Diagnosis/Treatment Prostate Ailments Conventional Treatments

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Get Healthy Now with Gary Null
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Chapter 60: Prostate Conditions

The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland below the bladder. Its job is to provide the seminal fluid that combines with sperm. The prostate is both a gland and a muscle. It creates this fluid and the muscle pumps it out. As a gland, it needs fluids and as a muscle, it needs exercise. This second function is often overlooked.

The prostate gland has to be considered in relation to the whole body. Depending on how toxic the body is, you are going to have diseases related to the prostate and other systems. Among the conditions that can affect the prostate are prostatitis, prostate enlargement (prostatic hypertrophy, benign prostatic hyperplasia), and prostate cancer. (For an in-depth look at the alternative views on and treatments for cancer, see chapters 38 through 42.)

Warning Signs of Prostate Problems

According to Dr. Lawrence Clapp, the author of Prostate Health in 90 Days, who has a background in homeopathy and body work, typical warning signs of prostate problems include hesitation in urination, undue urgency in urination, and the feeling that you have to get up at night to urinate. If you want a more scientific measure of whether there are problems on the way, have a hair analysis. If this analysis shows that zinc and copper are not in a balanced state, then you are headed for trouble.

Evidence of an inflamed prostate can also be back pain. A lot of men don't realize that back pain can be produced by prostate difficulties. They simply have pain in the back. If you have pain with fever, pain with stools or with cloudy urine, then that's prostatitis.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) refers to the enlargement of the gland. This gland encircles the urethra, and as it enlarges it can put pressure on it, pushing it shut; this is what causes urination problems.

Prostate cancer, one of America's leading malignancies, may or may not be associated with symptoms. This generally slow-growing cancer often goes unrecognized in many older men, who ultimately die of other causes. Some men experience urinary or other problems. A PSA (prostate specific antigen) test-although not always reliable-is often used to diagnose the disease.

Who is Affected and Why?

"Surprisingly," Dr. Clapp says, "prostate problems are occurring in younger and younger men." Prostate problems are endemic in our society. At about age 40, 10 percent of men have a slight enlargement of the gland. By age 50, 50 percent have some enlargement. By age 80, 90 percent show symptoms. "Many traditional doctors are even saying, prostate problems are inevitable," Dr. Clapp continues. "I don't agree."

So what causes a prostate difficulty? "One way this problem begins," Dr. Clapp explains, "is that in our sex lives we pick up bacteria from our partners. These bacteria remain in the prostate." The prostate can't handle them all or handle the variety of them so this causes infection. And this infection languishes until the prostate becomes inflamed or enlarged.

A second reason for prostate problems is diet. In most countries in the world, men do not have these problems. But in the United States, their occurrence is partly conditioned by the use of tobacco, alcohol, rich and spicy foods, fats in red meat, and by overeating. All these things weaken the prostate, so it can't fight back against bacteria so well.

Prostate problems have also been tied to the pesticides we use. These pesticides are loaded with estrogens and chemicals designed to work on the reproductive systems of insects. Unfortunately, they build up in our systems. "I remember," Dr. Clapp recalls, "as a boy growing up, we kids used to run behind the DDT truck that sprayed the neighborhood [to kill mosquitoes]. They still do that spraying in Florida." These pesticides get into all our foods. It's on the (grass the animals eat. Even if you wash your vegetables very carefully, which is helpful, you'll still be getting the pesticides that have worked their way into the inner membranes of the plants.

Israel outlawed the use of pesticides more than 10 years ago. Now cancer is down 60 percent. That's highly suggestive.

A swollen prostate also can be caused when pituitary production, stimulated by stress or alcohol consumption, converts testosterone into dehydrotestosterone, which is harmful.

One final reason for some prostate problems, which is almost comic, is tight underwear. Frequently this underwear will cut off circulation.

Conventional Treatments

Dr. Harry Preuss, professor of medicine and pathology at Georgetown University Medical Center, and author of The Prostate Cure, tells us about the conventional treatment for prostate problems:

"The standard approaches are through surgery or drugs. There is an operation in which the prostate is reamed down to a good size. There are also laser and microwave approaches in use. There are also drugs that can be taken to relax the prostate and allow the urine to flow out. These will be administered over a matter of months and may have quite adverse side effects."

In the case of prostate cancer, the conventional approach may involve prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate gland), radiation, and/or chemotherapy.

Dietary Remedies

According to herbalist Amanda Crawford, good prostate health requires a man to stay away from alcohol, tobacco, sugar, the fats and acids in red meat, and dairy products, which are particularly harmful, not just because of the fats but because of the enzymes. It is also imperative to avoid processed foods. At the same time, increase the amount of fiber you eat. Use organic fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You'll also want to cut out the cappuccino, cafe mocha, and espresso. Try green tea instead. Crawford explains: "It has a little bit of caffeine. Caffeine in small doses helps our body. This green tea gives us a gentle lift and it has fewer negative side effects than coffee."

Herbal Solutions

Herbalist CJ. Puotinen states that the standard herbal remedy for prostate problems is saw palmetto. It is the easiest herb to find, the easiest to use, and the most likely to bring fast results. It may have gastrointestinal side effects, however. The majority of users experiencing serious prostate symptoms will experience benefits in 5 to 10 days after beginning its use.

Amanda Crawford adds that saw palmetto, the biggest selling herb in America, will decrease symptoms; it is clear from the research it will actually decrease the size of a gland that is already swollen. The way it works is this: As a man ages, his testosterone drops and his estrogen levels begin to rise. The prostate absorbs some of this estrogen but saw palmetto will inhibit the absorption so the gland either reduces in size or ceases to swell. This type of estrogen accumulation also seems to account for breast cancer. When estrogen accumulates in an organ and isn't doing anything there, it causes problems by becoming a site of inflammation.

The saw palmetto is a berry native to Florida and South Carolina. It smells funny and doesn't taste very good but it's rich in oils and beneficial plant compounds. It used to be given to livestock or people after a period of high stress, such as a drought. It has a nourishing effect on men, aiding the essential fatty acids, although its effects are not yet fully understood.

Crawford advises taking two grams of the dried berry per day. "You need to get the extract in a kind of solvent that is natural but good at extracting oils. There are some very good extracts on the market today. If you're using the extract, take 320 mg a day. Take this for a minimum of a month to see if it's working well. It works best at a minimum of three months of consistent use. For many men, they may be taking it a year to see the best benefits. In capsule form, take 160 mg, two or three times a day. It is useful to combine it with pygeurn Africanum, which is excellent at 40 mg three times a day. This can be mixed with pumpkin seed oil as the three work together."

Pygeum, though, may have side effects, including vomiting, nausea, indigestion, and other gastrointestinal difficulties. This occurs in 13 percent of users, which is a high percent. This brings up the point that people are used to thinking of medicinal herbs as being completely free of side effect, but this is simply not true. Only tonic herbs are clear of adverse reactions.

There are further costs. Pygeum is taken from areas in Africa where the environment has been weakened by industrial farming. Besides, people who are politically conscious about how they spend their consumer dollars may not want to support some of the things going on where these plants are harvested. It might be better to use plants that are indigenous to North America, ones that are abundant and not endangered.

Saw palmetto also works very well with nettle root. One teaspoon of the root extract two times a day, morning and night, will reduce the nocturnal need to rise and urinate.

Prostatitis, with painful urination, discharge, and other problems, requires an appropriate diagnosis from a doctor. In addition to what the doctor prescribes, one might want to take a tea of mixed herbs. The recipe for that is as follows:

damiana leaf — 2 ounces
echinacea root — 4 ounces
ginger root — 1/3 ounce
hydrangea root — 1 ounce
licorice root — 1/3 ounce
stinging nettles — 1/3 ounce

Take one ounce of this mixture and steep it-don't boil it-for 15 minutes. Then strain that out. It should be taken for eight days. It nourishes the immune cells and decreases inflammation. And it won't get in the body's way of healing itself.

Dr. Preuss calls our attention to another herb-based remedy. "One natural product that I recommend to help with prostate problems is sernatin." This is a water-soluble extract from flower pollen, mainly derived from rye, dried, mixed, and given in a capsule. This extract has been proven, in double-blind, placebo experimental studies, to be as good or better than pharmacological agents. There are 10 good clinical studies done in Europe and Japan that show the benefits of sernatin. It has been as shown that 60 to 80 percent of sufferers get some relief from symptoms that are bothersome to them. Besides, they won't have the serious side effects that would come with medication.

The only downside is a mild upset stomach, which is reversible by stopping the sernatin or reducing the dosage. This adverse reaction affects 3 percent of takers, which is not that high, since it is a reaction that would affect I or 2 percent of those taking a placebo.

The dosage is two pills two or three times a day, amounting to about 63 milligrams in total. This extract is commonly used in Europe and Japan, but not so much in the United States.

For the inflamed prostate, also take such substances as hydrangea extract in doses of 20 drops or 30 mg.

How to Make Herbal Extracts

In these chapters on men's health, and other chapters throughout the book, we have repeatedly talked about the vital use of herbs in the healing process. It might be worthwhile to pause briefly and talk a little more about herbs. Since we have dwelt on the value of herbal extracts, we'd like to mention how you would go about making your own extract if you so desired. Herbalist C.J. Puotinen tells us, "One way these herbs are available is in raw or crude tinctures." A tincture of this sort is an alcohol extract made by putting one of these herbs in combination with vodka or another grain spirit. These extracts are named crude because you are not dealing with one chemically manufactured in the laboratory.

You can make these crude extracts on your own in forms that often are more effective than products you can buy over the counter. Let's explain how would you go about doing that, using as an example the preparation of saw palmetto berry, which, as we have seen, is a useful substance to use to work on prostate problems.

You can find the saw palmetto berry in any herbal store. It has a distinctive aroma. Select high quality berries, ones that look like real berries, not shredded wheat. They have a discernible taste and color. These will be dried herbs unless you live in the Southeast or Florida, where they grow.

Take a small amount, say one cup of the dried herb for a four quart jar. Fill the jar one quarter full with the berry, then half or three quarters full with the vodka, rum, brandy or a neutral grain spirit. Many U.S. herbalists prefer 80 proof vodka.

Cover the herbs with the alcohol for a period of several hours to a few days. They will expand as they absorb the alcohol. Keep an eye on the alcohol level so that you always have a margin of a couple of Inches above the dried plant material. Then leave the jar scaled in a warm place, but out of direct sunlight for four to six weeks. Some will even prefer eight weeks. Some will go by the lunar cycle, bottling it at the new moon and keeping it in the container for two full moons, which is about six weeks. Shake it every couple of days. By this time the alcohol has absorbed as much of the plant's constituents as it is likely to. Now strain the liquid into a measuring cup and then pour it into amber glass bottles for long-term storage.

You might also choose to pour the liquid into another jar with dried palmetto berries in order to create a double or, eventually, triple strength extract. That would be very effective and can be taken in a smaller dosage. With the double strength extract, you can read the recommended dosage and cut it in half It is a time-consuming process, but the extract prepared in this manner will be of better quality than what is bought in stores.

Some people are afraid of using extracts that have been prepared in this way because they anticipate negative effects from the alcohol on their biochemistry. Don't forget, though, that the more concentrated the extract, the less alcohol it has in it. Also remember the dosages are measured in droppers or teaspoons. You will not be taking a large amount.

However, if you want to avoid alcohol, you can use other liquids such as vegetable glycerin or cider vinegar, using the same count you would use for spirits. These substances are not as effective because they don't dissolve all the constituents of the herb as alcohol would, nor do they have the preservative qualities. Alcohol tinctures will last for years.

The Chinese Perspective

Dr. Michael Tierra, author of Chinese Traditional Herbal Medicine, also recommends saw palmetto as herbal treatment of the prostate. However, drawing on the wisdom of Chinese medicine, he points out that there are different causes for prostate dysfunction. Thus, to treat the problem intelligently, one must begin with the cause.

If kidney deficiency is to blame, indicating a problem in the endocrine system, it is necessary to strengthen this system. Rehmannia Six or Eight, both Chinese herbal preparations, are called for. Six if for a yin deficiency; eight for a yang deficiency.

The basis of Chinese medicine is not, as in Western medicine, to see the prostate problem as a single disease, but to break the disease down into components and see how it is individually manifesting. Each symptom is addressed by an herb, and the symptom picture in general is handled by an herbal combination.

Kidney deficiency that creates a prostate problem can be further divided into three basic types. First there are problems due to poor circulation in the pelvic region. These can be treated with lovage, Chinese salvia, red sage, or red peony. Second are problems in the urine flow, so that it is slow or incomplete. These problems should be treated with diuretic herbs, such as water plantain, which is grown in the United States, or fu ling. Third, there may be problems with swelling, which should be dealt with by utilizing herbs, such as seaweed, particularly kelp. Another incredibly effective herbal remedy from China is Kit Kat pills, which will treat swelling as well as frequent urination.

In all cases, about nine grams a day of the herbs should be taken. Dr. Tierra prefers if his patients take the herbs in a tea. He gives them a combination that will include several herbs. A patient takes four or five cups of water, cooks them down to two, and then drinks one cup in the morning and one in the evening.

David Molony — herbalist, acupuncturist, and author of The Complete Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine- adds that for an inflamed prostate, gentiana formula is helpful because it includes herbs that coot the inflammation, as would antibiotics, and has a diuretic effect, increasing urination. This formula can be purchased in a Chinese herb store. The usual dose is eight pills, three times a day.

Zinc and Other Minerals

Anne Louise Gittleman, author of Super Nutrition for Men, who has a private practice and consults around the country, believes that a lack of trace minerals is connected to prostate problems.

First, let us recall the importance of these minerals. They allow us to use ingested proteins by helping produce the enzymes that break down these proteins into amino acids that are usable by the body. If they are not broken down, these incoming proteins are toxic to the body. These elements are precursors to all hormonal functions and so are especially important to men.

Most people in our society assimilate only 20 percent of the protein they take in because they are deficient in trace minerals. They may lack them because the purifying and processing of food in our current agricultural methods, along with acid rain and other environmental factors, mean that these minerals are being lost from our plants and diet. We are a mineral-deficient society, which compromises our overall health.

Gittleman highly recommends that men include supplemental trace minerals in their health plan. These minerals will help balance pH, detoxify lymph, and build and re-establish enzyme and hydrochloric acid production. They will also aid in carrying oxygen to the cells.

For many men, they may be the missing link to a healthy prostate.

One important trace mineral is zinc, which is especially important because in many states it is deficient in the top soil. It is vital in the production of testosterone and for muscle strength, which declines with age. Zinc can be depleted from the body by the use of sugar, coffee, and alcohol. You need zinc piconalate taken twice a day; B6; and pituitary prolactin.

Herbalist Amanda Crawford also recommends increasing zinc. She says you can get this by eating pumpkin seeds. If you're taking the zinc in tablet form, you might need to take 30-50 mg a day, which is a high dose. So she says it's better to get the mineral through the seeds. Pumpkin seeds, aside from being high in fiber, have the essential fatty acid cucurbitacin. We know this has a beneficial effect on men's health generally and on the prostate in particular. The pumpkin seeds can be taken with almonds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, or milk thistle seeds. The latter are good for the liver and protect the body against some of the compounds that have been associated with prostate cancer. Six hundred to 1,200 mg a day of milk thistle seeds are indicated.

You could take a handful a day of each of these seeds: pumpkin, flax, and milk thistle. Crawford says not to tie yourself to one or the other. "Perhaps you could have them in a protein shake each morning or sprinkled on a salad. So you are eating these foods as your medicine and it becomes interesting. You don't have to swallow yet another pill."

Manganese is another valuable mineral since it acts to stabilize blood sugar. It can be obtained from nuts and seeds. Selenium and chromium are two other necessary minerals. Chromium contributes to keeping muscle mass lean, balancing blood sugar, and helping individuals lose weight. Vanadium is a favorite of weight lifters and also helps with blood sugar metabolism.

Massage

Prostate problems can also be treated with massage. For the massage oil, you'll need a carrier oil to which small amounts of the essential oils will be added. For the carrier oil, use olive oil, almond oil, or any cold-pressed oil. Don't use a vegetable oil. Add to this oil the essential oils; these are aromatherapy oils, derived by steam distillation from herbs. Take a few drops of these herbal oils. One recipe calls for 5 drops of either lavender or thyme oil. Then add 10 drops of cypress or fir to add an evergreen fragrance. To that add 10 drops of eucalyptus and rosemary, for a cleansing fragrance. Put this in one fluid ounce (two tablespoons) of the carrier oil.

Massage this into the prostate area and into the whole lower abdomen and even into the back. Massage the gland, which is four or five inches into the rectum, for 15 or 20 minutes. The swelling frequently goes down immediately as fluids are cleared by finger pressure. You may see a shiny black waste that is liberated and comes out.

Massage the deep muscles around the prostate gland between the testes and the rectum. This will have an uplifting and antidepressant effect.

An even simpler way to pamper the prostate requires little effort. Invert your posture. Get a slant board and lie on it for 20 to 30 minutes a day or use yoga to take some of the pressure off the area. Let gravity give you a massage. You may also try an enema, using first hot water and then cold water to expel stagnant fluids.

Acupuncture

Dr. Michael Tierra also has found acupuncture to be a good measure to be taken in relation to prostate problems. "It should be done on a weekly basis," he states. "There are points to be touched on the inner legs and abdomen. This will not be as effectively reached by acupressure. Acupuncture must be done."