Prostate Health » herbal supplements

Herbal Supplements to Promote Prostate Health and to Treat Prostate Disease

admin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:16:29 +0000

An ongoing joke runs that there’s a third inevitability awaiting American men besides “death” and “taxes” – prostate disease. At least one in six men will develop a growth in their prostate, a gland that plays an important role in the male reproductive system.

Some herbal supplements may not only promote prostate health, but may even help to treat prostate disease.

Alternative remedies

Herbal supplements have gotten a bad rap over the years. Critics to the medicinal properties of herbs point out that, because herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA, they may vary widely from the amount of active herbal extract that is listed on the label. One recent study showed that some brands contain less than 15 percent of the listed active ingredient.

Others worry that patients who use herbal supplements will neglect to see their doctors or will refuse proven treatments for an herb that only produces mixed results.

While many doctors would not go so far as to say that herbal supplements work better than traditional medicines, most doctors agree that they do have their place. Herbal supplements may work best when used in conjunction with other more traditional medical treatments.

You should always talk to your doctor before taking an herbal supplement. Herbs may produce different results in different people, and your doctor will be able to tell if a specific herb is right for you.

Herbs that promote a healthy prostate and may help to treat prostate disease include:

Saw palmetto – an herb from a small palm tree that grows along the Atlantic seaboard, saw palmetto is by far the most popular and well-researched prostate herb. It contains beta sitosterol, a powerful compound that stops testosterone from converting into DHT. Some studies also indicate that saw palmetto helps to shrink enlarged prostates and relieves urinary problems and other symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Red clover – a member of the pea family, red clover contains antioxidants that inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. It also inhibits DHT formation, which helps to prevent the enlarging of the prostate.
Zinc – perhaps the most important of the trace minerals. Zinc deficiency predisposes the prostate to infection, which may eventually lead to enlargement and other problems.
Vitamin B6 – working in conjunction with zinc, Vitamin B6 regulates the hormone that converts testosterone into DHT. Thus, Vitamin B6 helps to prevent swelling of the prostate.
Lycopene – an extract found in tomatoes, watermelons and other fruits, lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that may inhibit the growth of cancerous cells and reduce prostate inflammation.

Are Natural Prostate Health Treatments Safe?

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:20:07 +0000

Holistic natural remedies, such as herbal supplements, are not regulated by the FDA. This makes many people very uneasy, and for good reason. A recent study found that some natural supplement brands contain up to 15 percent less than the listed active ingredient strength, so taking a specific dosage of a particular substance can be difficult.

When used appropriately and with permission from your doctor, natural treatments are generally safe.

Natural, Organic Ingredients

Most doctors would not say that natural treatments work better than traditional cures. However, many would agree that they can be very helpful, especially when used in conjunction with standard medical treatments.

However, natural remedies such as herbal supplements and special diets have earned an un-deserved bad reputation. Although natural remedies have been less studied than traditional medicines, they certainly have their place. As advances in holistic healing continue and more research is conducted, the benefits of natural treatments are undeniable.

Keep in mind that “natural” does not necessarily mean “safe.” Different natural treatments produce different results in different people based on the unique situation and combination of factors. Although natural treatments can certainly be beneficial, it is important to remember several key points when considering natural remedies:

- Talk to your doctor before you begin any natural remedy or treatment. Gather as much information as you can about the remedy before you see your doctor, then ask for their professional opinion. Many doctors are just beginning to learn about the benefits and risks of natural treatments, so it may be a learning process for them, too. They will be able to tell you if the remedy you are interested in is safe for you to use.

- Learn about the natural treatment you are interested in, along with the common misconceptions about using natural remedies in general. These include:

The “More Is Better” Myth – when it comes to herbal supplements, more is not necessarily better. Remember, large doses of certain vitamins and minerals can be toxic.
The “Natural is Better” Myth – many supplements, such as ginger and garlic, are manufactured as natural. However, plants contain many different chemicals, some of which are helpful and some of which are hurtful. These chemicals may also interfere with certain medications or produce harmful side effects.
The “It Can’t Hurt to Take an Herbal Supplement with Regular Medicines” Myth – some of the chemicals found in plants can block or speed up the body’s absorption of certain prescription drugs. This means that the patient will have too much or too little of the prescribed drug in their bloodstream at any given time.

- Know where and how to report any side effects you may experience while using a natural remedy. Calling 1-800-FDA-1088 to report problems will help the FDA track natural remedies for better regulation in the future.

Do Natural Prostate Health Treatments Work?

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:18:08 +0000

Science has made great progress in the medical field. Although new treatments for serious diseases are being produced daily, some modern medicine does not always produce reliable results. Natural remedies, such as herbal supplements, are also ridiculed for their mixed results.

Combining modern medicine and natural treatments provides a more inclusive approach to healing and may produce better results than using one or the other alone.

Alternative remedies

There are many forms of and options for natural treatment. Many of these techniques, such as meditation or prayer, can be quite difficult to study. Because of the lack of hard evidence and success rates, some decide to rely only on typical Western medical practices.

Complementary care is when a patient decides to use an alternative medicine or treatment along with standard medical procedures (for example, using acupuncture to reduce the side effects of radiation treatment).

Alternative medicine is when a patient decides to use an alternative medicine or treatment instead of using standard medical treatments (for example, eating a special diet instead of receiving radiation treatment).

However, integrative medicine has been shown to be the most effective method of treating cancer. Integrative medicine is a total approach to care that addresses the patient’s body, mind and spirit by combining standard medical procedures with alternative therapies.

Integrative medicine generally works in one of several ways. The cancer may react to the combination of treatments, curing the cancer completely and directly. The natural treatment may increase the tumor’s response rate to chemotherapy treatments, allowing for greater shrinkage. In terminal and non-operable cases, integrative medicine can increase survival time by up to 64 percent.

Examples of natural treatments and remedies that can be integrated into traditional medicine include:

- Meditation, prayer and hypnosis

- Herbal supplements and special diets

- Massage therapy or chiropractic care

- Therapeutic touch, Tai Chi and yoga

- Creative outlets – like art, music and dancing

Just because the results of non-traditional treatments can be hard to measure does not mean that they do not work. However, herbal supplements and other natural cures may produce widely different results in different people based on their specific situation. Different natural treatments react differently with certain medications. It is critical that you speak to your doctor before beginning a natural treatment. Ultimately, your doctor is the only one who can decide if a specific natural treatment is safe for you.

Prostate Health » herbal supplements

Herbal Supplements to Promote Prostate Health and to Treat Prostate Disease

Suggested Reading

Are Natural Prostate Health Treatments Safe?

Suggested Reading

Do Natural Prostate Health Treatments Work?

Suggested Reading