Treatment for prostate enlargement

Treatment of prostate enlargement is required only if the symptoms are severe and disrupt the patient’s life routine. Patients with mild symptoms may not need treatment other than continued observation to ensure their condition does not worsen. This tactic is occasionally called “watchful waiting” or observing.

Different methods are offered to treat prostate enlargement, including drugs, minimally invasive therapies, and surgery. The best treatment choice for you will depend on several factors, including:

• The size of your prostate
• Your age
• Your overall health

Traditional Western treatment for enlarged prostate

• Catheterization: This procedure is necessary as emergency relief in the case of urine
• Transurethral microwave procedures. This method uses a unique device – Prostatron, which applies microwaves to a prostate gland and destroys the excess prostate tissue.
• Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) is the treatment system that brings radiofrequency currents and burns the area of the gland’s enlargement.
• Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgical removal of the obstructing tissues
• Complete prostate gland removal is recommended in cases where the hyperplasia of the prostate gland is entirely out of control and when signs of malignization are registered based on clinical and lab assessments.
• Laser surgery. Surgical procedures that apply the energy of the YAG laser to vanquish the extra tissues.

Below, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of different traditional approaches to BPH treatment

Medicines for the treatment of prostate enlargement

Medications are the most common treatment for prostate enlargement if the disease manifests with mild to moderate symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Options include:

Alpha-Blockers.

These medications relax the bladder, neck muscles, and prostate muscle fibers, making urination easier. Alpha-blockers, which include alfuzosin (Uroxatral), doxazosin (Cardura), tamsulosin (Flomax), and silodosin (Rapaflo), usually work quickly in men with relatively small prostates. Side effects can include dizziness and a harmless condition in which semen returns to the bladder instead of exiting the tip of the penis (retrograde ejaculation).

5-alpha reductase inhibitors.

 These drugs reduce the prostate, preventing hormonal changes that cause prostate growth. Those drugs, such as finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart), can take up to half a year to take effect. Side effects include retrograde ejaculation, a form of erectile dysfunction.

Combined drug therapy.

Your doctor may recommend taking an alpha-blocker and a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor simultaneously if either drug alone is ineffective.

Tadalafil (Cialis).

Studies suggest that this medication, often used to treat erectile dysfunction, can also treat prostate enlargement.

Surgical approach for treatment for enlarged prostate

Transurethral electrospray

This technique uses electrical energy from an electrode to heat prostate tissue quickly, turning tissue cells into vapor. This allows the doctor to spray an area of the enlarged tissue and relieve the urinary blockage.

GreenLight ™ laser

This method removes access to prostate tissue with the help of a green laser. It causes less bleeding throughout and after the procedure.

If your symptoms are tolerable, you can postpone treatment and monitor your symptoms. In some men, symptoms may subside without treatment.

Several types of surgery can be used to remove prostate tissue that is blocking the flow of urine, including:

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

The urologist removes the tissue blocking the urethra with a unique instrument. Side effects of surgical treatment may include:

• bleeding,
• infection,
• impotence (inability to maintain a sex-appropriate erection),
• incontinence (inability to control the flow of urine), and
• retrograde ejaculation.

Transurethral Prostate Incision (TUIP)

The urologist makes two small incisions in the neck of the bladder (where the urethra and bladder meet) and in the prostate to widen the urethra to improve urine flow.

Minimally invasive treatments for BPH

New treatments for BPH that are less invasive and less harmful to healthy tissue than surgery have been developed. In general, minimally invasive procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, resulting in fewer side effects, being less costly, and allowing for faster recovery. The most common side effects reported for these methods of treatment are:

• urinary frequency and
• irritation during prostate healing.

As these techniques are new, little information about their usefulness and long-term complications is available.

Urethral Prostate Elevation – UroLift

The urethral prostate elevation is a procedure that separates the enlarged lobes of the prostate to make the urethra wider so that it is easier to urinate. The urologist’s surgeon inserts a unique tool into the urethra and pushes it onward. When the tool reaches the lateral wall of the prostate, it ejects small, thin implants on both sides of the prostate, pulling the urethra and prostate to open the canal. Depending on the size of the prostate, the urologist will place 2 to 6 implants.

Water vapor therapy

The urologist inserts an instrument into the urethra and moves it toward the prostate. The instrument injects a needle into the prostate and emits steam. In the prostate, the steam transforms into water, and the heat energy that the water produces kills the prostate cells. The patient reabsorbs dead cells, and the prostate shrinks.

Embolization

In this experimental procedure, blood flow to or from the prostate is selectively blocked, causing the prostate to shrink. There is no long-term data on the effectiveness of this procedure.

Prostate gland anatomy and physiology.

The prostate gland is one of the most vulnerable and weak organs in a man’s body. This gland is ruddy-brown and as small as an English walnut. The prostate gland influences the body’s physical condition and disturbs nighttime sleep by calling for more than a few trips to the lavatory during the evening. Also, an enlarged prostate can kill an individual by generating toxic uremic substances.

In elderly men, an enlarged prostate gland becomes a convenient place for cancer development. The prostate gland is one of the most important organs for a healthy sexual life. This organ stores seminal fluid and prostate juice, essential for a man’s fertility. All of the components (fats, carbohydrates, enzymes, and proteins) required for nourishing the sperm are present in healthy seminal fluid, which the prostate gland produces. This prostate juice also defends sperm from the acidity of the vagina and creates a water-like environment for spermatozoids to swim in.

During an ejaculation, testicles deliver 150–200 million spermatozoids, and the prostate fluid transports them toward the egg.

What is BPH?

While the prostate gland ages, it develops from the size of an almond in teenagers to the scale of a walnut in adults. In medical terminology, it is called BPH or Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.

The small part of the urinary conduit, aka urethra, that drains the bladder runs through the gland. That’s why any prostate enlargement (inflammation, tumor, or cyst) may obstruct the urine flow by squeezing the urethra.

In cases of complete blockage, the urine flows back to the bladder, creating a depot of thick liquid in which bacteria can successfully grow, causing severe chronic forms of inflammation, retention, and, as a result, hydronephrosis.

In a mature man, the gland typically weighs approximately 20 grams.  Almost 75 percent of prostate size and weight advances between the ages of 15 and 22 as a result of hormonal deviations related to sexual development. The gland doubles in weight and size during this period of man’s life.

Regrettably, 60 percent of men after age forty suffer from non-threatening enlargement of the prostate gland, aka Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

Some scientists describe BPH in men as a stage of body development similar to menopause in women. However, the symptoms are entirely different.

The chief complaint that BPH patients report is a progressive decline in the ability to urinate as the prostate gland expands and compresses the urethra.

Symptoms of enlarged prostate

1. The urgency to urinate as a result of stretching of the vesical sphincter
2. Drooling
3. UTI
4. Men need to wait for urination to begin, and straining does not help
5. Stream is feeble with the tendency to stop (starts and drops)
6. Dull pain as a result of acute retention of urine
7. A sensation of pressure in the lower stomach area
8. Chance of Hematuria
9. Renal failure

International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS).

The primary purpose of IPSS is to summarize and confirm answers to inquiries related to the conditions of UTIs in general and the prostate gland. Seven questions, aka IPSS, have been implemented everywhere in the world. The result of the IPSS survey delivers duplicable and measurable figures on the subject of complaints and reactions to the healing process for BPH. Each inquiry lets a patient decide on 1 of 6 responses representing the growing harshness of symptoms on a scale of 0–5.

Natural treatment for enlarged prostate

You can try some options that have been found to help treat an enlarged prostate that doesn’t include prescription drugs or surgery. However, remember that while natural remedies can help ease the discomfort, you should still discuss your situation with a urologist. Speaking to a doctor before starting a new supplement is essential because the label “natural” does not always mean it is safe or effective.

One of the best natural remedies for an enlarged prostate is to lead a healthy lifestyle. When you ensure that your diet is filled with nutrient-dense foods and that you get enough exercise, you will be less likely to develop severe symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Traditional treatments for an enlarged prostate are described above, but they can have unpleasant side effects that lead many men to seek alternatives.

Living with an enlarged prostate

Changing only a lifestyle sometimes may help relieve prostate enlargement symptoms and avoid further illness development and deterioration.

I usually advise my patients to:

1. Limit the intake of liquids in the late afternoon and nighttime. Stop consuming fluids, including soups, water, soda, alcohol, tea, coffee, etc., 2-3 hours before bedtime.
2. Avoid overfilling the bladder. Don’t allow your bladder to overfill. Please do your best to empty it every time you are urinating. Sometimes, urinating in a sitting position makes this process easier.
3. Limit spirit consumption. Liquors escalate urine manufacturing and often cause urination.
4. Avoid over-the-counter cold medicines. Some decongestants lead to spasms of sphincters, which makes urination more challenging.
5. Stay active. Physical activities, including walking and jogging, advance blood circulation in the pelvic area and thus improve the functions of the bladder wall muscles, sphincters, and urethra.
6. Avoid cold environments. A cold temperature may result in urine retention due to the spasm of the band muscles of the bladder.

Ayurvedic medicine: herbal treatment for enlarged prostate

The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any herbal medication for the treatment of prostate enlargement.

Studies of herbal treatments for prostate enlargement have had mixed results. One study found that palmetto extract effectively relieves BPH symptoms, although prostate volumes were significantly reduced.

Other herbal treatments for BPH, including beta-sitosterol, pygeum, and ryegrass extracts, have been suggested to help reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. However, these treatments’ long-term safety and effectiveness have not been proven.

If you take herbal remedies, tell your doctor. Some herbal products may increase your risk of bleeding or interfere with other medications you are taking.

The most commonly used herbs for BPH are:

Pygeum

This herbal remedy comes from an African plum tree and has been used for centuries for urinary problems such as UTIs and the treatment of enlarged prostate.

Saw palmetto  

Saw palmetto is an herbal supplement traditionally used by Ayurveda medicine practitioners to relieve urinary symptoms, especially those associated with an enlarged prostate.

Beta-sitosterol

This natural supplement made from a combination of plants has been suggested to help relieve urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate after several studies have been carried out.

Rye Grass Pollen Extract (Cernilton)

Cernilton is made from rye, timothy grass, and corn pollen and has been suggested to help improve nocturnal symptoms of an enlarged prostate, such as urinating. It is usually sold in supplement aisles in pharmacies and health food stores.

Nettle

The hairs of this plant can cause severe pain, but when used as medicine, they can sometimes help improve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

Babaçu

Babaçu, also known as Orbignya speciose, is a type of palm found in Brazil that helps treat urogenital symptoms and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Pumpkin Seeds

Each pumpkin seed contains beta-sitosterol, which Western medicine practitioners advise to improve urine flow and lessen the volume of urine left in the bladder after urination.

Lycopene

This tomato juice ingredient makes them look orange or red. This natural pigment can help slow the progression of prostate enlargement.

Zinc deficiencies have been shown to contribute to the likelihood of developing enlarged prostate symptoms, so adding a zinc supplement can help reduce your risk factors.

Green Tea: Green tea antioxidants are great for the whole body, but catechins can help slow the progression of prostate cancer and other urological diseases.

Acupuncture near me—an ancient Chinese treatment for enlarged prostate

Most men will deal with BPH during the aging process, but there are steps you can take to minimize prostate problems. If you are experiencing prostate pain, the urge to urinate, urinate more often, or cannot empty your bladder, it may be worth trying acupuncture and herbs to help with prostate enlargement.

Researchers have found that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine effectively relieve urinary retention caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition often called prostate enlargement. Benign prostatic hyperplasia usually leads to disorders of the bladder, kidneys, and urinary tract.

Researchers at Kaifeng City Central Hospital have confirmed that electroacupuncture works very well as a stand-alone treatment for prostate enlargement in people who have trouble holding their urine because of benign prostatic hyperplasia. As a supplementary method of patient care, the same research crew found a combination of finasteride with the patented drug Qian Lie An Tong Pian (Prostate Harmonizing Pills) effective in treating urinary retention due to an enlarged prostate. The results were published in a research article entitled Observations on the Therapeutic Effect of Electroacupuncture on Urinary Retention Due to an Enlarged Prostate.

Unlike medical treatments for BPH, acupuncture has no downside for male health problems. Dr. Tsan and Dr. Galanter of the Art of Philadelphia Holistic Clinic have over 30 years of experience helping men improve their fertility and sexual health.

Homeopathic Treatment for prostate enlargement

Of course, the most effective homeopathic treatment practitioner should follow the rules of individuality, the “like cures like” philosophy, and the holistic approach.

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BPH is a medical disorder that distorts any physician’s strategy because, in this case, the patient’s symptoms prevail.

Ill individuals are usually so distressed and uncomfortable that they recognize the significance of their general, personal, and constitutional symptoms.

That’s why many homeopathic physicians start treatment with the symptomatic approach to relieve significant symptoms of the disease using palliative tactics, and only after the symptoms diminish do they administer constitutional remedies for enduring, lasting relief.

A homeopath may find mixed miasmas in the BPH patient. However, sycosis plays an essential part in this disease.

So, when homeopaths switch from palliative to constitutional treatment, the following remedies appear at the top of the list:

SABAL SERRULATA ( SAW PALMETTO)

In recent times, medical writings have delivered a greater than before backing for the administration of natural ingredients that avert the advanced development of the hyperplasia of the prostate gland (BPH).  Saw palmetto is undoubtedly an acknowledged herbal medicine for the treatment for prostate enlargement. It is a vegetable that grows in the USA.  Naturopathic practitioners have used this medicinal herb for over two hundred years. According to medical publications dating from the beginning of the 19th century, saw palmetto is a medicinal herb. Based on clinical medical studies, this plant extract relieves symptoms related to the reproduction system in both men and women, and the range of these symptoms is from prostate enlargement (hyperplasia) to menstrual discomfort in the OB-GYN clinic. The extract of this medicinal plant prevents testosterone from transforming into dihydrotestosterone, which causes the proliferation of the prostate cells, resulting in an enlarged prostate.

Saw Palmetto stops androgen and estrogen receptors and thus stimulates vigorous hair growth. This herb also reduces dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentration in the bloodstream, preventing baldness. Because of its hormonal effect, it can aid the thyroid in regulating sexual development and normalizing the activity of those glands and organs.

The following properties of Saw Palmetto make this herb one of the most recognized in the naturopathic clinic:

• Treats an enlarged prostate
• Reduces urges to urinate, especially at night.
• Bedwetting
• Atonia of the bladder sphincter muscle
• Painful or difficult urination
• UTI
• It applies its healing ability to membrane-prostatic fragments of the urethra

THUJA OCCIDENTALIS ( ARBOR VITAE )

I recommend using Thuja to cure the following conditions:

• Sycotic dyscrasia on the reproductive-urinary system;
• Sycotic discomforts: muscles and joints aches;
• Surplus of Hydrogen and as a result of H2O in the bloodstream and fleshy tissue;
• Rapid weight loss, skinniness, and tiredness;
• An overstated conception, certainty, or false impression that continues, regardless of proof to the contrary, and governs the thoughts and emotions;
• Enlarged prostate;
• Gonorrhea in the past;
• Inflammation of the glans and foreskin (the crease of skin that hides the glans of the penis);
• Infection in urethra with swelling and divided urine stream;
• The feeling of itching in the urethra next to urination
• The necessity to urinate is impulsive and imperative; the patient can’t stop the urge;
• Recurrent urges to urinate;
• Pain in the pelvic area.

PETROSELINUM ( PARSLEY )

Parsley is a prevalent herb used in most cuisines but is native to the Mediterranean coast of South-Western Europe, North Africa, and Asia (Greece, Italy, Turkey, Egipt, etc.). In these countries, parsley has been grown for more than two thousand years and used for medical purposes before it was used as food. In old Greece, the population held this herb to be blessed. Petroselinum crispum, aka Parsley contains flavonoids—specifically flavones apigenin, quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol. These elements are potent antioxidants, especially with highly responsive oxygen-containing radicals. Thus, parsley helps to avoid oxygen-based destruction of prostate cells. Also, parsley extract increases the antioxidant volume in the blood.

The most similar symptoms for Petroselinum (Parsley) are:

• Piping sensation, along with stinging from the perineum through the urethra
• The abrupt necessity to urinate
• Unexpected irresistible desire to urinate
• Intense stinging and irritation deep in the urethra
• White and creamy discharge

HYDRANGEA ( SEVEN BARKS )

Naturopathic physicians and herbalists have used hydrangea for centuries as an effective treatment for prostate enlargement. They also often combine hydrangea with horsetail for better and faster results. Hydrangea is one of the best botanical medicines for pain due to nephrological medical disorders. Impressive, but Hydrangea can resize kidney stones and make them smaller.

Hydrangea is rich in silica and thus essential to preserving the flexibility of kidney filtering pipes. Arteries are vital for proper blood circulation through the filtering tubules of each kidney. I prescribe Hydrangea if, during an assessment, I find the following symptoms and modalities:

• Prostate enlargement
• Urine work shows rich sediments of white, unstructured obstacles in urine.
• Scorching in the urethra and recurrent needs to urinate;
• A patient experiences difficulties in starting urination;
• Acute discomfort in the groin area
• A great deal of thirstiness accompanies an enlarged prostate

Holistic Treatment for Prostate Enlargement in Philadelphia

If you are experiencing difficulties urinating and think you may have symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or have other symptoms of concern, call your doctor immediately. BPH requires a proper diagnosis to ensure that the right treatment is given. Discomfort is how your body says something is wrong, so don’t force yourself unnecessarily out of fear of diagnosing an enlarged prostate.  The holistic approach and treatment protocol for the treatment of an enlarged prostate considers the severity of symptoms, the size of the prostate gland, and the overall medical condition. Homeopathic medicine is a  treatment modality of choice. However, discussing each case with a urologist for an accurate diagnosis is essential. Homeopathic remedies are natural, harmless, and easy to take.

Medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and homeopathy reduce urination regularity, improve the urine stream, and prevent the development of UTIs.

To make an appointment for the initial evaluation and treatment for prostate enlargement and discuss with Doctor Tsan if homeopathic treatment is the right choice for you, call Philadelphia Homeopathic Clinic at (267) 403-3085

You can also schedule your appointment online using our mobile scheduling application.