Specification :

The skeleton is the framework of the human body. Besides body deformation, an ill-developed skeleton may result in dislocation of internal organs. Even a slight sidetrack would impair the normal functions of organs after some time. It also explans the reason why we should avoid removing any organ from our body unless there is no way out. Many surgeons remove slightly ill uterus from patients since they no longer want babies. However, those doctors forget the fact that when the uterus is removed, other organs will be affected and may even cause disorders. Thus, protection of the body begins with protection of the skeleton. The organs will be in place properly if the skeleton is strengthened. Taking care of the skeleton lays firm foundation for health. The bone consists of 30% organic substances and 70% inorganic substances while calcium phosphate accounts for 95% of inorganic substances. In short, calcium compounds take 65% to 70% of the bone components.

Calcium accounts for 1.5% to 2% of the body weight, and 99% of which exists in teeth and bones while the rest exists in the blood in the form of serum calcium. Many important physiological functions of the human body are associated with metabolism of calcium. For example, peristalsis of intestines and stomach, heartbeat, activities of internal organs, transmission of nerve impulse, functions of hormones and blood coagulation. Human body is highly sensitive to calcium. The physiological mechanisms are achieved through serum calcium which has a very narrow normal range. The human body has a mechanism to automatically regulate the concentration of serum calcium when it¡¯s either too high or too low.

When the concentration of serum calcium is too low for normal physiological functions, the human body will react accordingly. As a storage of calcium, if the concentration of serum calcium is too high, the bone will store the excessive calcium and the process is know as bone-formation; while the concentration of serum calcium is too low, the calcium will be dissolved from the bone, and the process is known as bone-dissolution. The two mechanisms are regulated by hormones. If the concentration of serum calcium is too low, human body secretes parathyroid(PTH), which stimulates the formation of vitamin D which promotes bone-dissolution and intestinal absorption of calcium and re-absorption of calcium in urine, in order to increase the concentration of serum calcium.

If the concentration of serum calcium is too high, the kidney excretes more calcium through urine and the calcium-inhibiting hormone brings about deposit of calcium in the bone.

During the growing period, bone-formation exceeds bone-dissolution, to promote bone development. In one¡¯s twenties, the bone development reaches it peak. Starting from the age of forty, the human body systems are undergoing gradual degeneration. Owing to the lack of exercise and nutrition supply, bone-dissolution exceeds bone-formation, and results in osteoporosis.

What is osteoporosis?

Normal bones consist of cortical bone and spongy bone. The former is solid and rigid while the latter, consisting of bone trabecula around which there is hole-like space, is soft and flexible. For young people, the cortical bone is thick and the spongy bone is rich in bone trabecula around which the space is small. For older people, as a result of bone loss, the cortical bone becomes thinner and the bone trabecula are reduced around which the space is bigger. In other words, the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced. When the BMD is reduced to below the critical point, the cortical bone is thin as paper and the spongy bone is almost disappearing, it leads to vulnerability to fracture or osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is divided into primary and secondary types.

Primary osteoporosis includes: 1. Menopausal type 2. Senile type.

1. Menopausal type: Due to the decrease in estrogen for both men and women after menopause/viropause, there is a series of reactions: When kidneys produce less compound vitamin D, the low calcium absorption of the intestines will result in hypocalciumia and trigger the rise of PTH and thereby activate bone loss. The decrease of estrogen, which was supposed to inhibit PTH from bone loss, results in acceleration of calcium losses.

As estrogen is reduced, the amount PTH is also reduced, which results in insufficient compound vitamin D, reduces calcium absorption in the intestines and increases calcium excretion in urine and creates a vicious cycle.

Though estrogen supplementary may relieve menopausal osteoporosis, it enhances the possibilities of breast cancer and womb cancer. 30% to 40% of women are suffering from osteoporosis, that is the reason why women are more concerned in this issue.

2. The senile type. Due to aging, stomach and intestines are not functioning as properly as before which leads less peristalsis, low calcium absorption from foods and increased calcium excretion in urine. Thus, gradual loss of calcium in the bone occurs.

Secondary osteoporosis

Causes for secondary osteoporosis include:

1. endocrine disorders, such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism.
2. malnutrition.
3. lack of exercise.

Treatment of osteoporosis:

Secondary osteoporosis is not discussed here since the disease shall be treated first. Treatment of the menopausal-type osteoporosis and the senile-type osteoporosis include:

Supplementary of calcium: calcium consists of natural calcium and compound calcium. Compound calcium is mainly consisted of calcium phosphate as well as other calcium carbonate and calcium lactate. As the main ingredient of human bones, calcium phosphate supplementary would be considered the best choice, however, in case of kidney malfunction, such supplementary may lead to kidney failure. Moreover, as the dissolution of different calcium products varies in the stomach, it is very difficult to check the amount of supplemented calcium. Excessive supply of calcium may lead to kidney stone, gallstone and joint calcification.

Mere supply of calcium is not sufficient for menopausal women, for whom treatment of female hormones is required; however, the treatment may induce breast cancer and womb cancer.

Calcitonin: it inhibits RG, prevents bone loss instead of bone increase (no bone-formation). The side effects include rashes, nausea, vomiting, fever and headaches.

Fluoride: it promotes the formation of bone and bone trabecula. Long-time application of fluoride may result in anemia, diarrhea, nausea, periostitis and joint pain.

Compound steroid: it prevents bone loss and even promotes bone formation. The side effects include excessive development of muscle and facial hair in women as well as increased cholesterol in blood.

Supplementary of vitamin D: Vitamin D promotes intestinal calcium of calcium and formation of bones. However, patients with kidney disorders or liver disorders can not convert vitamin D into active hormone in human body. Excessive intake of vitamin D results in food poisoning. Vitamin D stimulates renal tubule¡¯s re-absorption of calcium in the urine and cause kidney failure, abnormal deposit of calcium on vascular walls, liver, lung, kidney and stomach and formation of stones. Vitamin D promotes bone lose. Additionally, the dosage of Vitamin D is hard to monitor since it is oil soluble.

In conclusion, the treatment of osteoporosis is rather complicated. Treatment of the first problem may lead to a series of problems and reoccurrence. After an intensive study of the above six treatments, the problem regarding Vitamin D of the sixth treatment is most easily controlled. This is what Hsen chii Company is good at, treat with edible fungi. Supplement natural vitamin D and check its content in human body.

Malla

The Chinese name of Malla refers to quiet joints and healthy bones. It is well known that the noisy joint indicates diseased bone. The main component in Malla is channel-smoothing marasmius (°²½j�¡Æ¤‚ã) of edible fungi, which contains ergosterol and cholesterol. It is absorbed and converted into natural active vitamin D in human body.

Active vitamin D, which promotes intestinal absorption of calcium, is produced through the action of ultraviolet ray in the sun upon the skin fat, oxidation in the liver and further oxidation in the epithelial cells of the renal tubule. In other words, human body is able to produce vitamin D. However, due to serious air pollution and lack of exposure to the sun, one produces less vitamin D as he/she ages. Liver or kidney failure is another important factor for insufficient formation of vitamin D. As a result, vitamin D supplementary is needed.

Many foods contain vitamin D, why should we take channel-smoothing marasmius?

Actually, there are not many foods containing natural active vitamin D. As mentioned above, vitamin D needed by the human body is mainly self-produced through oxidation in liver and kidney. The recent tendency to add compound vitamin D or calcium into milk is not preferable. Compound vitamin D will absorb magnesium that is vital to the metabolism of calcium substances. Lack of magnesium in human body results in calcium accumulation in tissues and blood vessels, and cause kidney stone, gallstone and vaso-occlusion. Addition of calcium in milk accelerates the formation of stones. In other works, the simplest cure for osteoporosis is to supplement vitamin D; however, unrestricted supply may lead to risks of vitamin D poisoning. That¡¯s why channel-smoothing marasmius is put into use.

As general medicinal fungi, channel-smoothing marasmius contributes to the liver¡¯s detoxification and the kidney¡¯s discharge of toxins, and supplies vitamin D without the risk of vitamin D poisoning. Vitamin D poisoning may result in kidney stones and gallstones as well as vomiting, diarrhea, hypercalcemia, urine protein and even abnormal calcification of cartilage tissue (making cartilage into rigid bones). In addition, channel-smoothing marasmius relieves pain. The Edible Fungi Research Institute under Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science reports that channel-smoothing marasmius which is of mild feature relieves pains as well as inflammation, bruises, fracture, leoprotic neoraglia, sciatica, trigeminal neuralgia, migraine, supraorbital neuralgia and rheumatic arthritis. Channel-smoothing Pain-killer (An Luo Jie Tong Pian) which relieves arthritis contains channel-smoothing marasmius as the main component.

The second component ofMalla is algae ¨C the Minister.

Algae contain mannitol, protein, iron, calcium, iodine, etc.

Algae effectively inhibit hyperthyroidism. Normal secretion of thyroid promotes bone formation; however, excessive secretion leads to bone losses. In addition, algae promote absorption of pathological products, inflammatory discharges and accelerate eruption and excretion of diseased tissues. In short, algae relieve osteoporosis by promoting vitamin D¡¯s influence upon the intestines and enhancing intestinal absorption of vitamin D.

The third component ofMalla is liquorice root ¨C the Conveyer.

Liquorice root combines the active components so that they are complementary to each other.

In addition to liquorice root, there are additionally two to three components that serve to co-ordinate. They reinforce the bone by protecting the kidney and the liver as the two organs are involved in formation of vitamin D. Many people with vitamin D deficiency also suffer from liver or kidney disorders.

Though not considered as medicine, Malla prevents and treats diseases. It is free from side effects as well as painfulness.

Osteoporosis is widely spread all over the world and females are in higher risk. Take the United States for example, more than 75% women over the age of 35 suffer from the disease as a result of insufficient intake of calcium. In Taiwan, 45% women aged over 65 suffer from osteoporosis and 22% of the total population suffer from the disease. With the aging of the society, there are more and more people suffering from osteoporosis.

At present, the medical world does not have reliable methods on how to evaluate the consumption of calcium from daily diet. It is known that calcium intake is insufficient. Clinically, the patient is only advised to have more foods rich in calcium and promote calcium absorption. According the Chinese Academy of Science, calcium in normal diet is sufficient so long as it is efficiently absorbed. Malla helps promote intestinal absorption of calcium, re-absorption of calcium (in urine) and calcium deposit in bones.

Malla is a breakthrough contribution to all human beings, with which even patients of serious osteoporosis do not have to take calcium foods on purpose. Generally speaking, the prevention of the disease should start before the age of 40. Take 8 capsules each day¡ª3 in the morning, 2 at noon and 3 in the evening. If the patient is still in pain, take 4 more before sleep.