Korean herbal formulation found to be effective in promoting bone growth in children – Study

A lot of people want to be tall, thanks to height being one of the standards of beauty these days. A study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that Yukmijihwangtang (YJT), a formulation used in traditional Korean medicine, can enhance bone growth in animal models, suggesting potentially similar benefits for human beings.

YJT contains six different medicinal herbs: Rehmannia glutinosa, Cornus officinalis, Dioscorea batatas, Alisma orientale, Poria cocos, and Paeonia suffruticosa. It has been used for a wide variety of conditions, including severe diseases like diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Its traditional uses point to its height-boosting capabilities. It was prescribed to remedy symptoms of kidney-yin deficiency, a condition that occurs because of an imbalance in the said organ. The kidneys are believed to affect a wide variety of processes in the body, including the growth of bones. Because of its beneficial effect against kidney imbalance, YJT was also given to treat short stature because of congenital deficiency.

For the study, the researchers gathered 32 rats which they divided into four groups and randomly assigned to eight cages. The control group received distilled water twice a day. The positive control was given 20 micrograms per kilogram (?g/kg) of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), a registered treatment for short stature, once a day through subcutaneous injection. The rest of the rats were administered two different doses (100 or 300 mg/kg) of YJT twice a day.

The treatment was given for four consecutive days, after which the animals were sacrificed. The effects of the treatment were then analyzed.

The researchers found significant bone growth in the group that received 300 mg/kg of YJT compared to the control group. The 100 mg/kg group, meanwhile, did not show any significant increase in bone growth.

Because of these findings, the researchers concluded that YJT may be a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of growth retardation that affects adolescents.

How to increase height naturally

In the market are growth hormones one can take to increase height, but it pays to remember that those extra inches come with a price. Human growth hormones are noted to cause carpal tunnel syndrome, joint and muscle pain, gynecomastia in men, and an increase in insulin resistance. They may also worsen the condition of those who already have Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

There are natural methods that can increase your height but won’t harm the body.

• Eat a healthy diet – Eating a balanced diet composed of proteins, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and whole grains supplies the body with nutrients needed for growth. The most important nutrients for bone growth are calcium and vitamins K and D. The latter two are needed for the efficient absorption and distribution of calcium.
• Get plenty of sleep – During adolescence, getting enough sleep is essential for growing tall. This is because natural human growth hormones are produced and released by the body during sleep. How much shut-eye one needs depends on age, with younger individuals needing more than older people.
• Exercise – Staying active is one of the best ways to keep the bones and muscles healthy. The best exercises are those that build strength and endurance. Flexibility exercises, such as yoga, also offer great benefits.
• Maintain a good posture – Some people look short because of poor posture. For such cases, standing or sitting properly will not just reduce unnecessary tension on the back, it will also make one look taller. Some positions in yoga can help one maintain a solid posture.

Get the lowdown on what nutrients you need to grow tall and stay healthy at Nutrients.news.

Sources include:

Science.news

BMCComplementAlternMed.BioMedCentral.com

Community.YinYangHouse.com

MayoClinic.com

Healthline.com