Herbs Used for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

The most common kind of cancer facing men, prostate cancer is usually treated with pharmaceutical drugs and invasive surgery. Frequently, prostate cancer is found early, largely due to the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, which monitors the level of proteins produced by the prostate. Once prostate cancer has been discovered, a physician will try to identify how aggressive and advanced it is in the patient. Understandably, some patients have sought holistic methods for treating the cancer and its aftereffects, often in addition to traditional treatment. All treatments should be administered in cooperation with a licensed physician.

Damiana

• Taken from the leaves of the damiana herb, this herb is available in certain teas and in various tablet forms, or can be smoked like tobacco. It is also often used as a natural aphrodisiac and to treat depression. According the the British Herbal Medicine Association, though it has a euphoric effect on its users, it does not have any true medicinal value. For cancer patients, the dosage is variable depending on concentration. Patients have reported mild laxative effects of damiana.

Polysaccharide Kureha

• This mushroom extract stimulates your immune system and is a powerful antioxidant. The California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute has found PSK to be a good anticancer option, and it is one of the best-selling herbal treatments in that country. PSK attacks enzymes that cause the spread of cancer. For this reason, it is often used to make radiation therapy more effective. For prostate cancer treatment, daily dosage is 6,000 mg.

Milk Thistle

• The fruit of the milk thistle is also a cancer-fighting agent. It is used often to speed the protein-synthesis and cell renewal. Sometimes, herbal treatments contain milk thistle leaves, but it is widely believed that the leaves do not possess the same medicinal properties. Cancer patients are advised to take 360 mg daily.

Soy Isoflavone Concentrate

• Extracted from soy herbs, soy isoflavone concentrates have been observed to prevent estrogen cells from coming into contact with various kinds of cancer, so it is considered therapeutically valuable. It has also been found to stifle the growth of cancerous cells. Daily dosage is 3,000 mg.

Sulfuraphane

• Sulfuraphane has demonstrated value in preventing and treating prostate cancer. It works by advancing proteins for tumor suppression and inducing enzymes that attack xenobiotic cells. Recommended daily dosage is 200 to 400 mg for prevention, and 600 mg for treatment.