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DISORDERS
(Their description, characteristics or symptoms,
causes, and complementary or alternative treatments)
Disorder: PROSTATE PROBLEMS
Description: The prostate is a chestnut-size gland located just below the bladder, surrounding the urethra, which serves as a passageway for both urine and semen. The function of the prostate is to add secretions of fluid to the semen during ejaculation. Prostatic fluid makes up the bulk of semen. It is clear and slightly acidic and contains calcium, sodium, potassium, and zinc. The prostate is the most common site of disorders in the male genitourinary system. The most common problems are (a) prostatitis, which is infection of the prostate gland; (b) benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), or enlargement of the prostate and (c) prostate cancer.
Symptoms: (a) Prostatitis can be either acute or chronic. Symptoms of acute prostatitis include pain between the scrotum and rectum, fever, frequent urination accompanied by a burning sensation, a feeling of fullness in the bladder, and blood or pus in the urine. Symptoms of chronic prostatitis are frequent, burning urination with blood in the urine, lower back pain, and impotence. Urination becomes more difficult as prostatitis advances.
(b) The first sign of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is hesitancy when trying to start the flow of urine. The urine stream may be weak or intermittent. As time goes on, frequency increases, and it may be necessary to urinate several times during the night. There may be a feeling like the bladder is still partly full after urinating. There can also be pain, burning, and difficulty in starting and stopping urination. The presence of blood in the urine is not uncommon. Because the bladder cannot empty completely, the kidneys also may not empty as they should. This can cause dangerous pressure on the kidneys. Bladder infections are associated with both prostatitis and enlarged prostate.
(c) Many prostate cancers are very slow growing, and the condition often causes no symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage and/or spreads outside the prostate gland to other parts of the body. Later, symptoms of urinary blockage and possibly blood in the urine may appear. These symptoms, however, most often are not caused by cancer, but by BPH or prostatitis. Professional evaluation and diagnosis is therefore necessary.
Incidence: (a) Prostatitis is common in men of all ages. (b) Enlargement of the prostate occurs in approximately half of all men over the age of fifty and three quarters of men over seventy years of age, a total of about 10 million American men. (c) Cancer of the prostate gland is the second leading cause of cancer death among men. Approximately 80 percent of all cases occur in men over the age of sixty-five, and by the age of eighty, 80 percent of all men have prostate cancer to some degree. African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer, while Asian-Americans have the lowest.
Causes: (a) Prostatitis is usually caused by infectious bacteria invading the prostate from another area of the body. Hormonal changes associated with aging may also be a cause. (b) Enlargement of the prostate is largely attributable to hormonal changes associated with aging. After the age of fifty, a man’s testosterone levels decrease, while the levels of other hormones increase. This creates an increase in the amount of dihydrotestosterone within the prostate, which causes overproduction of prostate cells, and ultimately results in prostate enlargement. (c) Researchers have found a link between a high-fat diet and exposure to environmental toxins in the development of prostate cancer. Men with a family history of prostate cancer also run a higher risk of developing the disease. Also at increased risk are men who have had recurring prostate infections, those with a history of venereal disease, and those who have taken testosterone. Exposure to cancer-causing chemicals increases risk as well. Some experts believe that vasectomy may increase a man’s chances of developing prostate cancer.
Treatments: Men can help avoid prostate problems by avoiding high-fat junk foods and environmental toxins that contribute to prostate problems. Nutritional intervention includes a low-fat, high-fiber diet, weight loss if necessary, vitamin and mineral supplements and, in some cases, essential fatty acids such as flaxseed oil. Some doctors also consider two herbs, saw palmetto and pygeum, a necessary part of treatment.
Nutrients:
Supplement Dosage Comments
|
Multi-vitamin and mineral complex |
As directed on label. Choose a formula that supplies 100% of the recommended daily allowances of all the major vitamins and minerals. |
To promote overall good health and prevent nutritional deficiencies. |
|
Vitamin B complex plus extra Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) |
50 mg. 3 times daily. 50 mg. twice daily. |
Necessary for all cellular functions. Promotes absorption of zinc and can also help suppress secretion of excessive amounts of prolactin. |
|
Zinc |
80 mg. daily. Do not exceed a total of 100 mg. daily from all supplements. |
Zinc can be effective in reducing the size of the prostate and easing the symptoms of BPH. |
|
Magnesium |
200 to 600 mg. daily. |
Promotes a healthy prostate and aids the urinary tract. |
|
Selenium |
200 mcg. daily |
An important antioxidant nutrient that works with vitamin E |
|
Vitamin E |
Start with 200 IU daily and gradually increase dosage until you are taking 400 IU daily. |
A powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals and supports the immune system. |
|
Essential fatty acids (fish oil) |
As directed on label 3 times daily. |
Important in prostate function. |
|
Garlic |
2 capsules 3 times daily. |
Acts as a natural antibiotic. |
Herbs:
 | Saw palmetto is the premier herbal remedy for prostate problems. It reduces the amount of testosterone that is transformed into dihydrotestosterone, thus helping to fight prostate enlargement. In one study, saw palmetto decreased nighttime urination by 45 percent, increased urinary flow rate over 50 percent, and reduced the retention of urine in the bladder by 42 percent. |
| Pygeum has notable anti-inflammatory properties and is helpful for enlargement and/or inflammation of the prostate. It has become a primary therapy for these conditions in Europe. |
| Cat’s claw enhances the immune response and has antibacterial properties that make it helpful for prostatitis. (Do not use cat’s claw if you are an organ-transplant recipient. Use it with caution if you are taking an anticoagulant; i.e., a blood thinner.) |
| Nettle root has been used for over 200 years in Europe for prostatitis and BPH. |
| Chinese ginseng is beneficial for prostate health and sexual vitality. |
Recommendations:
| If you experience difficulty urinating or notice an increasing trend toward waking up to urinate during the night, consult your health care provider. This may indicate prostatic obstruction. |
| A lien diet may be the best way to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, according to some experts. Avoid saturated and hydrogenated fats (hard at room temperature) and stick to monounsaturated fats (olive oil or canola oil) for cooking. |
| If you are overweight, take steps to reduce. Eliminate alcohol and cut back on sugar and dietary fat. At the same time, burn calories by walking, swimming, or running. |
| In population studies, men who eat the most fiber, from beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, are least likely to develop prostate cancer. |
| Eat pumpkin seeds. They are high in zinc, which the prostate requires. As an alternative, pumpkin seed oil can be taken in capsule form. Other foods high in zinc include mushrooms, seafood, spinach, sunflower seeds and whole grains. |
| Eliminate from your lifestyle such items as tobacco, alcoholic beverages (especially beer and wine), caffeine (especially coffee and tea), spicy and junk foods. |
| If you have prostatitis, increase your fluid intake. Drink two to three quarts of spring or distilled water daily to stimulate urine flow. |
| Enjoy tomatoes and tomato-based foods often. The phytochemicals found in tomatoes reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. |
| Take steps to reduce your blood cholesterol level. Studies have shown a connection between high cholesterol and prostate disorders. Cholesterol has been shown to accumulate in enlarged or cancerous human prostates. |
| Try to avoid all known carcinogens. Eat only organic foods, if possible. Avoid tobacco smoke, polluted air, polluted water, noxious chemicals and food additives. |
| For prostate cancer, early detection is often the best protection. If caught and treated early before it spreads to other areas of the body, the prognosis is excellent. The National Cancer Institute recommends that all men over the age of forty have a rectal exam once a year, which includes manual examination by a doctor and an ultrasound scan to detect growths that are too small to feel. In addition, men over 50 should have a yearly blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). |
| If your prostate is enlarged, be cautious about using over-the-counter cold or allergy remedies. Many of these products contain ingredients that can inflame the condition and cause urinary retention. |
| Do not take any drugs except those that are prescribed by your physician. Always seek counsel and alternative opinions before deciding which, if any, you will pursue. |
Considerations:
| If the prostate is infected, treatment with antibiotics and analgesics may be necessary. |
| The drug finasteride (Proscar) is the current prescription of choice in treating prostate enlargement. Improvement in symptoms is often slow, however, and it can take three to twelve months of therapy before it has optimal results. Once you start taking it, you must take it for life to maintain its effects. |
| If BPH causes severe constriction of the urethra, it may be impossible to urinate at all. In such cases, surgery may be necessary to restore function. There are a number of procedures that may be used, including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP), or transurethral needle ablation (TUNA). |
| Engaging in sexual intercourse when the prostate is infected and irritated may further irritate the prostate and delay recovery. |
Vitamin For Life Recommended Regimen and cost:
|
Product No. 59618- |
Description |
Comments |
Cost |
|
624-18 NP |
Prosta-Aid Complex w/ Saw Palmetto & Pygeum & pumpkin seed oil softgels |
Take 1 softgel 3 times daily |
$9.80/120 |
|
982-15 |
One a Day Maximum Tabs. |
As directed on label. |
$6.95/100 |
|
891-15 |
Vitamin B Complex Tabs. |
1 tablet 3 times daily |
$6.95/100 |
|
836-15 |
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 50 mg. Tabs. |
1 tablet twice daily. |
$3.35/100 |
|
923-15 |
Zinc gluconate (chelated) 50 mg. Tabs. |
1 tablet daily. |
$3.64/100 |
|
236-15 |
Selenium 200 mcg. tabs. |
1 tablet daily. |
$5.95/100 |
|
232-15 |
Magnesium 200 mg. caps. |
As directed on label. |
$4.95/100 |
|
234-15 |
Vitamin E 400 IU (D-alpha tocopheryl) softgels |
1 tablet daily |
$8.95/100 |
|
111-15 |
Flaxseed oil 1000 mg. softgels |
As directed on label. |
$7.95/100 |
|
978-15 |
Garlic 400 mg. odor free tabs. |
1 or 2 tablets 3 times daily |
$5.50/100 |
Sources:
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2nd Edition
By James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.
Smart Medicine for Healthier Living
By Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreen, M.D., James B. LaValle, R.Ph.
Prevention’s Healing with Vitamins
By the Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books
