Prostate Problems

Something like 60 percent of men over the age of 45 have an enlarged prostate gland and a significant proportion will go on to develop cancer there. In fact cancer of the prostate is the second most common cause of death in males and the fatality rate is increasing- in 1993, 62 percent of sufferers in the U.S.

Often, however the cancer develops slowly, without symptoms, and is discovered only at post-mortem. Detection is tricky because of where the prostate is located. It is a bulb-shaped gland that goes round the urethra just where it leaves the bladder, so when it swells up urination becomes a problem. In fact, the first symptoms include finding it hard to urinate, wanting to urinate often, a burning sensation when you do, or blood in the urine. But cases often aren't spotted until quite late because the basic method of diagnosing an enlarged prostate is my rectal examination and many men prefer to avoid that. For cancers there is now a prostate-specific antigen test.

The prostate's job is to add acids, trace elements, and enzymes to seminal fluid at the moment of ejaculation; these activate the sperm and give semen its distinctive smell. For reasons we don't understand the prostate tends to enlarge and stiffen with age, but is probably connected with changing levels of various hormone. About a third of cases clear up of their own accord, but an enlarged prostate can cause related infection in the bladder and the kidneys.

In cancer cases doctors are increasingly recognizing a connection with high-fat diets. Cancer of the prostate is rare in Japan and China, for instance, where low-fat diets containing lots of vegetables and fish are the norm.

THE ORTHODOX APPROACH

The favoured treatment is surgery, whether to remove excess tissue from an enlarged prostate or to cut out a cancerous one. Entry is either via the abdomen, up the urethra or in from behind the scrotum. The drawback to surgery is that it can cause impotence-you may have a problem either with achieving and erection or with ejaculating- and you may become more or less incontinent. On the other hand, an enlarged prostate can cut off the flow of the urine altogether.

In the U.S. surgeons tend to operate at the first sign of cancer, whereas in Britain many physicians leave it alone if it hasn't spread, and give radiotherapy if it has. Another approach to prostate cancer that has spread is combat it with doses of feminizing oestrogen, with or without castration.

A new approach for cancer cases is cryotherapy, which involves injecting liquid nitrogen into the prostate via a metal probe.

THE HALE APPROACH

Any symptoms of prostatism should first be checked out by your doctor. If cancer is diagnosed, the referral to a cancer specialist and assessment of the severity of the problem is essential. If orthodox treatment offers a high percentage chance of success, then complementary treatments should be used alongside. If the orthodox treatment is unlikely to be effective, then one must ask the question, "Might the treatment be worse than the cure?" In that case alternative therapies can be used without their orthodox counterpart.

The constitutional treatments of homeopathy, acupuncture, and Ayurveda can be of great assistance with prostate problems. Following a specific nutritional program and following having osteopathic treatment will also strengthen the body's ability to fight this illness.

Supportive treatments such as reflexology and healing can also be helpful, with Chi Kung giving the patient a self-care tool to use at home to increase resistance to prostate problems.

HOMEOPATHY

Specific remedies include:

•           Difficult or painful urination with spasms of the bladder - Sabal.

•           For a senile person who urinates frequently at night, complains of pressure on his rectum and has a smarting sensation at the neck of the bladder - Ferrum pic.

•           When there is a frequent urge to urinate but this produces only a slow stream and the person is thin, underweight and prematurely impotent - Baryta.

•           For someone who has a frequent and urgent desire to pass urine - Thuja.

•           For impotence because erection is lost on penetration or a lack of desire for sex or pain during intercourse - Argentum nit.

OSTEOPATHY

Benign prostate hypertrophy (B.P.H.) is a common condition which may benefit from osteopathic manipulative therapy. Prostate disorders relate to dysfunction of other parts of the body such as the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint, as well as pelvic congestion. The aim of the treatment is to decrease the pelvic congestion and correct the spinal and/or cranial dysfunction through muscle release, manipulation, stimulation of neuro-lymphatic reflexes and visceral manipulation. These techniques help improve the lymph and blood drainage of the area, and increase the circulation and nerve outflow to the prostate.  More about osteopathy...

NUTRITION/ALLERGY TREATMENT

Changes in the level of several hormones are involved with prostate enlargement, but the key one is a version of the testosterone, known as dihydrotestosterone (D.H.T.). Reducing levels of D.H.T. reduces the size of the prostate. D.H.T. levels go up with alcohol (especially beer) consumption and with stress, and come down with zinc and Vitamin B6. Zinc also cuts down the rate at which testosterone is converted to D.H.T.

Conditions favouring an increase in D.H.T. include exposure to pesticides and other drugs found in the environment such as dioxin and biphenyls. Therefore a diet of natural whole foods is advised. Also recommended are various supplements - calcium, magnesium, bioflavonoid, and carotenes-which can help the body deal with the presence of toxic chemicals. The herbs saw palmetto and ginseng both inhibit the production of D.H.T.

Supplements of essential fatty acids (linseed or oil of evening primrose) should also produce improvement, as may adding amino acids to the diet.  More about nutrition...  More about allergy testing...

AYURVEDA

According to principles, prostate problems are due to too much stimulus in the lower part of the body, which usually means too much sexual activity or toxic chemical matter passing with the urine, although having high level of acid in the blood from excess alcohol can also play a part. Treatment involves the use of Ayurvedic enemas and laxatives, a steam bath, and some herbal preparations to cool down the urinary system. Herbs might also be given to reduce the appetite and bring about balance of doshas (the three main energy forces in the body).  More about ayurveda...

ACUPUNCTURE

According to Chinese medicine, the pattern of disharmony and its contributing factors which lead to prostate problems are as follows.

•           Accumulation of damp and heat resulting from excess consumption of spicy, greasy food and alcohol, or from liver and kidney imbalance.

•           Retention of cold damp resulting from too much raw and cold food, or exposure to cold, wet weather over a period of time.

•           Weakness of the kidneys due to aging, too much sex or heavy physical work.

•           Liver energy stagnation due to emotional factors, lack of exercise, too much sitting, repression of sexual energy, chronic constipation, or local trauma.

•           Stagnation of the blood due to sedentary occupations.

In Chinese medicine it is believed that deficiencies in the kidney, especially in kidney yin, in senility cause the prostate carcinoma. Investigation by Western medical methods is sometimes necessary, so a patient could benefit from a combination of Western and Chinese treatment. Chronic prostatitis is often resistant to antibiotics. For benign prostate cancer the side-effects and consequences of surgery need to be weighed up. When orthodox medical treatment is being held off in order to watch for developments, acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatment may improve symptoms and significantly reduce the need for surgery or other invasive treatment.

Chinese medicine requires a holistic approach. Patients should take advice on diet and lifestyle and make necessary changes. Acupuncture treatment will follow a flexible plan tailored to the needs of the individual patient. More about acupuncture...

SELF-CARE

Indian medicine

Pressure points: there is a point called kidney 3 two to three fingers above the ankle bone on both sides of the leg. Press that one for a minute on both legs three times a day.

Yoga postures: sit in a chair position and breathe deeply 20 times.

Diet: drink three glasses of water as soon as you wake up in the morning.

SUPPORTIVE TREATMENTS

Maya Abdominal Massage

A non-invasive massage technique that specialises in treating gynaecological and digestive conditions.  It improves organ function by relieving congestion, enhancing blood supply; increasing lymphatic drainage and aiding nerve supply to the pelvic and reproductive organs. Further Details

Healing

This can help to keep the problem to a minimum. The healer channels healing energy from an outside force to encourage the body to heal itself.

Chi Kung

A practitioner will guide you to which of the many hundreds of Chi Kung exercises are appropriate. These exercises can direct energy to the affected area, relaxing and balancing the body and mind. Once mastered they are easy to practice at home and form a useful support to other complementary therapies.

Reflexology

Massage will concentrate on the prostate reflex, which is on the inside of the ankle, halfway from the ankle bone to the back corner of the heel.

Hypnotherapy

Very often the symptoms of an enlarged prostate can be helped by Visualisation exercises which concentrate on generating a feeling of comfort. The condition is made worse by stress and tension and hypnotherapy can help with that, too.