The Prostate

- a tiny organ with big problems that may have natural solutions

by Tony Isaacs
author of Cancer's Natural Enemy


About the size of a walnut, the small and often misunderstood little prostate gland is responsible for male sexual and reproductive health.  It is also very often the source of big time health problems.  In fact, if you're a man living in the United States, it's almost inevitable you'll eventually have to face prostate problems.

As a man gets older the prostate gland tends to enlarge. This results in BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) which causes a lot of annoyances like frequent urination, dribbling, discomfort, and infections. It can even lead to cancer.

The prostate begins to grow in just about every male soon after the age of 40 as DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a potent form of the male hormone testosterone, increases in the body. Testosterone is produced by the testicles and the adrenal glands, and DHT accumulates in the prostate, causing prostate cells to rapidly divide. Sometimes the enlargement can be a sign of cancer, but usually the result is a condition called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH.

In some men, the prostate gland enlarges without causing urinary problems—probably because their urethra is wider than average, or because the gland tends to enlarge outward. In most men, however, as BPH develops, the prostate presses against the neck of the bladder or urethra, squeezing the pipe shut, like stepping on a garden hose. This pressure can make it difficult to urinate and results in a variety of symptoms.

Also, the bladder wall becomes thicker and irritable. The bladder begins to contract even when it contains small amounts of urine, causing more frequent urination. Eventually, the bladder weakens and loses the ability to empty itself, so urine remains in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and partial emptying of the bladder cause many of the problems associated with BPH, including:

    * Urgency—the need to urinate immediately
    * During urination, a thin stream of urine which stops and starts instead of a full, steady stream
    * Hesitancy or difficulty starting the flow of urine
    * Dribbling after urinating
    * Having to get up frequently at night to urinate (Nocturia)
    * Increased frequency of urination
    * Increased risk of infection because the bladder does not empty entirely and urine is retained

Like many other conditions, the best defense against prostate problems is a healthy lifestyle that includes plenty of healthy nutrition, sunshine, fresh air, clean water, exercise, elimination of toxins and stress, etc.  An active sex life, including masturbation, also helps maintain a healthy prostate.

While mainstream medicine offers an array of drugs and surgical procedures for treating enlarged prostate, many are able to find relief with natural alternatives.  Some of the most effective ones are:

• Pygeum  - Pygeum bark extract has been proven in numerous studies dating to the 1970’s to be effective at significantly reduce the number of nighttime urinary episodes, urinary hesitancy, urinary frequency, and pain with urination in men who experience mild-to-moderate symptoms.
• Beta Sisterol – a relative newcomer, beta sisterol is considered several times more potent than Saw Palmetto at shrinking enlarged prostate and relieving BPH symptoms.  Found in both supplement form and seafood.
• Pumpkin Seed Extract –  an antinflammatory, anti-oxidant and diuretic, pumpkin seed extract promotes prostate health in men and bladder support in women.  May also enhance sexual performance in men.  The German Commission E (similar to the US FDA) recommends pumpkin seeds for treating urinary and prostate conditions, backed by many studies.
• Kohki leaf- Unlike other compounds, Kohki actually prevents the adverse changes in the bladder that often accompany prostate problems. Kohki comes from a subtropical plant that grows wild in southern China. It has been used medicinally in East Asia for hundreds of years and is sold over the counter today in Japan as a medicinal tea. It contains strong antioxidants, including several dihydroflavonol glycosides, which have been shown to have a significant protective effect on bladder function.
• Nettle root – the extract made from the root of this medicinal plant helps prevent or relieve reduced urinary bladder capacity, urinary outflow, and residual urine flow. It is well documented and recognized, especially in Europe, to relieve symptoms of BPH. Make sure you use nettle root and not nettle leaf (which is commonly used for arthritis).
• Lycopene – found abundantly in tomatoes, lycopene is a member of the family of phytochemicals known as carotenoids and is a powerful antioxidant that protects against cellular damage.  Researchers have linked the frequent use of lycopene from tomatoes to a lower risk of prostate and other cancers.
• Selenium – is a powerful antioxidant found in tuna, Brazil nuts, and sunflower seeds which helps repair damage in the body and protects against prostate cancer.
• Vitamin E - is a major antioxidant nutrient that helps maintain healthy membranes and retards cellular aging due to oxidation. It is especially important to sexual and reproductive health.  Studies have linked Vitamin E to lower incidence of prostate cancer.
• Grapeseed Extract - contains proanthocyanidins, potent antioxidants that may lower the risk of cancer. In a recent study, grape seed extract was used to inhibit cell growth in human cancerous prostate cells. The results suggest that grape seed antioxidant proanthocyanidins may exert a strong anticarcinogenic effect against prostate cancer by inhibiting abnormal cell growth and promoting tumor cell death.
•  Resveratrol – Found in red wines, dark grapes, and cocoa (dark would be the best choice), reseveratrol is a powerful anti-oxidant which recent studies have linked to prostate health and prevention of prostate cancer.
• Pomegranate – rich in anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories and one of the most potent commonly available healthy juices, pomegranate fights against cellular damage and against prostate cancer.  Numerous studies have shown that it help protect against prostate and other cancers, slows prostate cancer, and helps prevent the return of prostate cancer once it has been beaten.
• Iodine - Lack of iodine in the diet has been linked with the development of hormonal cancers including prostate cancer.  Iodine supplementation, on the other hand, is effective at helping ward off and beat cancer.
• Vitamin B6 – helps control inflammation of the bladder.  Along with zinc, Vitamin B6 regulates the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone) and helps the body resist a hormonal action that can cause swelling of the prostate. Vitamin B6 also helps negate the adverse effects when prolactin levels increase, especially in men 40 and older. Too much prolactin can contribute to the development of prostate tumors.
• Zinc – works with Vitamin B6 (see above) and appears to play an important role in prostate health.

A note about Saw Palmetto:  Conspicuously absent from the above list is Saw Palmetto - the most popular herb used for prostate support by far.  The reason is that some fairly recent studies* have indicated that Saw Palmetto works much like chemo and destroys good prostate cells along with bad ones.  For this reason, Saw Palmetto might be a good consideration as part of a natural regimen against prostate cancer, but would NOT be a good choice for non-cancerous BPH (enlarged prostate).

Since the symptoms of an enlarged prostate can be a possible indication of prostate cancer, men with such symptoms should have regular PSA tests and digital rectal exams to be sure.  The older one gets, the greater the odds of developing prostate cancer.

If cancer is detected, it should be noted that prostate cancers often develop and progress very slowly, and there are some excellent natural alternatives to consider. The author has in fact been conducting a number of interviews of people who have used inositol/IP6 to beat cancer.  Several of those interviewed had prostate cancer.

For more information on beating and avoiding prostate and other cancers, please see my article:

A Natural Anti-Cancer Protocol

Live long, live healthy, live happy!

DQ (aka Tony Isaacs)

Sources:  NIH Medline Plus, Smart Publications, Mayo Clinic, Web MD, Mercola, Harvard Medical News, et al

* ·  Vacherot F, Azzouz M, Gil-Diez-De-Medina S, Colombel M, De La Taille A, Lefrere Belda MA, Abbou CC, Raynaud JP, Chopin DK. "Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation by the lipido-sterolic extract of Serenoa repens (LSESr, Permixon in benign prostatic hyperplasia." Prostate 2000 Nov 1;45(3):259-66
Abstract

* ·  Bayne CW, Ross M, Donnelly F, Habib FK. "The selectivity and specificity of the actions of the lipido-sterolic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) on the prostate." J Urol 2000 Sep;164(3 Pt 1):876-81
Abstract

* ·  Bayne CW, Donnelly F, Ross M, Habib FK. "Serenoa repens (Permixon): a 5alpha-reductase types I and II inhibitor-new evidence in a coculture model of BPH." Prostate 1999 Sep 1;40(4):232-41
Abstract