Around 50 percent of men suffer through prostatitis, inflammation of the prostate, at some point in their lives, according to Healthcommunities. While bacterial infection can cause prostatitis, fewer than 5 to 10 percent of prostatitis cases are caused by bacteria. Antibiotics are required to treat bacterial prostatitis. Prostatodynia, also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and nonbacterial prostatitis won't respond to antibiotics. Some alternative supplements can help treat nonbacterial prostatitis; ask your physician before taking herbs or supplements to treat prostatitis.
Cernilton
Cernilton, made of eight types of pollen, had an anti-inflammatory effect on nonbacterial prostatitis induced in rats in a Japanese study reported by Tobishi Pharmaceutical Company in 2001 in "Hinyokika Kiyo." A German study conducted by Georg-August-University published in the April 1993 "British Journal of Urology" on men with prostatitis found that cernilton helped 78 percent of men who did not have complicating factors such as blockages in the bladder.
Pygeum
African pygeum, made from the bark of the African prune tree, is used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy, an enlargement of the prostate that causes difficulty urinating. An Italian study reported in the September 1991 "Archivo Italiano de Uolgia, Nefrologia, Andologia" reported an improvement in symptoms of patients with chronic prostatitis or BPH who took 200 mg of pygeum for 60 days.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is also used to treat BPH. While saw palmetto is also used to treat prostatitis, study results have been mixed, with some studies showing benefit in some areas and not in others. While a Chinese study using a product containing saw palmetto berry reported positive outcomes in the May 2004 issue of "Zhonghua Nan Ke Hue," the exact list of ingredients in the product was not reported. Saw palmetto can reduce inflammation and swelling.
Quercitin
Quercitin, a flavonoid, or plant pigment, also acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants destroy harmful substances called free radicals, which can damage tissues and cells. A 1999 study conducted by the Institute for Male Urology in California reported in the December 1999 issues of "Urology" that 67 percent of men taking Quercitin had improvement of symptoms, compared to 20 percent of men taking placebo. In large quantities, Quercitin may cause cell toxicity and DNA damage, Acu-Cell Disorders warns. Combining bromelain and papain enzymes with quercitin increases quercitin absorption and also has anti-inflammatory properties that help prostatitis, the University of Michigan Health System reports.
References
- Healthcommunities: Prostatitis
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Prostatitis
- "British Journal of Urology;" Results of treatment with pollen extract (Cernilton N) in chronic prostatitis and Prostatodynia; E. Rugendorff et al.; April 1999
- "Urology;" Quercetin in men with category III chronic prostatitis: a preliminary prospective, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial; D. Shoskes et al.; December 1999
- "Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine;" Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome; Jillian L. Capodice, et al.; December 2005
- "Archivo Italiano de Uolgia, Nefrologia, Andologia:" Urological and Sexual Evaluation of Treatment of Benign Prostatic Disease; C. Carani et al.; September 1991
