BPH Treatment by Ray Sahelian, M.D. benign prostatic hyperplasia

BPH is very common in older men. Therapy options for BPH include natural herbs and supplements, pharmaceutical drugs, and surgery. It may be a good option to first try natural approaches before resorting to drugs or surgery. There is a significant overlap between PSA levels found in prostate cancer and BPH.

Natural Treatment options for BPH

A diet rich in vegetables reduces the occurrence of BPH. The following herbs and nutrients could potentially be helpful in BPH:

Saw Palmetto extract. You can purchase Saw-Palmetto here or, another option is Prostate Power Rx which is a doctor formulated prostate health formula which has saw palmetto and several other herbs and nutrients.
Stinging Nettle
Quercetin is a flavonoid
Rosemary
Pygeum Africanum herb has been studied in BPH treatment.
Daidzein
Genistein
Lycopene is an extract from tomatoes and pink grapefruit
Pomegranate
Pumpkin seeds have been touted in some books and health magazine articles, but little human research is available regarding the consumption of pumpkin seeds and BPH treatment.

Medical options for treatment of symptomatic BPH include:

1) the 5alpha-reductase inhibitors finasteride and dutasteride. The 5alpha-reductase inhibitors are effective in the long-term, especially in men with large prostates, and reduce the clinical progression of BPH, and further reduce the long-term risk of urinary retention and need for surgical intervention.

2) the alpha1-adrenergic antagonists doxazocin, terazosin, tamsulosin, and alfuzosin. Alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists relax the smooth muscle of the bladder neck and prostate, thereby decreasing the resistance to urine flow and increasing peak urinary flow and improving lower urinary tract symptoms. The alpha1-adrenergic antagonists are effective in the short-term, and reduce clinical progression of BPH, but do not reduce the long-term risk of urinary retention or need for surgical intervention.

3) the combination of a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor and a alpha1-adrenergic antagonist. The combination of a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor and a alpha1-adrenergic antagonist significantly reduces the clinical progression of BPH over either drug class alone.

BPH questions
Q. I accessed your website thru Google and am impressed by what I read. I would like to start taking Prostate Power Rx for my BPH condition. However, as I am also on Hytrin (terozosin) 1 mg a day on alternate days - is it okay to take both Saw Palmetto and Prostate Power with Hytrin ?
   A. We cannot give a definite answer since that is the role of your physician, but some people do alternate one day Hytrin and one day Prostate Power Rx.

Q. Is there any reason for someone with BPH (benign enlarged prostate) not to take Passion Rx?
   A. Unless the BPH is severe, we see no reason for someone not to take Passion Rx one capsule 2 or 3 days a week. Another option is Prostate Power Rx which also has sexual enhancement properties.