Enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a common disorder among men over the age of 40. As the prostate gland enlarges, it can obstruct urine flow, leading to difficulty with urination and urinary tract infections. Conventional treatment may include alpha blockers to relax the prostate and bladder muscles or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors to shrink the prostate. Since there can be unpleasant side effects from these drugs, some men prefer to use herbal remedies. Consult a health care professional for an accurate diagnosis before starting herbal treatment for BPH.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto, or Serenoa repens, is a small palm tree that produces a dark, nut-like fruit. The dried fruits relieve the urinary symptoms of BPH including frequent urination, nighttime urination and weak urine stream. The seed oil is rich in fatty acids and plant sterols; extracts have anti-inflammatory action. Ben-Erik van Wyk and Michael Wink in "Medicinal Plants of the World" state that saw palmetto works by preventing testosterone from converting into dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is a hormone that regulates prostate enlargement. Dr. Linda B. White and Steven Foster in "The Herbal Drugstore" recommend saw palmetto extracts standardized to contain 85 to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols. The herb may take several months before improvement is noticed. If allergic symptoms like nausea, dizziness or headache develop, discontinue use. Do not combine saw palmetto with blood thinning medicines.
Reishi
Reishi, or Ganoderma lucidum, is a medicinal mushroom used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine and folk medicines. Active ingredients include coumarin, mannitol, alkaloids, polysaccharides such as beta-glucan, and triterpenes known as ganoderic acids, which are chemically similar to steroid hormones. The mushroom is used throughout Asia to treat a range of diseases, including hepatitis, hypertension, nephritis, bronchitis and cancer. A study by R. Fujita and colleagues published in the October 2005 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" tested a reishi extract for its ability to inhibit the steroid enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme is needed to convert testosterone into DHT, the androgen hormone that controls prostate enlargement. The study found that the extract was able to inhibit androgen-induced prostate cell growth. Reishi should not be combined with other prostate medicines or blood thinners,
Pumpkin
Pumpkin, or Cucurbita pepo, is a creeping annual that produces a large orange fruit. The dried seeds or seed oil are used medicinally as a diuretic and to relieve symptoms of BPH. Active ingredients include fatty acids, plant sterols, sterol glycosides, tocopherols and the amino acid known as cucurbitine. Ben-Erik van Wyk and Michael Wink state that the seeds' benefits for BPH are associated with the delta-t sterols, which inhibit either DHT or 5-alpha-reductase. Dr. Linda B. White and Steven Foster state that the seed oil is combined with saw palmetto in Europe to treat BPH and that the oil increases urine flow. They recommend either the ground seeds or seed oil capsules for treating BPH.
References
- "Medicinal Plants of the World"; Ben-Erik van Wyk and Michael Wink; 2009
- "The Herbal Drugstore"; Linda B. White, M.D., Steven Foster; 2000
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Anti-androgenic activities of Ganoderma lucidum.
