Synergistic Action of Pygeum & Nettle Root

The National Kidney and Urological Disease Clearinghouse estimates that at least 25 percent of men in their 40s will suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Although both nettle root and pygeum treat BPH when used individually, documented evidence shows that when used together, the synergistic action of the two herbs addresses the core symptoms of the condition far more effectively.

Facts

• An evergreen tree that grows in the higher elevations of central and southern Africa, pygeum, also known as pygeum africanum, offers many health benefits. Herbal preparations use only the bark of the tree. Nettle, also called urtica dioica grows abundantly near river banks in temperate regions of the world. Nettle supplements may either contain freeze dried leaves or the root of the nettle plant.

Significance

• A 1996 Swiss study published in Journal Phytomedicine reported that extracts of pygeum and nettle root helped address the symptoms of mild to moderate BPH. The herbal duo inhibited the action of two enzymes, 5 alpha-reductase and aromatase, that facilitate the body's production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estrogen. Both DHT and estrogen contribute towards prostatic growth and the development of BPH in men.

Considerations

• The Swiss study also found that although both herbs effectively blocked the activity of the two enzymes, the combination of the two had a powerful synergistic effect far greater than individual effects in curbing aromastase, one of the enzymes contributing towards BPH. The validation of the combination of the two herbs is especially significant considering the fact that while nettle grows plentifully, pygeum, a dwindling resource, grows under very specific conditions in limited areas of the world.

Theories/Speculation

• While the precise mechanism of how nettle root and pygeum treat prostate disease remains unclear, existing research concludes that the herbs work by interfering with the binding sites for DHT. Given the fact that excess DHT also triggers hirsutism, acne and hair loss in a condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) in women, theoretically nettle root and pygeum may also benefit PCOS sufferers.

Safety

• Men, especially in Europe, have long used herbal preparations such as nettles and pygeum to treat BPH without a prescription. Although herbs have a long and safe history of therapeutic use, they can sometimes interfere with the absorption of prescription medications and other herbs and cause undesirable side effects, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Doctors recommend getting a diagnosis for BPH before self treating with herbs as the condition may mimic symptoms of prostate cancer.