Foods
Cranberry juice is often used to treat Prostatitis. The juice contains an enzyme that prevents bacteria from adhering to the walls of the urinary tract. Use concentrated cranberry juice at approximately half the recommended dilution, one full glass three times daily for one week. Make sure that this is pure, unsweetened cranberry juice and not cranberry cocktail.
NOTE: This remedy is not effective in cases of BPH.
Raw pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of zinc (see Minerals, below). Eat 3 tablespoons daily, or more if desired. Pumpkin seed oil can be taken in capsule form.
Herbs
A cousin of Saw Palmetto (see below), Pygeum has been proven effective in the treatment of both BPH and prostatitis in worldwide studies. Take 100mg twice daily.
Red clover is an ideal source of isoflavones. Usually associated with soybeans, this substance is well known for its antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. And red clover contains 10 times the isoflavone content of soy. Isoflavones also inhibit the enzymes that can lead to prostate enlargement. They reduce the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and reduce cell proliferation in the prostate. Red clover is available in tea and capsule form. Prostate-specific preparations may also be available at your health food store.
Saw Palmetto is one of the most popular herbal remedies used to treat prostate enlargement and inflammation and is widely successful. This berry is known to reduce prostate size by controlling hormonal stimulation of the prostate gland. Take 160mg twice daily, standardized to 85 to 95% fatty acids.
Gravel Root and Hydrangea may also prove helpful. Consult with your herbalist, naturopath, or other health practitioner to determine the appropriateness of these herbs for your needs.
Homeopathy
Certain remedies can be used in acute situations if your symptoms fit the symptom picture of the remedy. For dosages, see the dedicated section on Homeopathy. Consult your homeopath or naturopath to determine your constitutional remedy: the remedy that best fits you as a whole person. Your homeopath or naturopath will take a complete case history considering all of your mental and physical ailments and match these symptoms with the symptom picture of the remedy.
Kali Bichromichum: Burning after urination. Sharp, needle-like pain, and stringy discharge.
Lycopodium: Back pain before urination that improves after flow. Urine is slow in coming and person must strain. Impotence and premature ejaculation. Prostate enlargement.
Pulsatilla: Increased desire to urinate, especially at night. Burning in the urethra during and after urination. Involuntary urination at night while coughing or passing gas. Spasmodic bladder pain after urination. Thick, yellow discharge from the urethra. Acute.
Sabal: Prostate enlargement that feels cold. May be accompanied with impotence, difficulty with ejaculation or painful intercourse.
Sepia: Involuntary urination in bed and discharge from urethra, only at night.
Thuja: Enlargement of the prostate, pain in the penis, and pain and burning sensation at the neck of the bladder. Urethra is swollen and inflamed. Severe cutting pain after urination.
Lifestyle
A healthy diet is essential for a healthy prostate. Fatty foods, especially red meats, are linked to prostate disorders. Drink plenty of water to ensure regular urination and try to eliminate alcohol and caffeine. Avoid hydrogenated fats, which are found in margarine and fried foods. This chemically-altered oil causes damage to cells in the body.
Nuts and seeds are excellent dietary additions as the essential fatty acids (which are different from the harmful fats found in meat) are used to normalize hormonal imbalances in the body and to inhibit swelling of the prostate. You may also add flax seed, walnut or sesame seed oils to the diet for the same reason. Evening primrose oil is available in capsules and is excellent if you don't like the taste of the other oils.
Enjoy more soy foods in your diet. The phytoestrogens found in soy (plant compounds that resemble estrogen) also help to prevent testosterone and dihydrotestosterone accumulation in the prostate.
For men over 40, have your prostate checked annually.
Sexual intercourse may further irritate a swollen prostate and can delay recovery. Abstinence is recommended.
"Watchful Waiting", a fancy term for not administering treatment at all, is often an overlooked option. Alternative treatments can lead to complications too, and sometimes symptoms are so subtle that it is best not to be treated at all.
Minerals
Zinc deficiency has been linked to BPH, prostatitis, and even prostate cancer. However, it is unknown whether the unhealthy prostate is zinc deficient as a result of zinc deficiency itself, or whether the unhealthy prostate simply cannot absorb zinc (chicken and egg scenario). It would not hurt to include healthy amounts of zinc in your diet. You can also eat raw pumpkin seeds (see above). Other zinc-rich foods include mushrooms, seafood, spinach, sunflower seeds, and whole grains.
Therapies, Healing Aids, and More
Exercise is key in maintaining a healthy prostate. However, bicycle riding, which puts considerable pressure on the prostate, should be avoided.
Hydrotherapy, or immersing yourself in water, can improve circulation of the prostate and relieve discomfort. Try swimming or walking in water.
