There are three primary prostate issues that men deal with in life:

1. Prostatitis, which is an infection of the prostate gland (common in younger men)
2. Benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), which gradually blocks urine flow as the prostate enlarges over time (common in older men)
3. Prostate cancer, which if not diagnosed early enough for proper treatment, may lead to death within ten years from the time of diagnosis

The prostate is a gland that produces fluid for ejaculation. If the prostate gland enlarges because of an infection, BPH, or a tumor, it typically decreases urine flow, increases urine frequency (especially bothersome during the night), and can also increase the urge to urinate.

If you have symptoms, it is imperative you see a physician to clarify which of these three diagnoses you might have prior to starting any therapies on your own.

Prostatitis

If the prostate becomes infected, men typically have symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and/or hesitancy. If this worsens, it can lead to fever plus scrotal and/or back pain. Nobody knows for sure why men get prostate infections.

A diagnosis of prostatitis is usually made during a physician medical visit with an appropriate history, and digital rectal exam. With prostatitis, the prostate usually feels soft (like a soft sponge), enlarged, and sometimes hot like an abscess. A urine test may or may not be ordered depending on the situation. If a PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test is ordered, prostatitis often results in a high PSA count, which does not mean cancer necessarily. In my clinic, I avoid ordering a PSA when a man has acute prostatitis symptoms. A month after treating prostatitis successfully, typically the PSA will return back to normal, and that is a better time to check the PSA level.

Treatment includes prescribing an antibiotic for 7 to 21 days depending upon the clinical history. I do not know of any “proven” herbal agents or lifestyle treatments that will help resolve this problem. Untreated, the concern is that it will progress and increase the chance of developing recurrent prostatitis. Prostatitis is not related to getting prostate cancer. If you receive a course of antibiotics, then I always suggest taking a probiotic course for 1-2 months to bring your healthy intestinal flora back to normal.

Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (BPH)

If men live long enough, most will eventually develop prostate enlargement to the point that it impacts urine flow; research suggests 88% of men develop this by age 88.

Herbal agents have been shown in randomized clinical trials to improve symptoms from BPH. Most effective has been Saw Palmetto, but Pygeum and Nettle have also shown some promise. If you have seen your physician and the diagnosis of BPH has been confirmed, then Prostate Supremeis an excellent option for this condition.

If you would like additional therapy, then talk to your physician about medication options, including Finasteride (Proscar).

Prostate Cancer

If you have prostate cancer, then you need medical consultation, which is far beyond the scope of this website. If you are aiming to prevent prostate cancer, I’d highly suggest you take the following steps:

1. Eat at least one cup of marinara sauce per week (for the lycopene)
2. Enjoy 1 cup of cruciferous vegetables daily (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, bok choy), as these foods improve hormone metabolism
3. Take curcumin (an extract from the curry spice called turmeric) 400-500 mg daily; ensure you take a high quality curcumin product that is well absorbed.
4. Ensure your blood sugar levels are normal (less than 95 mg/dl) since elevated blood sugar levels promote cancer cell growth, especially prostate cancer
5. Ensure you have an annual exam with your physician including a digital rectal exam and a PSA level after age 40 so that if you are ever diagnosed with prostate cancer you have multiple therapy options available. Once you have advanced cancer, your therapy options become very minimal. Many national health agencies don’t promote prostate cancer screening because screening for prostate cancer has not been shown to be cost effective, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid it.