Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Overview

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy, or simply BPH, is a commonly-occurring condition among men 45 years and older. By age 45, approximately 50 percent of all males in the United States have some degree of BPH. It is characterized by an enlarged and/or inflamed prostate gland that makes normal urination difficult. The prostate gland, which is located at the base of the bladder and surrounds the urethra, produces substances that protect and enhance the functions of sperm cells, and also helps to protect the entire genitourinary system against infection and disease.

By age seventy, 80% of all men in the U.S. experience BPH. As a result, most conventional physicians consider it to be a natural consequence of aging, a view that is disputed by practitioners of natural medicine.

Symptoms

The most common early signs of BPH are an increased need to urinate, especially at night. As the condition progresses, being able to urinate can become increasingly difficult, both in terms of beginning and stopping. Other symptoms include dribbling, burning sensations while urinating, and having the sensation that the bladder is not completely emptied despite recent urination. In some cases, infections of the bladder, kidneys, or prostate (prostatitis) can also occur, as can urinary incontinence, which is estimated to affect as many as three percent of all men who suffer from BPH. In certain cases, BPH can be so severe that complete urination becomes impossible, posing the risk of kidney failure.

Caution: If you experience symptoms of BPH along with any of the following symptoms—bone pain, blood in the urine, and/or inexplicable weight loss—seek prompt medical attention.

Causes

BPH is caused by the abnormal overgrowth or swelling of prostate tissue. As this occurs, eventually it begins to block the opening of the bladder, known as the urethra. One of the primary causes of prostate tissue overgrowth is changes in hormone levels, specifically a reduction in testosterone and an increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more active form of testosterone that is associated with increased risk of both BPH and prostate cancer. Because of this, many holistic physicians regard BPH as prostate cancer that is waiting to happen.

The increase in DHT is due to a hormone known as prolactin that is produced by the pituitary gland. As prolactin is secreted, it triggers activity of the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. Chronically excessive production of prolactin therefore can play a significant role in the onset and progression of BPH. Prolactin production is known to increase during times of emotional stress and alcohol production, particularly beer. Chronic constipation can also cause or contribute to BPH and exacerbate its symptoms.

Other factors that can cause or worsen BPH include poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxins, and congestion in the lymphatic system, especially in the lymph nodes that surround the prostate gland.

Prevention
Prevention is the best approach for dealing with BPH, as well as for all other male health conditions associated with the prostate and male sex organs. This includes having a regular (yearly) physical examination with both a digital rectal exam and, for men over 40, a blood test to determine your PSA (prostate specific antigen) score, which screens for signs of prostate enlargement. (Note: The PSA test is also commonly used to screen for prostate cancer, but in recent years has been found to be ineffective for this purpose, to the point where even its developer no longer recommends that it be used as a marker for prostate cancer.) Other useful diagnostic tests you can consider, depending on your symptoms, include urinalysis, ultrasound, and other blood tests that can help determine you immune status. Hormone testing should also be considered for all men over 40 years old.

Other preventive measures include eating a healthy diet, proper nutritional supplementation, and regular (at least three times per week) exercise. In addition, practice safe sex, using a condom to avoid infection.

Do

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Diet

Avoid foods that are high in unhealthy saturated fats and low in fiber.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, simple carbohydrates, sugars and sugar products, hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated fats and oils, margarine, shortening, and all processed and commercial “junk” food.

Instead, emphasize a diet of organic whole foods, with plenty of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, oats, whole grains, nuts and seeds, especially pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Minimize your intake of red meat, but be sure to consume adequate amounts of organic, free-range poultry and wild-caught fish.

Throughout the day, also drink plenty of pure, filtered water, and avoid drinking—as well as bathing, and showering in—unfiltered tap water, because tap water contains heavy metals and pesticide residues that can settle in high concentrations in the prostate gland, causing a variety of prostate problems.

Also avoid foods that are overly spicy.

To avoid adding further toxicity to your system also adhere to the following:

Do not consume any artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda, NutraSweet or Aspartame

Do not consume high fructose corn syrup or mono-sodium glutamate.

Do not drink any carbonated beverages.

Avoid all fast food restaurants.

Avoid all canned food.

Eliminate conventional dairy products. The best dairy products are raw, unpasteurised and homogenised dairy from grass fed cows. If this is unavailable, then buy organic dairy.

Supplements:

Take Vitamin D3 50,000-100,000 International Units a day: -for periods of 4 weeks at a time.
Wholefood supplements are the best way of ensuring your nutritional needs are met. The best we know on the market is Kevin Trudeau’s “KT Daily” product. You can find more details here.
Take an Omega 3 supplement:

Krill oil –

Fish oil

Cod liver oil

Vegetarian –

Useful nutrients for treating and preventing BPH include vitamin B3 (niacin), B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, and zinc.
The amino acid L-arginine is also recommended, as are alpha-lipoic acid and a trace mineral formula, evening primrose oil, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Garlic capsules, acidophilus, and hydrochloric acid (HCl) can also be helpful, as can Wobenzyme, to help protect against inflammation.
Other helpful nutrients include the amino acids alanine, glutamic acid, and glycine, as well as beta-sitosterol.
Glandular therapy can also help to significantly relieve prostate problems. Extracts of bovine (cattle) or porcine (pig) prostatic tissue taken orally or administered intramuscularly provides essential nutrients and growth factors to the gland. Glandular therapy can also help protect against circulating auto-antibodies caused by infection and diminished immune function.

Prescription and non-prescription medication:

What non-prescription and prescription drugs are you taking? Your non-prescription and prescription drugs are partially the reason that you have this illness or disease – you need to get off these medications but do so only under the guidance of a licensed health care practitioner.

Mind

We know that when the body is out of balance, energy doesn’t flow, leading blockages and eventually disease. Here are some things you can do to combat stress and restore balance:

Go to a Dr. Morter BEST (Bio-Energetic Synchronisation Technique) Practitioner
Sign up for Energetic Re-Balancing: 2 practitioners to consider are:
- Stephen Lewis, founder of the Aim Program. Find out more by clicking here
- . Find out more by clicking here
Consider using Mary Millers Iching System Products – ichingsystemsinstruments.com
Reiki healing is very powerful in releasing stress and emotional baggage. Find a practitioner here
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has had remarkable results in dissolving stress. Find a local practitioner here or go to www.thetappingsolution.com or www.tftrx.com
Try Hypnotherapy to relax the mind. Find a practitioner here