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The Prostate - a tiny organ that can cause
big headaches by Tony Isaacs author of Cancer's Natural Enemy
About the size of a walnut, the small
and often misunderstood prostate gland responsible for male sexual
and reproductive health is often the source of big time problems.
In fact, if you're a man living in the United States, it's almost
inevitable you'll eventually have to face prostate problems.
As a man gets older the prostate gland tends to enlarge. This
results in BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) which causes a lot
of annoyances like frequent urination, dribbling, discomfort,
and infections. It can even lead to cancer.
The prostate begins to grow in just about every male after about
age 40, because DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a potent form of the
male hormone testosterone, increases in the body. Testosterone
is produced by both the testicles and the adrenal glands, and
DHT accumulates in the prostate, causing prostate cells to rapidly
divide. Sometimes the enlargement is a sign of cancer. But usually
the result is a condition called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Most doctors refer to enlarged prostate simply as BPH.
In some men, the prostate gland enlarges without causing urinary
problems—probably because their urethra is wider than average,
or because the gland tends to enlarge outward. In most men, however,
as BPH develops, the prostate presses against the neck of the
bladder or urethra, squeezing the pipe shut, like stepping on
a garden hose. This pressure can make it difficult to urinate
and results in a variety of symptoms.
Also, the bladder wall becomes thicker and irritable. The bladder
begins to contract even when it contains small amounts of urine,
causing more frequent urination. Eventually, the bladder weakens
and loses the ability to empty itself, so urine remains in the
bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and partial emptying of
the bladder cause many of the problems associated with BPH, including:
• Urgency—the need to go immediately
• During urination, there is a thin stream of urine that
stops and starts instead of a full, steady stream
• Hesitancy or difficulty starting urine flow
• Dribbling after urinating
• Nocturia—having to get up frequently at night to
urinate
• Increased frequency of urination
• Increased risk of infection if the bladder does not empty
entirely and urine is retained
While mainstream medicine offers
an array of drugs and surgical procedures for treating enlarged
prostate, many are able to find relief with natural alternatives.
Some of the most effective ones are:
• Saw
Palmetto – the most popular herbal treatment for enlarged
prostate, saw palmetto reduces the number of enlarged prostate
cells
• Pygeum
- Pygeum bark extract has been proven in numerous studies dating
to the 1970’s to be effective at significantly reduce the
number of nighttime urinary episodes, urinary hesitancy, urinary
frequency, and pain with urination in men who experience mild-to-moderate
symptoms.
• Beta Sisterol – a relative newcomer, beta sisterol
is considered several times more potent than Saw Palmetto at shrinking
enlarged prostate and relieving BPH symptoms. Found in both supplement
form and seafood.
• Pumpkin Seed Extract – an inflammatory, anti-oxidant
and diuretic, pumpkin seed extract promotes prostate health in
men and bladder support in women. May also enhance sexual performance
in men. The German Commission E (similar to the US FDA) recommends
pumpkin seeds for treating urinary and prostate conditions, backed
by many studies.
• Kohki leaf- Unlike other compounds, Kohki actually prevents
the adverse changes in the bladder that often accompany prostate
problems. Kohki comes from a subtropical plant that grows wild
in southern China. It has been used medicinally in East Asia for
hundreds of years and is sold over the counter today in Japan
as a medicinal tea. It contains strong antioxidants, including
several dihydroflavonol glycosides, which have been shown to have
a significant protective effect on bladder function.
• Nettle root – the extract made from the root of
this medicinal plant helps prevent or relieve reduced urinary
bladder capacity, urinary outflow, and residual urine flow. It
is well documented and recognized, especially in Europe, to relieve
symptoms of BPH. Make sure you use nettle root and not nettle
leaf (which is commonly used for arthritis).
• Lycopene – found abundantly in tomatoes, lycopene
is a member of the family of phytochemicals known as carotenoids
and is a powerful antioxidant that protects against cellular damage.
Researchers have linked the frequent use of lycopene from tomatoes
to a lower risk of prostate and other cancers.
• Selenium – is a powerful antioxidant found in tuna,
Brazil nuts, and sunflower seeds which helps repair damage in
the body and protects against prostate cancer.
• Vitamin E - is a major antioxidant nutrient that helps
maintain healthy membranes and retards cellular aging due to oxidation.
It is especially important to sexual and reproductive health.
Studies have linked Vitamin E to lower incidence of prostate cancer.
• Vitamin B6
– helps control inflammation of the bladder. Along with
zinc, Vitamin B6 regulates the enzyme that converts testosterone
to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) and helps the body resist a hormonal
action that can cause swelling of the prostate. Vitamin B6 also
helps negate the adverse effects when prolactin levels increase,
especially in men 40 and older. Too much prolactin can contribute
to the development of prostate tumors.
• Zinc –
Works with Vitamin B6 (see above) and appears to play an important
role in prostate health.
Caution: Since the symptoms
of an enlarged prostate can be a possible indication of prostate
cancer, men with such symptoms should have regular PSA tests and
digital rectal exams to be sure. The older one gets, the greater
the odds of developing prostate cancer.
If cancer is detected, it should be noted that prostate cancers
often develop and progress very slowly, and there are some excellent
natural alternatives to consider. The author has in fact been
conducting a number of interviews of people who have used inositol/IP6
to beat cancer. Several of those interviewed had prostate cancer.
For more information on beating and avoiding prostate and other
cancers, please see my article:
