Herbalist in Question

Q: My problem is an enlarged prostate which I have had for a number of years. The symptoms were fairly mild and didn’t bother me too much, mostly urinating alot at night, so I ignored them. Drinking beer makes it a lot worse, from which I now abstain, sometimes making me get up 4 or 5 times a night. Lately the symptoms have become more severe with difficult and frequent urination day and night.

A: Of the many disorders attributed to the male of our species by far the most debilitating is prostatism or disorders of the prostate gland. The prostate is a donut shaped gland about the size of a walnut found wrapped around the urethra at the base of the bladder. The function of the prostate is to secrete fluids which form part of the semen in which sperms are transported during sexual activity and ejaculation.

The medical term for enlarged prostate is benign prostatic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH). The cause of this condition is not exactly clear but it is felt that it is an aged related condition. In fact more than 5000 of men over 50 have this condition in various degrees and 750o of men over 70 with about half having symptoms. Physicians recommend that all men over 40 have an examination once a year.

What is known is that the male hormone testosterone decreases with age, usually beginning after about 40, causing an imbalance of other hormones which includes estrogen and prolactin. These hormones when in an abnormally higher ratio with testosterone inhibit enzymes that would normally metabolize testosterone and it’s derivative dihydrotestosterone (DHT) for excretion. Because of this imbalance and lack of excretion the more powerful hormone DHT, causes an over production and concentration of prostate cells leading to prostate enlargement.

Other issues that may contribute to this condition include poor diet especially one high in foods of animal origin which can cause high cholesterol levels. The metabolites created may cause a degeneration of prostate cells promoting prostate enlargement. Also a zinc deficiency (important in hormone metabolism) has been connected to prostate enlargement. The lack of zinc in our soil makes it difficult to find vegetables with high enough levels for optimal health. It is also important to stop drinking alcohol which decreases zinc levels, especially beer which can increase prolactin levels (inhibiting enzymes for DHT metabolism) making matters worse. Environmental toxins such as pesticides and food additives contain chemical compounds such as dioxin and hexachlorobenzenes that increase the formation of dihydrotestosterone in the prostate.

Recommended is a diet rich in organic fruits and vegetables, essential fatty acids found in flax oil, evening primrose oil, pumpkin seed oil, and wheat germ oil which improve BPH. For non vegetarians limit your source of animal fats to fish or chicken. A good source of zinc are pumpkin seeds, traditionally used in Germany as part of program for BPH which includes an incredibly effective plant called Small Flowered Willow Herb.

Along with specific herbal remedies for prostate conditions also consider a herbal program for general detoxification, which will help reduce or eliminate other waste elements including the toxins mentioned above that may contribute to prostate problems. Useful herbs are Dandelion, Yellowdock. Burdock. Cleavers, Yarrow. Milk Thistle, Nettle and others.

An enlarged prostate can cause many symptoms. In some men the enlargement can be severe but with little or no symptoms. while in other men the gland may be only slightly enlarged but can cause extreme discomfort. Symptoms of this condition are frequent urination especially at night, urgency, intermittent urination with weak or thin flow, blood in the urine, and incontinence. The enlarged prostate puts pressure on the urethra and the base of the bladder impeding urine flow. This can cause back up of urine and distention of the bladder leading to bacterial infection as well as serious kidney damage.

Drugs such as finasteride (Proscar) can temporarily decrease the size of the prostate but they also have side effects. The main concern of patients taking this type of medication are the negative effects on their sex life. Proscar causes low libido and problems with erections. Other possible treatments include microwaves to shrink cells , laser, stretching with balloons and stents and a surgical procedure called TURP, transurethral resection of the prostate or coring out the prostate via the urethra

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a member of the Palm family. The berry is the part used in the treatment of prostate problems. They contain amongst other things essential oils, enzymes, resins, fatty acids, and steroidal saponins, that have a hormone like action and an anti-inflammatory effect similar to cortisone. The active constituents of Saw Palmetto appear to prevent testosterones conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and increases it’s breakdown and excretion.

This berry extract of Saw Palmetto can tone and reduce the size of enlarged weak organs and glands such as the prostate, ovaries and bladder. This tonic effect allows for better contraction of the bladder with resulting expulsion of urine. Paradoxically long term use of this herb can not only increase body mass in under weight individuals but can restore atrophy of the testes, and small undeveloped mammary glands.

Saw Palmetto is best taken as a liposterolic extract containing 85 to 950o fatty acids and sterols. The dose of this extract is 160mg. twice daily. Nonetheless I have seen very good results from taking the tincture with a dose oJ40 to 60 drops 3 times a day. Capsules composed of the standardized extract of Saw Palmetto are also acceptable.

The second herb, mentioned previously, is the Small Flowered Willow (Epilobium parviflorum), a member of the Evening Primrose family, one that I have a lot of experience with over the years. The whole herb is used medicinally as a tea or tincture.

It is a prostate tonic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory used for the genito-urinary system, kidney, bladder and prostate problems. Some of the conditions that respond to this herb are enlarged prostate, inflammation of the prostate and urethra, and cancer of the prostate and bladder.

Small flowered Willow herb is best taken in tea form with a dose of 2 cups daily 1/2 hour before breakfast and dinner and taken up to 3 months. One teaspoon to a cup boiling water, steep 10 minutes and strain out the herb.

My work with this herb has shown it to be extremely effective in all disorders of the prostate, especially BPH. This condition responds well usually within 3 to 4 days and continues to respond to varying degrees. Some find a complete change in their condition with rectal examination proving the enlargement had diminished or completely disappeared. Others need to repeat the program 2 to 3 times a year without totally eliminating the condition but feel normal with all symptoms dramatically improved or completely gone. In addition to this herb take one pumpkin seed oil capsule twice daily or eat a small handful of pumpkin seeds every day.

Peter Laker is a practicing Clinical Herbalist and Iridologist at Herbs and Health in North York, Ont. He is also, the President of The Central Canadian Herbal Practitioner‘s Association.