Enlarged prostate

What you need to know

This is an extremely common problem, which affects more than 50 per cent of men as they get older and can start as early as 40. The well-known symptoms of having to get up frequently in the night, difficulty in starting the flow of urine, poor stream, dribbling of urine after urination aren’t necessarily caused by benign prostatic hypertrophy, so never make assumptions and get a proper diagnosis.

prostate health depends very much on nutrition and the earlier onset of this condition is almost certainly due to the dramatic change in eating habits and the huge increase in exposure to toxic chemicals and environment oestrogens which have occurred in the last 50 years.

Herbs and supplements can all help, but the degree of success depends on the size of the enlarged prostate. The earlier you start on the supplement programme, the better the results will be.

The most useful Supplements:

Both Zinc and selenium are essential for prostate health and the nutritional decline in these minerals is well documented. A good hi-potency multi-nutrient formula taken daily is useful to assist in correcting dietary deficiencies caused by a poor or restricted diet.

Flaxseed Oil or Linseed Oil	1,000mg to 3,000mg per day
Lycopene	10mg per day
Selenium	200mcg per day
Rye Pollen	1gm to 2gm per day
Zinc	15mg to 60mg, balanced with 1mg to 4mg of Copper

Other supplements which could help include:

Vitamin B6

The most useful Herbs:

The traditional North American Indian remedy, Saw Palmetto, has now been widely studied and the results of many experiments show highly significant improvements, but you need to take it for at least three months. Even when compared with standard prescribed drugs for the problem, the improvement in urinary flow was more than double in those taking Saw Palmetto than the prescribed medication.

As with all herbal remedies, however, make sure you choose a reputable brand with standardised extracts.

Celery seeds	Make a tea or take 500mg 3 times per day
Pumpkin seed oil	1,000mg to 5,000mg per day
Pygeum	100mg to 500mg per day (but try to avoid as this is now endangered species)
Nettle	1,000mg to 2,000mg per day
Saw Palmetto	500mg to 3,000mg per day

Homoeopathy:

The following homoeopathic remedies may also help.

Apis mel
Lycopodium
Thuja

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

Eat shellfish and pumpkin seeds for Zinc and wholegrain cereals and brazil nuts for selenium.
Essential fatty acids are important, so oily fish should feature heavily in the diet.
Try to avoid eating any Meat or Dairy produce, which aren’t organic.

Other useful advice:

It’s vital that this condition is diagnosed by a proper rectal examination done initially by GP or a specialist urologist. Unfortunately, many men - and their doctors - collude in their embarrassment and both, especially the patients, sometimes try to avoid this type of examination.

There’s an historic warning to medical students: ‘If you don’t put your finger in it, you end up putting your foot in it’ and that couldn’t be close to the truth in respect of prostate problems. Don’t die of embarrassment, but see your doctor if you suspect any type of prostate problem. And remember that low back pain can sometimes be the first physical symptom of this condition.

Also seek advice from a complementary therapist, herbalist or a registered naturopath.

Back

This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk).
The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.