Enlarged Prostate gland treatment with nutritional pills and herbal extracts

An enlarged prostate gland is caused by an increase in the number of both epithelial and stromal cells. Clinically, enlarged prostate gland leads to voiding problems, which is most often referred to as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). For men with mild symptoms, watchful waiting with annual reassessment is appropriate. Over the past decade, numerous medical and surgical interventions have been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland. Alpha blockers improve symptoms relatively quickly. Although 5-alpha reductase inhibitors have a slower onset of action, they may decrease prostate size and alter the disease course. Transurethral resection of the prostate often provides permanent relief. Newer laser-based surgical techniques have comparable effectiveness to transurethral resection up to two years after surgery with lower perioperative morbidity.
   Many men with an enlarged prostate gland are searching for natural ways to treat this condition rather than relying, at least initially, on prescription medications.

Standard medical care
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive disease that is commonly associated with bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and might result in complications, such as acute urinary retention and BPH-related surgery. Therefore, the goals of therapy for BPH are not only to improve LUTS in terms of symptoms and urinary flow, but also to identify those patients at a risk of unfavorable disease progression and to optimize their management. Common drugs used include 5alpha-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs), namely fiasteride and dutasteride, for men with LUTS and BPH.

Androgens and enlarged prostate gland
Androgens play an important role in prostate gland development and function, but are also involved in prostate disease. The primary prostate gland androgen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), is synthesized from testosterone by 5alpha-reductase types 1 and 2. Inhibition of the 5alpha-reductase isoenzymes therefore has potential therapeutic benefit in prostate disease. The two currently approved 5alpha-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs), finasteride and dutasteride, have demonstrated long-term efficacy in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Finasteride, a type-2 5ARI, has also been studied for its ability to reduce the incidence of biopsy-detectable prostate cancer in the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. Treatment with dutasteride, a dual 5ARI, has been shown to result in a greater degree and consistency of DHT suppression compared with finasteride.

Herbs for prostate enlargement
Limited evidence shows that the herbal agents saw palmetto extract, rye grass pollen extract, and pygeum relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland. These natural herbs are worth a try before using prescription prostate medications that may have adverse and unpleasant effects.

Enlarged prostate gland progression
An enlarged prostate gland usually occurs in males 45-50 old and progressively involves 75% of the male population over 75 years of age.

Prostate Power Rx, Formulated by Ray-Sahelian, M.D.

 

With Saw Palmetto, Pygeum, Stinging Nettle, Gensitein, Quercetin, Phytoestrogens, and several Ingredients for support of normal prostate health and size.

Prostate Power Rx is carefully formulated with important herbs and nutrients to provide optimal prostate health.
 

Prostate Power Rx Supplement Facts
Saw Palmetto extract
Stinging Nettle extract
Quercetin
Rosemary extract
Beta-Sitosterol
Pygeum extract
Daidzein and Genistein (standardized to contain 40% isoflavones)
(treatment with the isoflavones daidzein and genistein, the estrogen-like compounds found in soy, block prostate growth in rats)
Lycopene from tomato extract

Symptoms of enlarged prostate
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common condition affecting older men. Typical presenting symptoms include urinary hesitancy, weak stream, nocturia, incontinence, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Acute urinary retention, which requires urgent bladder catheterization, is relatively uncommon. Irreversible renal damage is rare.
   Symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland are related primarily to bladder outlet obstructions resulting from enlargement of the prostate gland, and from extrinsic and intrinsic sympathetic activation of alpha-adrenoceptors present in the muscle tissue of the prostate gland, the urethra portion of the prostate gland, bladder base and neck.
   The symptoms of an enlarged prostate vary, but the most common ones involve changes or problems with urination, such as: A hesitant, interrupted, weak stream; Urgency and leaking or dribbling; More frequent urination, especially at night. This is called nocturia. Men who have symptoms of prostate obstruction are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease.

Enlarged prostate treatment
An enlarged prostate gland is one of the commonest causes of lower urinary tract symptoms LUTS in men over age 55. Fifty percent of men over age 55 will require some type of management for BPH / LUTS symptoms. Until about 15 years ago, the most common management for an enlarged prostate was a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) operation. Initially, once a diagnosis of enlarged prostate has been made, most men are treated medically. One must first rule out other serious causes of these symptoms, such as prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and other obstructions. For men with an enlarged prostate, there is a good chance that therapy with a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) can prevent disease progression and the need for surgery. There has been a lot of recent work on different combination therapies for the treatment of enlarged prostate gland. If a patient's serum prostate-specific antigen PSA level is greater than 1.5 ng/ml and his prostate volume is greater than 30 cc and he has significant LUTS, then combination medical therapy of an alpha blocker with a 5-ARI is the most effective medical therapy. Some men may prefer to try natural herbal formulas for an enlarged prostate before resorting to prescription medications.
   Historically, the only treatments for LUTS due to an enlarged prostate gland were watchful waiting or surgery (transurethral or open prostatectomy). However, over the last three decades, medical treatment has taken a prominent role in the management of enlarged prostate symptoms. Several drugs are used in the treatment of an enlarged prostate gland and several herbs are available including saw palmetto, pygeum, stinging nettle, and others.

Prescription drugs for enlarged prostate
There are two common forms of prescription drugs to treat the symptoms of enlarging prostate gland. The first type of enlarged prostate drugs are called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors reduce the level of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The second type of enlarged prostate prescription drugs are called alpha blockers. Also called alpha-adrenergic antagonists, alpha blockers relax smooth muscle cells and help improve urine flow in men with prostate problems.

Medical treatment for enlarged prostate
Current medical treatments for enlarged prostate gland include alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonists, inhibitors of the 5-alpha reductase enzyme and various herbal remedies. Many patients are unable to tolerate the side effects of these medications, or are refractory to medical management and require surgery.

Enlarged Prostate Medicine - Enlarged Prostate Drugs
Several drugs are currently used for an enlarged prostate gland:

5-alpha reductase inhibitors:
The enzyme 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha R) catalyses the reduction of testosterone into the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone. The abnormal production of dihydrotestosterone is associated with pathologies of the main target organs of this hormone: the prostate and the skin. An enlarged prostate gland, prostate cancer, acne, androgenetic alopecia in men, and hirsutism in women appear related to excess dihydrotestosterone production. Two isozymes of 5 alpha-reductase have been cloned, expressed and characterized (5 alpha R-1 and 5 alpha R-2).

Proscar (finasteride) for enlarged prostate gland, manufactured by Merck. Proscar blocks the conversion of testosterone into the more active dihydrotestosterone.
Fincar - Generic Proscar manufactured by Cipla;
Avodart - Dutasteride manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline;
Dutas - Generic Dutasteride manufactured by Dr. Reddy's.

Alpha 1 blocker for enlarged prostate:
Alpha1-blockers are the medical therapy of choice for symptomatic patients with an enlarged prostate and low risk of clinical progression (e.g. prostate volume < 30-40 ml). Alpha1-blockers have no effect on the long-term risk of acute urinary retention and the risk of surgery. The alpha 1 blocking agents (Terazosin, Doxazosin, Tamsulosin) that improve urinary symptoms.

Flomax - Tamsulosin Hydrochloride manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim. Terazosin alpha 1 blocker appears to be useful in the treatment of patients with mild- to moderate symptomatic enlarged prostate.

Hormonal treatment of an enlarged prostate gland
LHRH analogs (Leuprorelin and Goserelin) can reduce the testicular production of androgens with reduction in prostate size.

Surgical treatment of enlarged prostate
Many potential new surgical treatment options are available for the treatment of an enlarged prostate gland.

Enlarged prostate questions
Q. I have an enlarged prostate, will Prostate Power Rx be helpful and beneficial to me?
   A. The FDA does not allow claims to be made that a particular supplement treats or cures a medical condition. We abide by these rules and therefore cannot make any such claims about this prostate formula.

Q. Your web page is vague about the benefits of taking Prostate Power Rx for enlarged prostate. Does your research show that it improves urinary function, reduces enlarged prostate size, etc? I have an enlarged prostate but would prefer to use herbs instead of Avodart or Proscar.
   A. Sellers of natural products are not allowed by the FDA to make claims that the products cure or treat a medical condition. If they do, these products are then categorized as drugs. Therefore, claims that Prostate Power Rx cures or treats an enlarged prostate gland are not allowed.

Q.  have an enlarged benign prostate and am using Prostate Power Rx. Will Diet Rx have a negative effect on an enlarged prostate gland?
   A. We have no reason to believe Diet Rx will influence an enlarged prostate gland in a negative way but we don't have any studies or feedback from users regarding the role of Diet Rx and prostate health.

Q. I'm not a medical professional. I have taken pre-pharmacy level physiology, biology, anatomy and organic chemistry. So, you could say I know nothing. In 2006, after taking saw palmetto and all the other prostate enlargement remedies for years, none of which worked very well, I went to a urologist here in Grand Rapids, MI, and an interesting science mind. He indicated that an enlarged prostate was present but tests showed no cancer. He also prescribed his favorite drug, I don't remember which, and I flushed the script and consulted the www. Friends told me those enlarged prostate drugs are a waste of money. Since I didn't have cancer, cool. Here's where it gets strange: I'd been on a low carb diet for years and years. My blood tests were good, cholesterol and BP normal. But that pesky enlarged prostate was also present for years. I heard that high protein diets could exacerbate enlarged prostate. Just "heard" it. But that got me on the www again. I stumbled across an anti-aspartame site. This site claimed aspartame was a toxin and caused all the world's problems. Since my low carb diet also included lots of Equal, I made an intuitive connection that just possibly the aspartame was involved in my enlarged prostate. Don't ask why. About 7-10 days after removing ALL artificial sweeteners from my diet, the enlarged prostate symptoms were ~ 75% gone. After 30 days ~ 90% gone. Then I added Splenda back into my diet. No problem. Then Sweet 10. No problem. Today is about 20 months later and my enlarged prostate problem is completely gone. Yes it is. I tested the Equal / enlarged prostatec onnection once in 2007 for a few days. Yep. The enlarged prostate symptoms came back. Life without enlarged prostate is like being a young man again. I hope my experience might help other men with this terrible problem.
   A. This is interesting but we would like to see research on this topic before making a connection between consumption of aspartame and enlarged prostate symptoms.