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9 Herbs that Heal the Prostate

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Studies show that prostate issues will affect over 80 percent of men; but in most cases, prostate enlargement is rarely life-threatening. These 9 herbs can help improve prostate health in non-life-threatening cases of BPH and prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men, right after skin cancer. Prostate cancer, for the most part, however, is not a life-threatening disease. According to the American Cancer Society, about one in six men will get prostate cancer, but only about one in every thirty-six men will die from prostate cancer.

A new study from the University of California Los Angeles in 2013 showed that in most cases, prostate cancer is slow-growing enough, that when older men get the disease, they are more likely to die from another cause than from the prostate cancer itself. The study looked at the survival rate of 3,000 men over the age of 60 with prostate cancer over a 14-year period. Men with stage 1 or 2 prostate cancer had only a 3 percent chance of dying from prostate cancer within the 14-year period. Men with stage 3 or 4 cancer had an 18 percent chance of dying from the cancer within the 14-year period.

In contrast, the risk of dying from some other health concern like diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, or arthritis was 40 percent for men younger than 75 and 71 percent for men older than 75.

So, what does this mean for prostate cancer treatments? Based on these findings, many researchers are now recommending that men do not treat prostate cancer using traditional medical cancer treatments unless the cancer is highly progressed, particularly if the man is older than age 60. However, this does not mean that you should not take any action to fight prostate cancer and improve your prostate health.

Rather, alternative therapies are a highly beneficial form of treatment both for reducing existing prostate cancer and preventing prostate cancer from forming. The following 9 herbs are highly effective at promoting prostate health and fighting prostate cancer:

9 Herbs for Prostate Health
  • Red Clover or Soy Extract
  • Garlic
  • Saw Palmetto
  • Lycopene
  • Green Tea
  • Milk Thistle
  • Stinging Nettle
  • Pygeum Bark
  • Grass Pollen

Red Clover

Red clover is a supplement derived from the stems and leaves of the red clover plant. The plant is rich in the protein isoflavone, which is known for its ability to inhibit prostate tumors as well as other cancer tumors. A supplement derived from red clover known as Trinovin was shown to reduce prostate cancer symptoms by up to 23 percent, according to Web MD.

Where else can you find these isoflavones? Soy products contain high levels of isoflavones. Researchers suspect that a diet rich in soy products reduces a man’s chances of having prostate problems. Traditionally, Japanese men have few prostate issues, and researchers attribute that fact to their high dietary intake of soy products.

A 2008 study published in Urology Journal tested extracts of isoflavone in daily doses of 60 mg. After supplementing for one year, men showed an improvement of an average of 33 percent improvement in their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. PSA levels are an indicator of potential prostate problems that may lead to cancer.

Green Tea

Green tea extract may provide a huge benefit in protecting against prostate cancer. Numerous studies have indicated that green tea is a powerful antioxidant, and is particularly beneficial in warding off prostate cancer. According to research, it is the catechin Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that provides the biggest benefit in prostate cancer prevention. Catechin acts like an androgen antagonist, which suppresses the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. It also promotes prostate cancer cell death, according to the National Cancer Institute.

One 2011 study conducted in Asia looked at the difference between men who drank green tea regularly versus black tea in relation to their prostate health. According to the study, men who drank more green tea were less likely to have prostate issues. However, some people have questioned the results of these studies, simply because there are many other factors at play that were not examined by the studies.

However, most research has shown that drinking green tea or supplementing with green tea extract is highly beneficial against prostate cancer.

Garlic

Garlic is a delicious flavor-adding herb, and it is used to boost the immune system, but there is also some research that suggests that a diet high in garlic protects prostate health and function.

A 1997 study from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in the UK looked at the possibility of garlic as a protection against prostate cancer. The researchers originally wanted to examine whether the pre-associated assumptions that a diet high in fat would increase prostate cancer risk and that a diet high in beta-carotene and lycopene would reduce overall risk. The researchers looked at 18 foods and found that a diet high in garlic was one of the most statistically significant indicators for a reduction in prostate cancer risk.

Milk Thistle

Certain ingredients in milk thistle may also be helpful against prostate cancer. A 2005 study from the Research Triangle in North Carolina investigated the benefits of milk thistle against prostate cancer cells. According to the researchers, a phytochemical called isosilybin B is responsible for suppressing the growth and proliferation of prostate cancer cells. It can also suppress the genetic factor that leads to many cases of cancer. The nutrient can also inhibit the secretion of the protein that leads to prostate cancer progression and metastasis.

According to the researchers, milk thistle is a powerful supplement for preventing prostate cancer, and may even be able to reduce the size and number of existing cancer cells.

Pygeum Bark Extract

African tree bark, or pygeum bark, is a popular prostate treatment in Europe and Africa. The bark is able to reduce prostate swelling, reduce inflammation, and inhibit growth factors involved in tumor growth in the prostate. Several studies have shown that pygeum bark has antiproliferative and apoptotic properties against cancer cells, including a French study from 2006 and a 2009 study from Germany.

Use with saw palmetto and nettle for a combination treatment that is highly effective at promoting prostate health.

Grass Pollen Extract

Pollen is typically thought of as a nuisance and a cause for allergies and itchy eyes in the spring, but according to recent studies, grass pollen could be a solution for treating prostate cancer and improving prostate health.

According to some studies, taking between 80 and 120 mg of grass pollen extract daily can protect your prostate health. A study from 1988 and a study from 1993 showed that grass pollen extract is beneficial in reducing the size of BPH and improving urinary function in adult men.

An in vitro study published in the British Journal of Urology in 1990 looked at how the grass-pollen derived supplement Cernitin T-60 acted against prostate cancer cells. In the study, all prostate cancer cells were reduced or killed by the pollen extract. Other cancer cells, however, were unaffected.

Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto is the leading herbal treatment for prostate cancer and the precursor to prostate cancer benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), according to Web MD and the American Botanical Council. BPH affects about 80 percent of men after age 50. Studies have shown that saw palmetto is able to help prostate issues in about a third of patients.

According to Web MD, the herb works by blocking the hormones that cause the prostate to grow (the conversion of testosterone to DHT). Many urologists recommend saw palmetto for prostate issues due to the high chances of success and the lack of side effects.

Stinging Nettle

Stinging Nettle extract is used in Europe as a first-line treatment for BPH and other prostate issues. According to studies, stinging nettle can stop the growth of prostate cells, preventing further enlargement. A 2005 study conducted by Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Science looked at the results of supplementing with stinging nettle on prostate health. In a study of over 500 men, 81 percent scored better on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) after supplementing with stinging nettle for 6 months.

Stinging nettle does not shrink an already-enlarged prostate, according to the University of Maryland, so it is often combined with saw palmetto for maximum effectiveness at healing and shrinking an enlarged prostate. Nettle contains flavonoids, lectins, and lignans which are all helpful at preventing the growth of prostate cancer and inhibiting the spread of estrogen in the body.

Lycopene

According to the National Cancer Institute, lycopene may be effective for treating against prostate cancer as well as other forms of cancer. Lycopene inhibits the androgen receptor expression of prostate cancer cells during in vitro studies. It was also able to reduce prostate cancer cell proliferation and works as a chemopreventive effect on prostate cancer cells. The FDA has approved lycopene supplements in doses up to 120 mg.

A 2003 study conducted by the University of California showed that lycopene was effective in in vitro studies against prostate cancer cells. According to the researchers, “This might have an effect on prostate development and/or on an enlargement of prostate tissue as found in benign prostate hyperplasia, a potential precursor of prostate cancer.”

Healing the Prostate with Herbs

Since prostate is a slow-growing cancer in most cases, and over 80 percent of men will suffer from BPH or other prostate issues at some point in life, it makes sense to treat the prostate with herbal treatments. All of the above 9 treatments have been shown to positively affect the prostate, which can either reduce your chances of getting prostate cancer, slow the growth of existing prostate cancer, or even kill off cancer cells. If you want to protect the health of your prostate without side effects, herbal supplements can be extremely helpful. They are one of the best solutions to use for healing prostate issues without uncomfortable and painful side effects.

Sources


http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20030204/herbal-remedies-prostate?page=2

http://healthland.time.com/2013/05/23/older-men-should-pass-on-getting-prostate-cancer-treatment/

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/overviewguide/prostate-cancer-overview-key-statistics

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