Roughly half the men over the age of 60 will have some symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Untreated, an enlarged prostate gland will expand, eventually leading it to push against the uretha, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder. While there are some prescription drugs for dealing with an enlarged prostate, many people choose to go the natural route with herbs, many of which have passed scientific scrutiny when dealing with prostate problems.
Saw Palmetto
Unlike many herbs that are commonly used for medical treatment, saw palmetto has the clinical trials to back up the claim of it being an effective treatment for an enlarged prostate. The Mayo Clinic gives saw palmetto an A grade for treating an enlarged prostate, meaning "Strong scientific evidence for this use."
Saw palmetto is the most popular herbal prostate treatment and works in the same manner as the prescription drug finasteride, as both will prevent testosterone from being converted into dihydrotestosterone. Saw palmetto extract is a prescription drug in parts of Europe and is generally considered to be more potent than the berries. A dose of 320 mg daily is recommended for an enlarged prostate.
Pygeum
Pygeum is another herb that can claim to have scientific support to back its effectiveness. A number of studies have shown pygeum to be twice as effective as a plaebo in controlled environments.
The reasons pygeum works well are its anti-inflammatory properties, which affect the ability of the prostate cells to multiply, as well as increase the blood flow and the elimination of waste from the prostate. Pygeum also curtails the absorption of cholesterol, which attracts dihydrotestosterone to the prostate and causes the prostate to grow larger.
Pygeum is available in tablet form or as a liquid and 100 mg per day is the recommended dose.
Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle is a popular herb for treating prostate problems, particularly in Europe. Studies have shown that stinging nettle works similar to finasteride in that it can slow the growth of prostate cells, but unlike finasteride, is unable to shrink an already enlarged prostate.
Stinging nettle is often taken along with other herbs, primarily saw palmetto, when dealing with prostate problems. Taking stinging nettle and saw palmetto together has the ability to increase urinary flow, allow the bladder to empty completely and eliminate the constant urge to urinate. The most popular forms of stinging nettle are capsules, extract or dried leaves.
