According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, prostate pain, or prostatitis, occurs when your prostate -- a walnut-sized gland in the male reproductive tract -- becomes inflamed. Prostatitis is most common among young and middle-age men. Before taking dietary supplements to help treat your prostate pain, consult your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions. No herbal remedies are sanctioned by the Food and Drug Administration for this purpose, so results will vary.
Pygeum
Pygeum, also known as Pygeum africanum, is an herbal supplement that may help treat your prostate pain. According to the University of Michigan Health System, pygeum has been used to treat many health problems, including prostatitis and benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. Pygeum is an evergreen tree native to certain parts of central and southern Africa, especially higher elevations. The bark of the tree is used for medicinal purposes. Principal pygeum constituents include tannins, phytosterols, ferulic acid and triterpenes. The University of Michigan Health System says that taking pygeum may cause gastrointestinal distress in some men. Due to the rampant over-harvesting of wild pygeum, pygeum is now grown on commercial plantations. Before buying supplements containing pygeum, make sure the product's components have been sustainably grown and harvested.
Pipsissewa
Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," says pipsissewa, also known as Chimaphila umbellata, is a diuretic, mild lymphatic stimulant and urinary tract antiseptic. She says pipsissewa is used to help treat many chronic and infectious conditions of your urinary tract, including prostatitis and BPH. Pipsissewa, a member of the heath family, is used for painful urination in which you void a small volume of urine. Pipsissewa boosts blood flow to your kidneys and stimulates your kidney tubules. It's a small, flowering perennial plant that grows in sandy soil throughout the northern Hemisphere, has an astringent taste and possesses cooling and drying tendencies. Practitioners of botanical medicine use the leaves of the plant medicinally. If you're pregnant, avoid taking supplements containing pipsissewa.
Cleavers
Cleavers, a member of the madder family, is an herbaceous plant native to certain parts of North America and Eurasia. Cleavers, also known as Galium aparine, has a fresh, pleasant taste, possesses cooling and drying tendencies and commonly grows in hedges and gardens. Tilgner says the fresh, succulent aerial parts of the plant in flowering or seed-forming stage are used for medicinal purposes, and that cleavers may help soothe pelvic problems and eliminate normal metabolic waste products from your body. Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," says cleavers is helpful in treating irritation or inflammation in your urinary tract, painful urination, BPH and other prostate problems. According to Tilgner, cleavers is a hypotensive, lymphagogue, vulnerary, relaxing diuretic and immune system supporter.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Prostatitis
- University of Michigan Health System: Pygeum
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
