Herbal Treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia BPH
A Little-Known Herbal Cure for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia BPH (Enlarged Prostate)
An often-ignored plant extract provides relief for a common aging annoyance: enlarged prostrate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
If you or someone you know suffers from an enlarged prostate, you are not alone! Half of men over the age of 50 struggle with this condition, and the chances of diagnosis increase to 80% in males aged 80 and up.
What Causes Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia BPH?
As you age prostate cells multiply like wildfire, causing a bloating that covers up the bladder opening and puts uncomfortable pressure on the urethra. Symptoms include slow urination, a weak urinary stream, and increased frequency of and urge to urinate, especially at night. An untreated enlarged prostate can lead to more serious health problems, including urinary tract infections and kidney damage.
The medical establishment in the United States tends to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH with pharmaceutical drugs, such as Proscar, which has proven side effects, such as impotence, reduced sex drive, allergic reactions and testicular pain. There is a natural (and very inexpensive) herbal cure, however, that has shown the same promising results as prescription drugs without the nasty side effects.
Found in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, beta-sitosterol is a plant sterol very similar to cholesterol. In fact, this natural plant extract substance has been shown to significantly lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Successful Herbal Treatment Used in Europe For Decades
High concentrations of beta-sitosterol are found in the saw palmetto and pygeum plants, as well as stinging nettle and pumpkin seeds. The average American gets approximately 200 to 400mg of this nutrient daily, too insignificant an amount to have any medicinal effect unless fortified by beta-sitosterol supplements.
Beta-sitosterol supplements have been used in Europe to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH and prostate concerns for several decades and with much success. There have also been many studies documenting the success of this herbal cure to heal an enlarged prostate. One double blind, 6-month study of 200 men found that those who took a daily supplement of 180 mg of beta-sitosterol experienced stronger urine flow and decreased urine retention, compared to the placebo group who showed no improvement.
A review of 4 studies measuring the effect of this natural substance on prostate health confirmed such findings, suggesting that beta-sitosterol lowered symptom scores by 35%, increased urinary flow rates by 34% and urine retention rates by 24%.
Studies have also implied that beta-sitosterol just might reduce the spread of prostate cancer cells, but such studies are not yet conclusive as they were conducted on either animals or isolated cancer cells.
While the success of this herbal cure is undeniable, we still do not know exactly HOW beta-sitosterol helps treat an enlarged prostate. Nonetheless, researchers and scientists have ventured well-purported theories.
One hypothesis is that beta-sitosterol supplements inhibits the formation of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for stimulating the growth of prostate cells. Prescription drugs work to block the conversion of testosterone to DHT, so it follows that beta-sitosterol may work in the same manner.
It is also proposed that the oils in beta-sitosterol have an anti-inflammatory effect that prevents swelling. Such a theory makes sense considering marathon runners often use this plant extract to decrease pain and swelling. Beta-sitosterol also promotes prostate health by limiting the absorption of cholesterol, thereby thwarting enlargement.
Although not as popular in the United States as in Europe, beta-sitosterol supplements are just as prevalent. Companies such as Healthy Choice Naturals and neo-Prostate B-400 offer safe and effective beta-sitosterol supplements that reduce the symptoms of BPH naturally, easily and painlessly.
