Prostatitis

Overview

Prostatitis is a chronic infection or inflammation of the prostate. It primarily occurs in men between the ages of 20-50, however it may appear in men of any age.

Note: Conventional medicine typically recommends antibiotics to heal prostatitis. Such drugs are known to cause various side effects and are inadequate for dealing with prostatitis not caused by bacterial infection.

Types of Prostatitis

There are two types of prostatitis—chronic and acute. Chronic prostatitis, as its name suggests, is continual or repeating, while acute prostatitis tends to be isolated.

Symptoms of Prostatitis

The signs of both acute and chronic prostatitis typically involve tenderness and discomfort in the prostate that can also be accompanied by lower back discomfort, chills, exhaustion, fever, and blood or pus in the urine. In some cases, the urine flow can become obstructed and there is a danger of renal system failure. Prostatitis can also cause pain in the anus and genitals, and can cause or exacerbate impotence.

Other symptoms include painful or burning urination, and pus in bowel movements. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and in cases of chronic prostatitis signs can be intermittent with random occurrences.

Caution: In most cases, symptoms of chronic prostatitis are less serious than those associated with acute prostatitis which can cause men to disregard them and forego proper treatment. This can be dangerous because, left untreated chronic prostatitis can lead to further complications such as epididymitis (an inflammatory reaction of the epididymis, the tube that operates along the back of the testicles) as well as orchitis (a painful swelling from the testicles). A complete vesica obstruction is also possible.

Causes of Prostatitis

Factors that can cause prostatitis include viral infections, funguses, parasites (Chlamydia), and bacterial infections such as E. coli. Urinary tract infections are most commonly the cause of acute prostatitis.

Additional potential causes include food allergies, persistent dehydration, poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, and prostate enlargement (BPH). Some men also develop prostatitis as a result of regular sexual activity, particularly with multiple companions. Regular sex can cause the depletion of vital enzymes and nutrients such as zinc, which are necessary to keep the male urinary system sterilized. Alcohol, caffeine, and the regular consumption of spicy foods can also result in prostatitis.

Avoidance

Prevention is the best approach for dealing with prostatitis as well as all other health conditions affecting the prostate and male sexual organs. For men over forty this includes having an annual examination that includes both an electronic rectal exam and, and 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 test for prostate cancer, but in recent years has been found to be ineffective for this function, to the point where even its creator no longer suggests that it be as the only test for cancer of the prostate.) 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 men over 40 years of age.

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

Natural Remedies

Aromatherapy: The following essential oils can help to decrease symptoms of prostatitis: Bergamot, chamomile, sandalwood, and tea sapling oil.

Ayurveda: Ashwagandha, an Ayurvedic herb, can help to reduce symptoms, as can the herbal combinations amla, triphala, natures neem, and shilajit.

Diet: Avoid foods which are high in harmful saturated fats and low in dietary fiber. Also avoid alcohol, caffeine, simple carbs, sugar products, hydrogenated and partly-hydrogenated fats and oils, margarine, shortening, and all other processed or, “junk food.” Rather, focus on eating organic whole-foods with plenty of fresh uncooked fruits and vegetables, oats, whole grains, and seeds and nuts, particularly pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Minimize your intake of red meat, but be certain you are eating an adequate amount of natural free-range poultry, and wild-caught fish. Throughout the day, drink plenty of fresh filtered water, and avoid drinking or bathing in unfiltered tap water which contains heavy metal and pesticide deposits that can concentrate in the prostate gland, causing further problems. Also avoid foods that are overly spicy.

Flower Essences: Crab Apple and Pine can each be useful for men with prostate problems.

Herbs: Useful herbs for preventing and treating prostatitis include Echinacea, green tea, oregano oil, saw palmetto extract (Serenoa repens), and nettle root (Urtica diocia). Whole milk thistle can also be helpful due to its ability to detoxify the liver and enhance hormone stability.

Chimaphila umbellata, or pipsissewa, an evergreen plant, may also be helpful, especially for chronic prostatitis, as can horsetail and ova use, all of which have potent antiseptic properties.

Homeopathy: Useful homeopathic treatments for prostatitis include Apis mellifica, causticum, chiaphilla umbellate, clematis, lycopodium, medorrhinum, pulsatilla, sulphur, and thuja.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the process of using water, ice, steam and cold and hot temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of warm and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating an array of conditions and can easily be utilized in the home as part of a self-treatment program. Numerous Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Health spas use hydrotherapy as part of their healing treatments. Please seek the advice of your alternative health care specialist before undergoing these procedures to make sure they are appropriate for you.

*Purified water is an essential part of any hydrotherapy treatment. Treatments involving purified water offer clear instructions.

Liquid Therapy: Combine red cabbage, celery, and lettuce juice, and consume 8 ounces twice every day.

Lifestyle: Stop all sexual activity including masturbation, to allow the prostate to renew itself and to keep the infection from spreading further. Also make sure to exercise regularly, at least 3 times per week for at least 30 minutes each time. Learn to properly manage and reduce stress because tension can adversely affect healthy immune function. In addition, consume an 8oz. glass of pure, strained water every two hours throughout the day to help eliminate your urinary tract infections and keep your body properly hydrated.

Nutritional Supplements: Useful nutrients for treating and preventing prostatitis include vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin B3 (niacin), B-complex vitamins, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, and zinc. The amino acid M-arginine, lipoic acids, omega-3 natural oils, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are also recommended. Garlic clove capsules, acidophilus, and muriatic acid (HCl) can also be useful, as can Wobenzyme, to help protect against inflammation. Other helpful nutrients include the proteins alanine, glutamic acid, and glycine, and beta-sitosterol. Rye pollen and quercitin are also recommended as well.

Glandular treatment can also help to significantly reduce prostate problems. Extracts of bovine (livestock) or porcine (pig) prostatic tissue taken orally or administered intramuscularly provide important nourishment for the prostate. Glandular therapy can also help protect the immune system against harmful attacks that may slow the healing of prostatitis.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): TCM professionals believe prostate problems are caused by a combination of stress, low hormonal levels, and diminished kidney performance. To resolve these problems the following treatments are recommended: Acupucnture, consumption of traditional Chinese herbs such as ginseng and lotus seed, deep breathing, and Tai chi and Qigong. Traditional Chinese physicians also believe prostatitis can be caused by moist heat. To combat damp heat, TCM physicians will often utilize herbs which remove dampness and excess water, such as polyporus, akebia, or even cephalanoplos, and Dianthus formulas.

Alternative Expert Care

Other useful therapies for stopping and treating prostatitis include: Acupuncture, Psychophysiological feedback Training and Neurotherapy, Bodywork (Feldenkrais Technique, Reflexology, Shiatsu), Chelation Treatment (to improve general circulation as well as detoxify heavy metals), Chiropractic, Detoxification Therapy, Power Medicine (Light Beam Electrical generator), Led Imagery and Visualization, Hypnosis, Magnet Therapy, Mind or Body Treatments, Naturopathic Treatments, Osteopathic Treatments, and Yoga. (See References for explanations of these Optional Therapies.)