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Herbal Treatment for Prostate Enlargement

The prostate is a small but important gland that can become enlarged, leading to discomfort and frequent urination and possibly prostate cancer. Fortunately, there are several herbs that have been proven in scientific studies to be very beneficial in cases of enlarged prostate. By incorporating the herbs saw palmetto, pygeum and nettles into your daily regime, you can attempt to treat an enlarged prostate with some of mother nature's most powerful herbal allies.

  1. Using Saw Palmetto

    • Saw palmetto berries are available at most health food stores and many online retailers in both capsule and powdered form. Saw palmetto's effects on patients with enlarged prostate conditions were reviewed in an article published in JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 280 No. 18 on November 11, 1998 by Timothy J. Wilt, MD, MPH; Areef Ishani, MD; Gerold Stark, MD; Roderick MacDonald, MS; Joseph Lau, MD; Cynthia Mulrow, MD, MS. The researchers found that saw palmetto was able to improve both urological symptoms and flow measures as well as the pharmaceutical drug usually employed, but with far fewer side effects. Take saw palmetto as a daily supplement in the morning with meals.

    Using Pygeum

    • Pygeum is the extract from an African plum tree and can be found in capsule form in most health food stores. A study published in Current Medical Research and Opinion
      (1998, Vol. 14, No. 3, Pages 127-139 by J. Breza?, O. Dzurny?, A. Borowka?, T. Hanus?, R. Petrik?, G. Blane? and H. Chadha-Boreham?) found that after two months of supplementation with pygeum extract, patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) had lower prostate volume, decreased nighttime urination and increased urinary flow. Pygeum supplements should be taken daily with meals.

    Using Nettles

    • The leaves of the stinging nettle plant have a long history of use for urinary problems and can be found in capsule supplement form or as loose-leaf tea in most health food stores. A study published in the German journal Pharmazie in October 1999 (by Lichius JJ, Lenz C, Lindemann P, Müller HH, Aumüller G, and Konrad L.) found that an extract of nettle leaf was able to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells in the human prostate. Use loose nettle leaf to make a tea by boiling the water, reducing the heat, adding the leaf and letting sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Drink several cups of tea at night before going to sleep.

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