The Pygeum Africanum tree, also called the African plum tree, is an evergreen that grows in the mountainous country of central and southern Africa. Herbalists use the chopped or powdered bark for medicinal purposes. The main use of pygeum bark is for treating symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, as explained on its MedlinePlus website. Consult with a qualified health care provider before taking pygeum bark.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
More than half of men over age 60 experience BPH symptoms, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. As the prostate enlarges, it presses against the urethra and narrows it. The bladder wall becomes thicker and irritated, and contracts more often, and the bladder may become weak and unable to empty all the urine inside. These factors cause many BPH symptoms.
Effects
Pygeum bark has anti-inflammatory properties, decreases prostate swelling and increases bladder elasticity, according to Drugs.com. Numerous studies with men who have BPH indicate that the herb significantly decreases urinary frequency and hesitancy, nighttime urination and painful urination, notes MedlinePlus. While pygeum improves symptoms, it does not reduce prostate gland size. Pygeum extract is the therapy of choice for enlarged prostate in France, according to Drugs.com.
Expert Insight
A review of 18 studies published in a 2002 issue of the "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews" compared the effectiveness of pygeum with placebo. These studies included a total of 1,562 men, and the average length of the studies was 64 days, with a range of 30 to 122 days. Men taking pygeum experienced a moderately large improvement in urinary symptoms compared to those taking a placebo.
Components and Properties
The anti-inflammatory effects of pygeum are due to phytosterols that inhibit production of inflammation-promoting chemicals in the body, explains Mountain Rose Herbs. Pygeum also contains pentacyclic triterpenes that prevent swelling, and ferulic acid nesters that decrease levels of prolactin, associated with prostate cancer, and prevent cholesterol build-up in the prostate gland. Drugs.com notes that the phyto-estrogenic action of pygeum decreases prostate hypertrophy. Hypertrophy involves a size increase in cells, in contrast to hyperplasia, which involves an increase in the number of cells.
Usage
The recommended dosage of pygeum bark extract is 50 to 150 mg per day, according to physician Ray Sahelian, who has a website devoted to natural supplements. Some supplements combine pygeum with saw palmetto, stinging nettle or bee pollen for BPH treatment. Adding pygeum as a complementary therapy with BPH medications, such as terazosin or finasteride, may increase the effectiveness of these drugs, according to MedlinePlus.
