Prostatitis

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Naturopathic Treatment

Prostatitis can be difficult to treat. Acute, chronic, or nonbacterial prostatitis are inflammatory and/or infectious conditions that can be treated naturally with lifestyle changes, nutritional support, herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

The key to this approach is the elimination of inflammatory agents from the diet while supplementing with anti-inflammatory nutrients, foods, and herbs. Naturopathic methods may be applied with antibiotics and may even improve their effectiveness.

Nutrition

• Eat whole, fresh, unrefined, and unprocessed foods. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, soy, beans, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, halibut, and mackerel). Eating organic food helps reduce exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and hormones.
• Avoid sugar, dairy products, refined foods, fried foods, junk foods, and caffeine.
• Eliminate food sensitivities. Use an elimination and challenge diet to determine food sensitivities.
• Drink 50% of your body weight in ounces of water daily (e.g., if you weigh 150 lbs, drink 75 oz of water daily).

Supplements

Supplements are intended to provide nutritional support. Because a supplement or a recommended dose may not be appropriate for all persons, a physician (e.g., a licensed naturopathic physician or holistic MD or DO) should be consulted before using any product.

Recommended doses follow:

• Bromelain (proteolytic enzymes) - Take 400 mg 3 times daily away from meals. Proteolytic enzymes have anti-inflammatory properties and can potentize the effectiveness of antibiotics.
• Vitamin C - Take 500-1000 mg 3 times daily.
• Vitamin E - Take 400 IUs daily.
• Flaxseed meal - Grind 2-4 tablespoons daily. Flaxseed meal is a better choice due to its fiber, lignan, and vitamin content, but flaxseed oil (1 tbsp daily) can be substituted.
• Probiotics-If antibiotics are taken, supplement with probiotics, such as acidophilus, to replenish the beneficial gut flora.
• Quercetin - Has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Selenium - Is an antioxidant. May be more effective when taken with vitamin E.
• Zinc - Take 30 mg daily. Zinc is vital to the health of the prostate, which concentrates and secretes zinc. Zinc also prevents infections.

Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicines usually do not have side effects when used appropriately and at suggested doses. Occasionally, an herb at the prescribed dose causes stomach upset or a headache. This may reflect the purity of the preparation or added ingredients, such as synthetic binders or fillers. For this reason, it is recommended that only high-quality products be used. As with all medications, more is not better and overdosing can lead to serious illness and death.

These herbs may be used to treat prostatitis and associated urinary tract infections:

• Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) - Acts as a diuretic and antiseptic for the urinary tract system.
• Echinacea and goldenseal - Used to treat infections due to their antiviral and antibacterial properties.
• Flower pollen extract - Follow product directions. It has been used in Europe for over 25 years to treat prostatitis. Flower pollen is not the same as bee pollen.
• Pellitory of the Wall (Parietaria diffusa) - Has anti-inflammatory action in the urinary tract.
• Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) - Provides a tonic effect on the prostate and the urinary tract.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Acupuncture and TCM have been used to treat prostatitis symptoms for over 2000 years. TCM diagnosis is used to identify the specific disease pattern by analyzing symptoms, such as pain, cloudy urine, painful urination, and reduced urine flow, and to develop an acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment plan.

Generally, prostatitis develops when the body's energy (Qi) becomes stagnant or does not flow properly. Dampness and Heat may also contribute to the condition. Acupuncture and TCM can be used to help the Qi flow throughout the body, particularly the lower abdomen and sacral region. The goals of TCM prostatitis treatment are to eliminate pain and decrease inflammation.

Acupuncture points for chronic prostatitis are located on the lower abdomen, lower back, sacrum, and legs. In some cases, electroacupuncture (involves mild electrical impulses through acupuncture needles) and moxibustion (application of heat from burning herbs to targeted areas) may also be used. Improvement often is gradual and long lasting.

Studies have shown that acupuncture and TCM are safe and effective complements to standard treatment. In one study, patients who received treatments twice a week for 6 weeks experienced an overall improvement in their quality of life, a decrease in urinary problems, and improved urinary function.

Prostatitis, Alternative Treatment reprinted with permission from urologychannel.com
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