Prostate-specific antigen is a protein produced by your prostate cells. Medical professionals commonly use this protein to screen for prostate cancer, to follow patients after prostate cancer treatment and to evaluate a prostate gland that does not appear normal during a physical exam. Some herbal supplements may affect your PSA levels, however. You should speak with a medical professional prior to taking any herbal supplement.
Conditions that Raise PSA Levels
A healthy prostate normally produces PSA in small amounts. As men grow older, the prostrate can increase its size causing PSA levels to rise. Benign prostate enlargement is a non-cancerous condition that can result in high levels of PSA. PSA can also rise in other cases such as urinary infection or inflammation of the prostate. PSA is also used as a possible marker with prostate cancer, and an increased PSA reading indicates that you have an increased likelihood of developing prostate cancer.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is a small palm plant that has the scientific name of Serenoa repens. Saw palmetto has yellow flowers and reddish black berries. The extract of this plant comes from these black berries. The extract of saw palmetto contains high amounts of fatty acids and phytosterols. According to the book "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine," saw palmetto may help to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, male pattern baldness and other conditions such as urinary tract infections. Clinical evidence, however, has not confirmed these benefits. The primary therapeutic action of saw palmetto is to inhibit some enzymes that affect your hormone actions. Saw palmetto may lower PSA levels, but it cannot treat cancer.
PC-SPES
PC-SPES is a mixture of eight herbs marketed to improve your prostate's health. These herbs include baikal skullcap, licorice, reishi mushroom, isatis, ginseng, chrysanthemum flowers, rabdosia rubescens and saw palmetto. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, removed PC-SPES from the market because some batches of this supplement contained prescription medicines. According to the Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota, each herb used in PC-SPES can help to prevent the growth of cancer cells or help prevent cell damage that can ultimately cause cancer and other diseases.
Supplements and Prostate Cancer
According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," medical professionals also recommend some herbal supplements as an adjuvant in the treatment of prostate cancer. These supplements include damiana, milk thistle silymarin, polysaccharide kureha, red wine catechins, saw palmetto capsules, pygeumm, zinc picolinate, soy isoflavone and turmeric. You should speak with a medical professional prior to taking any herbal supplement.
References
- "PSA and Prostate Cancer Research"; Savita Yadav, Anil Kumar Tomar and Mayank Saraswat; 2010
- "Advanced Prostate Cancer and Me"; Daniel J. Goldstone; 2009
- "Johns Hopkins Patients' Guide to Prostate Cancer"; Arthur L. Burnett; 2010
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Dennis Kasper et al; 2004
- "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine"; Michael Murray and Joseph Pizzorno; 1997
- Masonic Cancer Center: PC-SPES; May 2010
