Home remedies for prostate

It is common for the prostate to enlarge by the mid-forties. Since the prostate (the male reproductive gland that makes the fluid that carries sperm during ejaculation) surrounds the urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the body), its enlargement can constrict it and cause problems.

An enlarged prostate is called hypertrophy or (BPH). When the problem occurs, it usually scares the person who suffers from it, however it is not a cancer and neither does it increase, in itself, the predisposition to suffer it, although it is advisable to monitor and pass the corresponding medical controls.

The most frequent symptoms are:

• Drip at the end of urination
• Difficulty urinating
• Incomplete emptying of the bladder
• Weaker urine stream or flow
• Need to urinate at night
• painful urination (in some cases)
• bloody urine (in some cases it may indicate an infection)
• Incontinence

Natural remedies for the prostate

Historically, to alleviate the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, extracts of medicinal plants have been used. In fact, even today many of the medicines of medical prescription available for treatment are made from plant extracts. The main plants used are:

Sabal

It is a saw palmetto that the Indians used for hundreds of years to treat the specific problems of men, and its use in the treatment of an enlarged prostate has been described since 1800. The part used is the fruit, from which it is extracted a fatty extract known as "lipid-sterolic extract", rich in free fatty acids (acids: oleic, lauric, myristic, linoleic and linolenic) and other substances such as sterols and triglycerides.

Has on the prostate a antiandrogenic effect (it is capable of inhibiting the biological effects of androgens or male sex hormones), anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous (reduces fluid build-up) and antitumor. It is indicated for benign prostate adenoma and to relieve associated urinary symptoms. Something important is that it does not produce changes in the hormonal levels of testosterone or other hormones.

African plum or pgeum

Certain African tribes already used the powder from its bark to improve urination difficult in the elderly. Based on these observations, in the middle of the last century the method was developed that made it possible to obtain, as in the case of saw palmetto, an extract containing a lipid-sterol complex. Its effect is also similar to that of saw palmetto and in fact, both extracts are often combined.

Greater nettle

The root is used, which contains among others polysaccharide components, a lectin (UDA) and fatty acids and lipophilic steroid-like compounds. Between the fatty acids, 9-Hydroxy-octadecadienoic acid, has been shown to inhibit the activity of the aromatase enzyme, which is an enzyme that plays a very important role in the synthesis of estrogens. Therefore, it has an action at the level of hormones, it helps to inhibit prostate growth and has anti-inflammatory effect.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the monograph of the greater nettle, indicates the root for the "relief of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)". It can be used as adjunctive treatment, or in milder or initial cases, in which a pharmacological treatment is not yet indicated, as the only treatment to relieve symptoms. Of these three plants, the most advisable thing is to use standardized pharmaceutical preparations in active principles to guarantee their effectiveness.

Pumpkin

Its seeds are used, which are rich in lipids especially linoleic acid which represents half of these. It also contains vitamin E, sterols and proteins. These lipids have been shown to significantly decrease the levels of dihydrotestosterone in the prostate tissue and also the pressure of the bladder and urethra.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves the traditional use of pumpkin seeds to treat discomfort when urinating associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia and unstable bladder. This plant can also be used as an adjunctive treatment, or in milder or initial cases as the only treatment, especially to relieve nocturnal symptoms.

Remember to consult your doctor before resorting to these medicinal plants, even in case of benign prostate hyperplasia.