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Your Prostate And Natural Prostate Remedies - Are They All They're Cracked Up To Be?

We've already discussed drugs and your prostate, how they work, what they do, their side effects and how long they take to work.

Now it's time to do the same with natural prostate remedies. It's only fair right?

There are many natural prostate remedies that help the prostate return to it's natural function but the main point with all of them is the fact that their side effects are minimal, compared with up to 1/3 of men taking drugs. Moreover, severity and type of the side effects is not comparable, eg: stomach pains compared to depression or labored breathing?

Things are starting to look better already aren't they? Here's some of the most commonly used;

Saw palmetto is a natural prostate remedy extracted from the berries of a small palm tree in Americas southeastern coastal region. Saw Palmetto is a traditional Native American remedy, that shrinks the prostate by preventing the production of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), it also helps to remove it from your system by lowering estrogen levels. DHT levels are important as studies have shown that DHT causes the prostate to enlarge, the main problem with your prostate. In the UK 2080 men with BHP were treated for 12 weeks with saw palmetto and the results were staggering:

- 26% increase in maximum urinary flow

- 44% reduction in residual urine

- 62% reduction in painful urination

- 53% reduction in post urination dribbling

- 50% reduction in nighttime urination

Saw palmetto has a 92% effectiveness on men in trials, and benefits were noted within 2-4 weeks. Interestingly enough, the number of men that had side effects was less than the number of men taking a dummy pill! ! About 1.7%!! You will find there are people out there that say that saw palmetto is ineffective but the number of men who are incredibly grateful for getting their life back with this simple berry extract is too large to be ignored.

Pygeum. This natural prostate remedy comes from an African tree bark, studies indicate that pygeum can treat BPH and prostatitis. The herb also contains chemicals that inhibit DHT-associated prostate enlargement. A European study gave a 30% improvement with a study of 263 patients in Germany, France and Austria.

Cernilton, a popular European product prepared from the extract of mainly rye pollen. Numerous studies document Cernilton's ability to treat BPH and prostatitis. Again however, you will come across studies disproving its effects. The best bet is to try to it and see if it works. You've got nothing to lose have you?

Finally, stinging nettle is a traditional herbal folk remedy for many ailments, including prostate disorders. Clinical studies indicate that the herb (marketed as Bazoton in Europe) also can relieve BPH symptoms. A French study gave a marked improvement over a period of 8 weeks for men suffering from prostate problems.

There are other minor ones like Tumeric, Uva Ursi, Juniper Berries and False Unicorn that have good effects, but the main ones are listed above.

Beta-Sitosterol, which is contained in all of the above extracts can be purchased by itself, and it does have good results in regards to improving flow. But it does not shrink the actual size of the prostate - which is crucial in maintaining good health in a gland that increases 21 times in size during it's life-time in your body. Imagine if you were 21x as tall as what you were when you were born!!

One of the major facts that cannot be denied about the alternative prostate remedy route is that their side effects are minimal to completely non-existent. Also, their effects are usually noticed within 2-4 weeks and they can be taken with virtually all other medication that you may be on. As the number of men over 50 on medication is increasing rapidly, that is not something that can be ignored. 50% of European physicians prefer the use of extracts like saw palmetto and pygeum to treat their patients, their reasoning being that if it does the same job for less money and with no side-effects ... where is the problem?

Even just getting back to the basics of prostate remedies is very effective. Zinc and Selenium are minerals that are vital to maintaining optimum prostate health and should be taken via a high-quality multi-vitamin as they work best when consumed with other vitamins and minerals, far better than just by themselves. For example, selenium works with far better with vitamin E to protect the whole cell. While selenium protects the inside of the cell, vitamin E protects the cell membrane. Alone, they each have their benefits, but together they're far more powerful.

In summary, with the effectiveness and availability of natural prostate remedies, they are cheaper, work as quickly or quicker and have virtually no side effects. They are definitely worth a shot before trying surgery or drugs with the nasty side effects.

7 Alternatives Therapies For an Enlarged Prostate

If you are suffering from an enlarged prostate gland then your first port of call must be your doctor so that you can be sure that this is a simple case of benign prostatic hypertrophy and nothing more. Once you have a firm diagnosis there are then a number of treatment options open to you and here we look at seven common forms of alternative therapy.

1. Ayurveda. Two popular treatments are to mix Punarnava, Gokshura and Shilajit herbal powders together and then to take just one quarter of a teaspoon each day mixed into a little warm water. Alternatively, you could try horsetail, ginseng or hibiscus tea and these can be taken three or four times a day.

2. Reflexology. Reflexology sessions, which direct energy to specific pressure points on the body, begin with relaxing your whole body and then shifting the focus of the reflex to those areas of your body which are in the greatest need of assistance. In this case that means directing energy to the prostate, adrenal, endocrine, pituitary, parathyroid and thyroid glands as well as to the pancreas with the reflex in your hands or feet.

3. Food Therapy. A diet which is high in zinc has been shown to be beneficial in shrinking an enlarged prostate and so food therapy essentially means following a low fat diet (especially avoiding saturated fats) and including foods which are known to be high is zinc such as flaxseed oil, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. You can also take a daily zinc supplement.

4. Imagery. Imagery is closely linked to hypnosis and both use positive visualization techniques to effect positive change. One exercise which has been shown to be beneficial to some enlarged prostate sufferers is to close your eyes, breathe out three times and then imagine entering into your body. Once inside, find your prostate gland and slowly examine it from every angle before putting it into a thin golden drawstring net and pulling the drawstring so that the net fits snuggly around the prostate. At the same time picture your prostate gland shrinking back to its normal size. This exercise should be practiced twice each day for about three or four minutes for three weeks and then left for one week, before repeating the process over about six months.

5. Hydrotherapy. For many enlarged prostate sufferers a daily hot bath taken for about a month does the trick. Simply sit in a hot bath with water up to your navel for thirty to forty-five minutes and then follow this immediately with a cold bath or shower.

6. Vitamin and Mineral Therapy. Herbal medication containing a specific mix of vitamins and minerals can also help with the treatment of an enlarged prostate. The vitamin and mineral mix, which is taken twice a day, should contain 200 international units of vitamin E, 30 milligrams of zinc, 1 milligram of copper, half a tablespoon of flaxseed oil and 160 milligrams of saw palmetto.

7. Yoga. Some Yoga poses can increase the blood flow to your groin and so relieve certain prostate problems. Two poses in particular which will benefit prostate problems are the 'knee squeeze' and the 'seated sun' together with the 'stomach lock'. If you are not familiar with yoga then there are many excellent illustrated books available and you should be able to pick one or two up at your local library without any problem. You should be aware however that it is not advisable to practice the 'stomach lock' if you are suffering from hypertension, hiatal hernia, ulcers or heart disease.

For many people these alternative techniques seem on the surface to be of little if any value at all, but for anyone who is familiar with alternative medicine, or such things as ancient Chinese medical practices, it is no surprise to find that they really can work.

Prostate Therapy - The Options Available

It is really useful to know what the various options are when it comes to prostate therapy. Obviously you will be following your doctor's or urologist's advice but there may be a few things he has forgotten to tell you or simply will not tell you! While you will be following a "watchful waiting" programme for an enlarged prostate (BPH), backed up by annual tests and other screening, it is essential to know what you are taking and the benefits and disadvantages of the treatment your urologist has prescribed. You will be relieved that you do not have to have surgery which in many cases is hardly necessary and may lead to incontinence and impotence (in a very small percentage of cases).

The First Group: Alpha- Blockers

In this section I want to deal with the first type of drugs which are known as Alpha Blockers. I was prescribed Alpha blockers from early on and have taken them for a long time. They were originally developed as a high pressure blood drug so now my blood pressure is perfect ! This is one of the side effects and in many cases it is a boon . Only problem is that if your blood pressure is already on the low side, it may bring it down too much so it has to be watched.

Other advantages are that these drugs can kick in fairly quickly and give almost immediate relief for the symptoms of frequency of urination and blockage of the bladder. The chemical reactions released by these drugs ensure that all the muscles in the bladder and prostate area are relaxed, thus making urination a lot easier.

Negative Effects Of Alpha- Blockers

There are some negative side effects - for example you may suffer from dizziness and you can feel faint if you get up suddenly. You may find that if your blood pressure is low, then you may find it hard to get galvanised in the mornings and when it is very hot, you may feel washed out. A great solution is a few glasses of water before going out. These drugs also have an effect on the retina so if you are about to have eye surgery, it is not a good idea to be on these. These drugs are not going to reduce the size of your prostate but they will make life a lot easier especially in reducing the number of times you have to urinate. Flomax, Uroxatral and Hytrin are some of the better known medications in this group which have been approved by the FDA.

The second Group : Alpha -reducatase Inhibitors

The second group are called Alpha- reductase Inhibitors. These are usually prescribed for older less sexually active men as they reduce sex drive and men will produce smaller amounts of ejaculate. But as treatment advances these side effects will be less severe.The rest is all good news as these drugs are effective in reducing the size of the prostate when it is very large. It will take some time - say several months - for the drug to kick in. It can also help to reduce bleeding when this is one of the symptoms of BPH.

Recent Research By The National Cancer Institute

A recent study has shown that these drugs may actually lessen your chances of getting prostate cancer. 18,000 men were studied for seven years and they were given one of the most popular drugs in this category - Finasteride. This research was carried out by the National Cancer Institute and it demonstrated that 25% of the group were less likely to develop prostate cancer. Another positive effect of Finasteride is that it can reduce hair loss - the drug is sold under the name of Propecia for this purpose.

The most popular drugs in the alpha -reductase inhibitor category which are approved by the FDA are Finasteride, Proscar and Avodart.

Success with Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Hormone therapy is known as one of the treatments for prostate cancer. We have heard success stories with hormone therapy for prostate cancer patients from Internet and medical publications. Here we discuss why hormone therapy can be applied to treat prostate cancer. The prostrate gland is found near the base of the urethra.

This is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis. The front end of the prostrate gland surrounds the urethra and the rear part of the gland presses against the rectum. The prostrate gland is found in the males and is susceptible to tumor growths. These tumors can be benign or malignant. Malignant means that the tumor is cancerous and life threatening.

Faulty Genes Put Right With Hormones

Having a cancerous prostrate tumor is no cause for alarm because if the tumor is diagnosed well in advance, for which there are many symptoms the layman can understand, the prostrate gland can be surgically removed along with the tumor. Thus, one can prevent the spread of the tumor to other parts of the body through the blood and lymphatic system.

It is very rare to find a patient under fifty to have prostrate cancer. The patient can become weary of a tumor on the prostrate gland if he finds the following symptoms: dribbling before or after urinating, feeling that the urinary bladder is never empty completely, discomfort or pain while urinating and passing of blood sometimes while urinating, false calls or frequently wanting to urinate without actually urinating.

Getting Rid Of the Gland

Apart from having the prostrate removed surgically, there are some hormone treatments for prostrate cancer as well. Some of these hormone treatments have known to have produced dramatic results. But, then it is the stage of the disease as well as the age of the person who is treated that also counts.

Doctors all over the world have known for a long time now that cancer can be treated with hormones as prostrate cancer has been known to be hormone or gene related. For instance, men who have had prostrate cancer in the family are more likely to contract the disease that men who have no family history of prostrate cancer.

Even men with the history of breast cancer in the family run the risk of developing prostrate cancer. This led to research on treating cancer with hormones. Research has shown that men live longer with prostrate cancer if it is treated with hormone therapy along with radiation treatment.

The standard hormone treatment is for three years but in many cases dramatic results have come about within six months of the treatment. Researchers from Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital discovered that men treated with six months of androgen suppression therapy in addition to radiation improved faster and better than men treated with only radiation.

An Ayurvedic Prostate Remedy Vs Prescription Medications

Almost half of all men over 60 suffer from some sort of prostate condition and most receive advice to take prescription medications. Whilst I am not here to tell you to avoid listening to your doctor, I am going to open a new door for you when it comes to prostate health and rejuvenation.

Prescription Medications for Prostate Disorders
Prescription medicines generally will cover the symptoms of a condition rather than cure it. BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) sufferers are usually prescribed any one or more of the following alpha-adrenergic receptor blockers:

• Cardura (Doxazosin)
• Flomax (Tamsulosin)
• Hytrin (Terazosin)
• Uroxatral (Alfuzosin)

These drugs are very good at masking the symptoms of BPH. But your enlarged prostate will not shrink and your symptoms will return if you stop using these drugs. Unfortunately they can normally not be used for the long term due to drastic side effects including:

• Decreased sex drive
• Erection problems
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Fainting
• Breast enlargement
• Ejaculation dysfunction
• Decreased blood pressure
• Tiredness
• Heart failure

Alternative Prostate Remedies
Natural remedies have been used for millennia by humans. When it comes to treating prostate problems there have been two popular solutions:

Saw Palmetto based remedies
Ayurvedic herbal remedies

Saw Palmetto, whilst once widely touted as a prostate saviour, is now not recommended due to studies showing its ineffectiveness in shrinking an enlarged prostate. Many products are still being sold with saw palmetto in them however you should exercise caution if considering them.

Ayurvedic prostate remedies are known to work extremely well for a range of prostate conditions. Men with Prostatitis, BPH and prostate cancer have all seen excellent results through the use of Ayurvedic medicines such as Ayurstate.

The all natural ingredients which have been hand chosen based on 5000 years of knowledge in ancient India include 8 effective herbal extracts which all contribute to prostate health.

When your prostate is healthy, your entire well-being benefits. Your urine flow will be stronger, incontinence will be relieved, you will have no more pain and discomfort and your ejaculation and sexual health will be improved.

The best thing about an Ayurvedic prostate remedy is that it does not cause the side effects of prescription medication and it treats the cause of your prostate problems rather than just masking the symptoms.

Natural Prostate Remedy

Most men undergo many prostate changes. This particular body part is prone to infections, enlargement, and full-blown cancer. One of the most common problems among men is called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (or BPH). This is caused by the enlarged size change of the gland. The normal prostate size is that of a walnut; however, by the age of sixty, a lot of men experience enlargement. The enlarged gland can reach the size of a lemon. If that happens, the prostate presses against the urethra and blocks or slows down the flow of urine. However, there are a few natural remedies which aid in men's health.

One of the most popular and beneficial remedies for prostate health is an herb known as Saw Palmetto. Saw palmetto slows down the enzyme which is responsible for the increase in dihydrotestosterone. Health wise, what this herb will do for your body is improve urine flow and relieve many other BPH symptoms. Another natural remedy is Lycopene. Lycopene can be found in tomatoes and other red and pink plant foods. One of Lycopene's major functions in the body is protection from prostate cancer. However, Lycopene also provides the body with cardiovascular benefits and protection from other cancers. Lycopene also protects the cells in the prostate and the testicles. Both of these herbs are great natural remedies for men's health.

A third and final step towards a healthier male body is to manage weight. Many years of research have shown that there is a link between BPH and excess body fat. The fat tissue that we gain from an unhealthy diet produces estrogen and estrogen is associated with prostate enlargement. Basically, in order to reduce your chances of BPH you should exercise, maintain a healthy diet and incorporate several of the beneficial herbs into your diet.

Prostate Health Part 7 - How to Prevent and Treat Enlarged Prostate With Homeopathic Remedies

We know that starting at age 40, the levels of the by-product prolactin of testosterone of men increases, stimulating the production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that causes the conversion of testosterone to gihydro-testosterones DHT triggering prostate enlargement and other problems. Therefore in order to prevent the symptoms of enlarged prostate is to naturally impend the conversion of testosterone to DHT. In this article, we will discuss some homeopathic remedies (homeopathic remedies are prescribed on the principal that 'like cures like') used in preventing and treating enlarged prostate and prostate cancer.

1.Chimaphilia
Chimpaphilia acts principally on kidneys, and genito-urinary tract; affects also lymphatic and mesenteric glands. It helps in treating urge to urinate with burn pain, strain to urinate and prostate enlargement and irritation.

2.Conium maculatum
Conium maculatum is an excellent remedy for old age people. It helps to improve prostate enlargement, difficult urination, weakened urine flow and soften the prostate and enhance sexuality.

3. Hepar sulphuris calcareum
Hepar sulphuris calcareum is a mixture powder of oyster shells and pure flower of sulfur. You can purchase in mixture in a health food store and follow the instructions to make your own. Hepar sulphuris calcareum has proven record in treating dribbling urine and poor flow.

4. Sabal serrulata
Sabal serrulata is homeopathic to irritability of the genito-urinary organs. It is helpful in treating difficult urination caused by enlarged prostate, constant desire to urinate, as well as sexual inability.

5. Staphysagria
Staphysagria is helpful in treating diseases of the genito-urinary tract such as the urge to urinate, inability to urinate fully and feeling of bladder not being empty.

6. Thuja
The main action of thuja is on the genito-urinary organs. It is helpful in treating enlarged prostate, sudden desire to urinate and split urinary stream.

Herbal Prostate Supplement Remedy

Are you looking for an herbal prostate supplement remedy? Prostate health is definitely an issue that faces many men today. Luckily, in addition to the advancements made in medical technology, there are many long standing traditional herbal remedies that help to aid prostate health.

The first of these is Lycopene. What is lycopene? Lycopene is a pigment that can be found present in many vegetables. They are found most present in tomatoes, but are also in a source of other vegetables and fruits such as watermelons and carrots. Lycopene is not manufactured by the human body, so we need to get all we can get of it from these sources. It is widely known as one of the best supplements remedy for maintaining and improving prostate health. In addition to the benefits to the prostate, Lycopene also lowers the risks of certain types of cancer and heart disease.

Another lesser-known therapy to prostate health is pygeum africanum. A tree native to the northern parts of Africa, the bark of pygeum has been used to help prostate health for centuries. However, current studies have shown the superiority of a supplement remedy known as beta sitosterol. It is literally thousands of times more powerful than both pygeum africanum and saw palmetto, another popular herbal prostate supplement.

Last but not least, is stinging nettle. This remedy, used for various therapeutic processes, helps ward off the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. While not directly attacking the problem, the relief it provides can be definitely clearly determined by those taking it.

These are just a few of the supplements remedy men can take to help with their prostate issues. As always, when beginning a new herbal supplement, be sure to consult a doctor if you are taking any type of medications to make sure the remedy will not complicate problems with other medications. Now that you know some of the basics of prostate protection, you can choose which of these supplements are best for you!

Prostate Cancer - Treatment With Supplements

Prostate cancer has become a common health related problem among men. Luckily, advancement in the medical field has come up with several solutions which might be effective. Today, you would find many herbal remedies options to facilitate prostate health.

Lycopene is one of the most famous and widely prescribed supplements therapy for good prostate health. It is a pigment widely found in most of the vegetables. It is found in high amounts in tomatoes. However, it is also found in certain other vegetables such as carrots and watermelons.

Lycopene cannot be produced by human body. Hence, it needs to be supplemented from foreign sources. Lycopene is also said to reduce the risks for many types of cancer and heart disease. It should work efficient for prostate health.

Pygeum Africanum is another supplement therapy for good prostate health. It is found in the trees in Africa. The pygeum bark is widely used for prostate health conditions.

Beta sitosterol is also a supplement therapy that's widely used. It is herbal and more powerful than pygeum africanum.

Stinging nettle is friendly very common used supplement therapy. This remedy is great for an enlarged prostate.

There are several benefits of using prostate supplements therapy. Prostate problems may be solved via taking natural dietary supplements. Prostate supplements are available at different medical stores. Some of these include Poria Fruit, nettle leaves, nettle roots, cinnamon bark, alisma rhizome, prepared rehmannia root and cornus fruit.

a) Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto is considered to be one of the leading prostate supplements. This is a fat-soluble extract of saw palmetto berry. It includes essential biological chemical in order to check all sorts of prostate problems.

b) Pumpkin Seeds

These have high quantities of zinc. It works towards nourishing and healing many types of disorders related to the prostate. It is helpful in problems that exist in the urinary tract and increases the flow of urine and reduces problems related to an irritating bladder.

c) Nettle roots

Nettle roots and leaves in your diet would increase the flow of urine. It provides great results when combined with saw palmetto and pygeum bark. The supplement is high in chlorophyll and contains several alkaloids. These alkaloids tend to neutralize uric acid, which is the main cause for many types of problems related to the prostate.

d) Pygeum Bark

It reduces urination and enhances and regulates the flow of urine during the day time. Most herbal remedies for prostate gland ailments contain pygeum bark as an active ingredient.

e) Alisma Rhizome

This supplement is great for improving the functioning of bladder. The health of liver and kidney is improved and this contributes to the overall health of prostate gland. It is prepared from rehmannia root and works towards purifying blood. It is also a stimulant for kidney.