The Prostate. Image courtesy Wikpiedia

The prostate is present only in the male anatomy. It is located at the base of the bladder and surrounds the urethra. This gland is necessary to produce fluid which adds to the formation of semen.

The ageing process brings about the enlargement of the gland, causing the urethra to become squeezed, thus making the passage for the urine to exit the body more narrow. Difficulty in urination is the result.

The first signs of anything amiss might be the night time visits to the toilet.  If the bladder doesn’t empty properly then another problem will occur, that of Urinary Tract Infections (UTI).

(As an aside, UTI  is a  nasty problem makes the lives of many women miserable.  The reason that they are more prone is that the passage between the bladder and the outside of the body is shorter in a woman, so that more infections are likely to find their way into the tract.)

Let’s start with the UTI symptoms.

• Painful  or burning urination
• Painful ejaculation
• Difficulty in getting started when needing to urinate
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Frequent night time visits to the loo
• Feeling that the bladder has not completely emptied
• Urine not flowing steadily
• Difficulty in holding back urine
• Having to urinate often and urgently
• Loss of libido
• Recurrence of urinary tract infections
• Erectile problems
• Stiffness in the hips, low back and thighs

All or some of the above could indicate benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) They could also indicate Chlamydia, a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD).
Respiratory infections could also cause some of the symptoms.

Identifying Problems

To be sure about what is what an internal inspection by your doctor is necessary.  This is an examination to ascertain the size of the prostate, the doctor using his gloved finger will feel to find out whether the prostate is larger than it should be.  The term for this is Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)

Then the blood will be checked to see the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).   Unfortunately this test has a 35 % rate of false-negatives.  To get the best out of this there should be no sexual activity for 48 hours prior to the test. It has to be remembered that two thirds of men with an elevated PSA do not have prostate cancer.

A further test might be offered to check ‘telomerase’ and enzyme in the semen which will allow cancer cells to multiply rapidly.

The final test might be the ultrasound.

Now these problems do not have to become cancerous if steps are taken to keep the situation under control.

Diet and lifestyle

This is the sensible place to start!  It is all about reducing the chances of the problem developing into cancer, and making the condition much more bearable. The obvious changes should be in cutting out tobacco and excessive alcohol. Fatty foods, meats and dairy are the foods to watch, the intake of these should be cut down and replaced with fish, fruit and vegetables. Eat lots of tofu, it is found that the Japanese have 15 times less cases of prostate cancer than men in the USA.   If you can eat tomatoes, do, and lots of them.  Better if they are cooked or in Ketchup.

Things that can help

Saw Palmetto

It is used for:

• enlarged prostate
• benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
• male pattern baldness
• impotence

This will increase the urinary flow, reduce residual urine and reduces inflammation in the prostate gland.   As there are no side effects to libido or erectile function, it can have a positive effect on your sex life. Saw Palmetto also comes in capsules by the name of Prostasan, an A.Vogel product.

Before using be certain that you do have BPH

Nettle

Taking nettle will boost the effectiveness of the Saw Palmetto.  This could be taken as a supplement, tincture, or a herbal tea.   It is not unpleasant to take, and if you have your own supply in the garden, it is a surprisingly tasty and slightly hot tea.  Care of course needs to be taken if harvesting your own (for obvious reasons), best done in the spring with the new growth, and this could be dried and put away for later use.  Remember to collect above dog leg height!

Pygeum

Yet another useful herb, from the bark of an African tree, it too works to reduce the symptoms of BPH, and it combines well with Saw Palmetto and Nettle. You can buy Pygeum in capsules.

Pumpkin Seeds

A cheap and easy way to relieve prostate problems. It is found that men in the eastern European countries who consume these as part of their daily diet have few instances of prostate cancer. Shops like Holland & Barret sell these in packets.

Zinc Supplement

Cancerous and enlarged prostates contain less zinc than normal prostates, therefor it is found that a daily supplement will redress the balance.  Zinc is found in Pumpkin seeds or can be taken directly. Good health shops will have zinc capsules for sale.

Lycopene Supplements

In other words ‘ tomatoes’.  A six year Harvard study found that men who ate tomato based foods more than 10 times a week had a 50% reduction in the risk of prostate cancer.
It may be that tomatoes are not good for you for instance if you suffer from arthritis, the tomato can cause great pain and inflammation.  In this case a supplement would be the answer.

Also

Vitamin E, Selenium, Fish Oils and Green Tea.

Self Help Treatment

It might be worth knowing just in case it ever happens, but what if you cannot urinate at all? This is a horrendous problem, but one that can be solved the old fashioned way. If you can think of a steam inhalation of herbs, like Eucalyptus and Tea Tree that might clear your head if you are blocked up with the cold, you know, with the towel over your head?  Well the principle here is similar..

The flow of urine may need some encouragement.. Now imagine if you will, arranging yourself over a basin of boiling water with the herbs Camomile or Wild Thyme.  These herbs might not be to hand if you live in the city, but you may be able to get a box of Camomile tea bags which could do just as well.  Use towels to keep the steam from escaping.  A bit of ingenuity is required, and try not to fall in!

Reflexology

The prostate can certainly benefit from the massaging of the heel area, below the ankle bone, on the inside of each foot. That is the point which corresponds to the prostate, and if done correctly will to clear the congestion in that area.  It is something that you could practice on yourself, but better if you have a session with a Reflexologist and learn how to do it properly.

Kegels

What are they when they are at home?  Well, in the 1940s a a gynecologist bearing that name invented the pelvic floor exercises to prevent urinary incontinence, to work for both men and women.  Many professionals claim they don’t work, but it does take time and perseverance to achieve the goal. Try stopping the flow of urine, the muscles that make you do that are the pelvic floor muscles.   Once you get the feel of it, practice it often. Start by holding for a count of three, then build up to ten. If you get it right, in future you will be glad you did, if you didn’t it will be a great inconvenience and indeed a regret.

Please remember that if you succeed in getting rid of the problem, it is unwise to discontinue the treatment, especially the Saw Palmetto, at the very least a maintenance dose is required.

Once you have a problem, it will continue to crop up, and the older you get, the more prone you will be to it.

Take steps before it becomes cancerous.