certainly the way to go, beginning now!
I hope the second happens. I would love to have a copy of your book, but I can’t afford it at this time. But please keep the emails coming, I get little hints with the information you send with them
My husband will never work again and is just going to apply for disability, which leaves me with not buying anything until I can see some sun at the other end of the tunnel that I think a lot of us are in.
My husband was diagnosed with osteoporosis after 15 months on steroids. In the past 5 months he has fractured his hip and fractured 5 vertebrae as well as his ribs. He has had three vertebroplasty procedures which have successfully taken away pain and allowed him to continue to walk. He is on 3 mg a day of steroids and hopefully will be weaned off them. Is there any hope for improvement when on steriods? What is your opinion of vertebroplasty? Thanks, Kathleen
I would like to learn more about vertebroplasty. Is your husband having success with it? from your post it sounds like it’s working for him.
Very entertaining, Vivian. You have a super imagination. The trouble is the future for osteoporosis management could go one way i.e. more pharmaceuticals or the other – self-management. I must say since finding your site, I have stopped my actonel after taking fosamax for 8ish years (it stopped working) hence the change to actonel. My consultant wanted me to have a “drug holiday” after taking the drug for 10ish years so I have taken this opportunity to stop the drug and look at other ways to help myself. I have bought the weights including the osteo-belt. My diet is now including sesame seeds and other good calcium. Thank you for all your help.
My Doctor knows i have reflux, so he want give me any of the oral medicine but did mention the one time injection.HE HAS ME ON CALCIUM 800 AND VITAMIN D 800.My blood test showed vitamen Di was low.I am scared of this bone density medicine.
Mildrid, You are scared for a good reason. If you end up being one of the unlucky, you will be experiencing a massive amount of side effects. I did the Reclast IV last November (2011), and am still having really bad side effects this long after. I wish I had been as questioning as you are, and less trusting in my doctor’s advice enough to research it and find out the whole truth about yearly IV osteo medicines. Please keep researching and look at all of the alternatives. I wish I could roll back the clock to where you are now and make the choice again…this time it would be right (no Reclast IV). Good luck on your decision.
Thank you for sending me all the information I find it very interesting I wish one day there to be a cure thank you
I love your script, only make it for the very near future. The book titled, “Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting” by Lynn Grabhorn explains this concept.
I’m lovin it!
I read that book, it’s good!
I am still confused of what I should do and how to treat it.Waiting for your book at this time to give me some guidence.Karola
I love your imagination and sense of humor, as well as your scientific grounding. Once I have had more tests done to find out exactly where I am located on the osteoporotic curve, I will be back in touch.
That wal-in clinic idea is an especially good one. Thus providing easy access (maybe in a shopping mall) to preventive information and products could easily be realized, I think.
The idea of a walk-in clinic with advice and supplements sounds like a health food store! Only this time with educated health professionals and more serious products like herbs, homeopathy etc.
While I was reading the article I some times want to laugh but, in the meantime I felt angry about these invented medications how they trade our health for their own profits and they don’t care what is going to be our future health. They feel now they lost their profits and who is going to cover their crimes that has been done in their own hands and how they want to manupilate us by convincing us that we are mistaken we should continue the medicine until we say goodbye to our life with broken legs and knees etc. I can assure you that if they would have contacted us and give us a coupon to travel all around the world and talk about their products how miracles it makes.
Hi Vivian,
I just recently learned about your wonderful site. Thank you! I love your scenarios above. We are trying to go the preventative route in this house!!
I’m seriously trying to do a make-over — lose weight, recapture bone density (I was just told I have osteopenia), lower blood pressure.
I was reading from Ann Louise Gittleman that grapefruit and its juice actually interferes with liver detox and is not good for people on high blood pressure medication. Yet, here I need it for bone growth.
Any thoughts or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Mega thanks,
Carol Palmer
Vivian, I LOVED your story re: the future of osteoporosis!! The discovery of your postings on osteo have been very helpful to me personally, and also a great resource to share with the ladies in my yoga classes. Finding natural methods of helping ourselves achieve and maintain our health (especially as we add years to our lives) is the goal of the majority, regardless of media attempts –and often our physicians insistence, as I’ve experienced– to convince us to use manufactured drugs. Thanks so much for your valuable information.
I am reading all exercises but haven’t found anything for me. I cannot walk because of my multiple sclerosis. Is there any help you can offer? My doctor says only actonel or an infusion in hospital. I don’t want either after reading Vivian’s book. But I need to find some exercise to help with the diet and supplements etc. I asked how to get organic calcium and they gave me 2 websites – one was invalid and the other didn’t have anything. I was so hopeful that this program would give me help.
find a chiropractor, doctor, or other such professional who can get you some Standard Process supplements. Also Premier Research Labs (www.healthline.cc) has some great stuff! Check out their websites.
Sure hope your prediction for 2050 comes true. I
truly believe in non-drug remedies. Wish I had
known about your program earlier.
Yes, I hope that your second scenario comes true. With people like you and your great book which is just so very helpful tome and others it is not impossible. I think there has been a resurgence (which I have noticed in Australia) towards health and healthy products. I was certainly horrified when I had a good look at the Actonel’s side effects etc, as before I had my accident which cracked my hip I was only into health, vitamins etc. refusing even to take a panadol for a headache. I just feel so much better now that I am back into taking healthy products such as magnesium, calcium etc. Our biggest hope is that there will be a revolution against pharmaceutical medicine and the Corporations to help yours and my wishes also come true.
Thank you, Vivian, for the opportunity to respond to your very creative “scenarios” for 2050.
I am currently finishing an astonishing book by T. Colin Campbell and his son Thomas Campbell called “The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health”, c 2006. It links the intake of milk and all animal protein to the “diseases of affluence”, including osteoporosis. See pp. 204-211. I think the research findings that are summarized by Dr. Campbell coincide with yours.
May I ask you to re-send the link to the page in which Dr. Robert Salter is stated as to his endorsement of your program.
I have known him since I first took my infant daughter to his office. The second daughter had the same issue. My husband, as a 16-year old was operated for a bone infection that 2 other doctors had dismissed as imaginary in origin. My sister saw him after her twice-braken leg failed to heal properly. He is a big part of my family’s history, beginning with my mother-in-law, who worked in the OR when he was doing surgery at Sick Children’s Hospital, Toronto. If you like, I can pass on to you an obit that covers some of his achievements.
Best regards.
Mary Korda
Toronto, ON, Canada
Sorry I spelled Believe wrong….oops!!!
Hi Vivian.
I, like a lot of people, agree with you that Natural is the way we should all be. My concern is who is controlling the “natural” and what goes into it? The companies that manufacture our suppliments are not charities nor are the people that grow our produce. I disagree with your first scenerio. Drug companies will nerver go broke. These people are not stupid. If they see that everyone has stopped taking their medication and they are not selling them what makes you think they will not simply switch over to making our supplements and growing our produce.
If you want to look into your future, start to think about how you are going to ensure the quality of the “Natural” way you are promoting so we do not wind up with the same type of side effects naturally as we do medically. There is already enough crap in the ground our produce is grown in and too many fillers in the pills we take for our suppliments. Someone needs to look at this very carefully so we can all have a very healthy FUTURE.
Just a thought.
William
Hi Vivian,
I agree with William, unless we grow our produce ourselves, we have no idea what is in products we buy hoping that they are free of insecticides and other poisions that are added to the fruits and vegetables even after they are picked. Not everyone has enough land for even a small garden. We have neighbors that grow some vegetables and let me tell you that there is a big taste difference in home grown and store bought. Needless to say, we buy from them. Keep up the good work. Alyce
The Second Scenario Is By Far The Best To Me. I’ve Been Trying To Go Natural And Herbal With My Medications. I Take It A Step At A Time. Because Of My Financial Situation!
I am with you all the way as far as resenting the pill-pushng medical establishment. I am following the suggestions in your book and and looking forward to an improvement in my dexa results.
Very well said!! I think you need to be in contact with Mike Adams of Natural News..He will get your material out to a lot of “natural” readers.His articles have been the first push for me to question the ‘drug and medical’ world.You have helped me very specifically and I am so grateful!!I hope more people will begin to question what they are putting in their bodies so that scenario # 2 becomes reality! Best regards!
After badgering me with my 10% bone loss and the awful consequences, couldn’t be worse than 20 years of RA consequences with the strong medicine required to quieten it, I gave in. Over and over I said, “I’m very sensitive to chemicals. ” One, 3 month injection of Boniva gave me an overdose reaction, with 6 months of side effects, leaving permanent nerve damage in the left hand. Comment by my doctor, ” We have to aprise you of your condition and what you need, you make the decsions.” They tell you nothing of the toxic bisphonates!!!! Geri Craig
I enjoyed Vivian’s vision for 2050 – I agree wholeheartedly with her observations. The more I research the more I rather go the way of natural treatment. Plus weight bearing exercises and Vivian’s exercises.
Thank you for your ongoing interest and support.
Regards
Jean
I wanted to let you know that I returned “Save our Bones” to you because I have found a natural physician who is going to help me with my osteoporosis. I showed him your book and he was impressed, but I figured I didn’t need it since I was going to follow his orders. He is opposed to drugs for the treatment and will take me safely through this maze, thus avoiding the deadly Reclast option.
Your book was a breath of fresh air and a much needed boost to my confidence in fighting this disease naturally.
Thank you.
Margaret Connealy
I would sure like the name of your doctor. Give him my email address. I bet he could answer a couple of questions I have.
Good Luck
My doctor told me on Friday that she wants me to take an IV of Reclast that lasts for a year.I have read the side effects and now I am not sure I want to go that was.Please give me your Doctor’s name and Phone number please.
I took Reclast last January.. I was sick “ALL WINTER” long with the flu…After the IV, I went to the grocery store and while shopping, I got a severe pain in my knee that hurt quite alot…That same night I started with a fever and flu symptoms which led to bronchitis..I had a hard time getting rid of the bronchitis and was on antibiotic’s most of last winter…
I also took Fosamax and developed an ulcer…I am okay now, but I do not plan on taking anymore of the osteo meds..ever…
Email me about the Reclast, if you want too.. My advice to you is…don’t do it…
Mary
I never did take the medicine my doctor gave me, but I went to a well known Herbalist, Jan Defriece, and he has given me Urtcalcin and Osteo Prime capsules, and I see him once a month, and he says he will be able to cure me. I allrready feel much better, as I kept having mussel pulls, which was happening frequeantly, and very sore ndeed. That seams to have stopped.Vitimin K allong with the exact amount of other herbas seems to be the secret. I hope. Best wishes Kathryn.
Thank you Vivian for all your in put it is invaluable,and I am enjoying all your news about 0steoprosis.
Well done! We learn quickly through humour. I enjoyed the names of your companies!! People like you will eventually lead to the bankruptcy of companies selling poison in the form of good-for-you products and empower the populace to become healthy.
I am determined not to be swayed any more by doctors and their medicines. After just two Boniva treatments, I quit! I am experiencing severe jaw pain and flu like symptoms every time I try to eat. I want to increase my bone density, but not at the expense of my daily health. I wish I would have done more research before I took their suggestions. Now I am hoping that I will not have any lasting effects of their drug.
I certainly hope they come up with something better than Cementex! I don’t want my daughter, granddaughter or great-granddaughter to take anything like that.
How about telling them to get lots of calcium, vitamin D and K and magnesium and KEEP EXERCISING. I wish somebody had told me to do strength training. I had a bone spur on my knee and they recommended that I swim-which was great excercise but didn’t do anything for my bones.
WOW WHAT A CONCEPT. IT SEEMS THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE MORE OF THE SAME. I BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY TIME WHEN WE ALL WILL NO LONGER BE ILL IS WHEN WE’RE ALL IN HEAVEN! NO DRUGS THERE!!
Thank you for sharing a lot of information on the internet. The free handbook alone is already packed with a lot of useful advice.
I had an ovary removed via elective surgery in 1994 (due to a benign cyst) and now, some 15 years later, i realize my health problems may have its roots from that decision caused by the decreased supply of estrogen. I suffer from hypothyroidism, severe insomnia,elevated cholesterol, and now osteopenia.
Does your book touch on estrogen in relation to bone health ?
Thank you so much
Hello Vivian & Fellow Belivers: I am beginning to ‘get it’ after many years of closing my eyes to eating right, supplementation and specific exercises to build bones. Yes, I have always been an active person (entertainment fielt & raising miniature horses), but ‘activity’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘exercise.’
Vivian, your book has enlightened me to no end. It has given me the ammunition I need to speak intelligently to my doctors (OBGYN & GP), about my newly diagnosed osteoporsis and thyroiditis (I am reading up on that subject too). I, too, am comfortable with my decision not to take the bone building drugs. Your suggested exercises are sensible and effective. I do the ‘jumping’ and ‘weightbearing’ daily – in the sunshine when possible. I FEEL GOOD, I FEEL STRONGER. Correct exercises are also giving me the stamina I need around this farm. Sensible eating is helping my overall health and supplementation is the icing on the cake. Thankfully, because of the being armed with your researched information, having knowledgeable discussions with my doctors has convinced them that I know what I am talking about and they are more willing to work in concert with me. Keep up the good work, Vivian. Here’s wishing all of us a healthy and happy future. Veronica
The natural way sounds the best for certain.
There are certain things you have mentioned,
such as yoghurt & soy that I am allergic to
what do I do now, as they seem to be very
big in your natural program?
Please reply
Love the senerio of future health of our bone’s!! Even today I have taken the path of ” doing thing’s the natural way”!! Tried the prescribed medications, and found them to be detrimental to my over all health. Keep up the good work on letting the public learn the healthy way. I”m 73.
Mary
I haven’t received my book yet, either. It’s been 3 weeks. If there’s a rush on the book and it’s in reprint stage, I can understand. Many women need this information. I’d still like a comment from Vivian about the role of thyroid and the hormone it produces (calcitonin) that allows the body to absorb calcium.
If I hadn’t been on a computer in my local library, I would have laughed myself silly. It was very funny and so-o-o true. Now you know why I’m fed up with traditional medicine–all they ever know is “drug ’em up or hack ’em up on the operating table! I absolutely detest the FDA and the drug company CEO’s and the medical schools who teach learning doctors to “Just ask the drug company salesmen what to prescribe for your patients!” Evidently the FDA also tells the health insurance companies what they can pay for–but NOT for anything in alternative medicine! I’m absolutely outraged at their immense GREED for MONEY AND POWER!!! Full steam ahead, Vivian. God bless you. By the way, I don’t think we will have to worry about what will be happening in 2050. Christ’s return is so close, we won’t have to worry. HE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK SOON TO PUT A STOP TO THE WHOLE WORLD TRYING TO BLOW EACH OTHER OFF THE PLANET WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS!! IF YOU HAVEN’T ASKED JESUS INTO YOUR HEART YET, I URGE YOU AND OTHERS TO DO IT PDQ!!
Hi Vivian
I had breast cancer at the age of 62 and with the chemo treatments I have been diagnosed with osteopenia. I have been taking calcium lactate 4 x 2 and cataplex D 1 x 2. It is a constant battle because the med. I take for the next 5 yrs also will affect my bone density. I will have a test in late May to see how I am doing!! I totally agree that the pharma. is out of control and they put in more chemicals in your body which causes too many unwanted side effects and added problems.
I enjoy your articles and believe natural is the best way to heal.
I really enjoyed your “take off” on both situations and the humorous names you gave to the companies and products.
Let’s hope the world will be more like the last
one of the two.
Enjoy reading your articles. Thank you.
Trudy
I don t want 2 end up in a wheelchair.So i would rather take natural herbel remdies.
I have decided to go off of mycalcin which is suppose to help my bones. Some of the side affects like bloody nose, dry mouth, stomach upset.
When I took the bone desity test it showed that my r high was deteriating and that scared me. Your articles are giving me hope that I can give up the mycalcin.
Calcium upset my stomach too so I tried EZorb calcium & it works & doesn’t bother me at all. I take 4 pills/day.
Hi Vivian .. good to hear from you. I am trying real hard to keep up with everything, I do not have a regular Dr. i guess better off without one, I take my chances with the Clinics we have around here. I heard about th Yoga toes, they are shoes I saw adv. in the Prevention Mag. I guess they are great for sore feet. I find Mike Ross`s exercises are really great, you can find him.. The Balance Manual.com I received 10 warm up exercises from him today + just from doing them I felt better, wishing you the best……. Marg W.
Hi Vivian, Really enjoyed your last E-mail.I like people with a sense of humor. Stumbled on your web site by accident and was so impressed I made an appointment with my Dr.to get off of Actonel which I had been on for 6 years. I was having problems with my jaw and that is one of the side effects and terrible heart burn. She agreed with me. I bought your book and am eating more alkaline foods and less acidifying foods. Thanks Vivian. I definitely feel God led me to your web site.
Vivian, I do appreciate all the information you have been providing me since my original inquiry. I have not commented up to now.
I should tell you that I am 90 1/2 years old, have scoliosis that has shortened my height from 5’5 to less than 5’…..has not stopped me, however. I worked most of my life, am still active. I stopped taking Fosamax two months before I first wrote you. I have osteoporis, of course, but have little pain.
Thanks for your tremendous help.
I have recently joined The Osteoporosis Reversal Program
and stopped taking Fosomax when I read your first
newsletter via email. Over the last ten or more
years I was taking Evista,Actonel and then back to Fosomax when I lost my health insurance. I hope it’s not too late for me. I am definitely
receptive to building my bones the natural way.
Rosemary
Dear Vivian, I do enjoy and find interesting your emails. As you say, Osteoporosis is not a disease. This “ailment” has been a curse from before recorded history. So far no magic bullet has been found to successfully treat it and perhaps one day there will be a treatment devoid of “destructive” side effects that will enable us all to feel confident in accepting a remedy. Reading all the horror stories on your website certainly reiterates the necessity for all to investigate prescribed medication. I take Calcium Citrate alternating with Calcium Carbonate Supplements,Zinc, Boron, Silica with a healthy diet, sunlight and exercise and feel happy with my decision to refrain from Biphosphonates at all cost.
I thank you for your interest and perseverence in keeping us informed.
funny but true.eternal vigilance and listening to the body and brain will help in stopping abuse of the body and escaping the conmen.
Vivian,
I’ve been diagnosed with Osteopenia and am relying on foods with extra calcium and on calcium supplements. I am eager to read your book to see what other alternatives are available. As for your time travel stories into the future, I don’t consider them flights of fantasy. I see them as visionary goals to aim for in self care.
Had big Pharma been driven by such altruistic motives, we could have been there by now. I am grateful someone has stepped up to the plate to shape this vision and focus efforts on making that vision happen – even if it takes more years than I will be on this planet.
I’m thrilled there is a competing vision to profiteering in the market place of wellness. I’m not against anyone making a good living from medically advising others. I object to someone profiteering from my broken bones without helping me.
Dear Vivian , Very cute stories and not at all unrealistic. I’m convince now that the second scenario will come true.
Vivian,
I appreciate your emails concerning bone health. It is interesting to read what the medical industy is up to with their new ways to have people use their manufactured drugs. I am so thankful to have found you to give information to help with bone health the natural and safe way.
Thank you.
Carol
I think the story of natural remedies is one that will come true.
It is already happening. I would like to ask you about Strontium . I once saw a sentence where you commented about what we do not know about strontium. Please let me know. the more I read your articles I know I am going to buy your book.
Most interesting. I have recently started taking a course of Collagena Medica. I am crippled with Osteoarthritis, and I have had a couple of fractures. I do my exercises every day, and I am using a Walking Frame. When the pain gets too bad I take Osteo Panadol. Regards Jean.
Hi Vivian, Thanks for keeping osteoporosis at the forefront of our minds, especially in a humorous way! Hopefully, by 2050, osteoporosis will be as quaint a disease as the whooping cough or scurvy! They will have invented many new diseases and conditions by then!!! Many thanks again,
katie
I like your imagination and your sense of humour!