Protecting your Prostate

We’d all like to think of ourselves as improving with age, like a fine wine. Unfortunately for men, there is one health concern that can dampen this enthusiasm for maturity.

One of the biggest health risks that men face as they age involves problems with their prostate gland. In fact, the prostate gland appears to be the Achilles heel of the modern man, with approximately two-thirds of men between the ages of 40 and 59 affected by a complication of this gland.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common prostate complication and consists of the enlargement of the gland itself. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is characterised by increased urinary frequency, night-time awakening to empty the bladder and reduced force and pressure of urination.

It is not the actual enlargement of the prostate gland that causes these problems, but rather the pressure that this places on other parts of the body. Located just below the bladder, the prostate surrounds part of the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder during urination. If the prostate grows large enough, it may choke the urethra and make urine flow more difficult.

While there are medications available for the treatment of BPH, they can often have undesirable side effects. The good news is that there are some natural ways to relieve this inconvenient and often embarrassing condition without any of the side effects of orthodox medication.

One nutrient that can help to prevent BHP is the mineral zinc. BHP is caused primarily by an increase in dihydrotestosterone, a male hormone that promotes excessive cellular reproduction in the prostate. Zinc helps to reduce the level of dihydrotestosterone accumulation in the prostate, thus reducing both the size and symptoms of BPH.

For this reason, all men should be certain that they get enough zinc. Men also need to be aware of the lifestyle factors that affect their body’s supply of zinc. Alcohol consumption is one of the worst of these factors; it increases zinc excretion and can therefore lead to zinc deficiency. Essential fatty acids such as fish oils, olive oil and evening primrose oil are also needed in large amounts by the prostate gland. These become especially important if there is a high level of sexual activity, which can deplete the prostate gland of nutrients needed for normal functioning.

Herbal medicine can offer many of the same therapeutic benefits for treatment of an enlarged prostate as drug therapy, without any of the potentially severe side effects. Herbal medications need to be specific to the individual condition in order for them to be most effective, and should always be taken under the guidance of a trained health practitioner to ensure maximum results.

If you are concerned that you may be at risk of suffering from BPH, make sure you get a medical diagnosis before treatment because the sorts of symptoms caused by prostate enlargement can also relate to various kidney and urinary tract problems. And finally, remember that there is a safe and effective, natural approach available to you for the treatment of BPH.

Erectile dysfunction –

a uniquely male problem

Statistics about health can come from many sources, with surveys being among the most common. But there’s one big problem with surveys: how truthful are the responses? Never is this more questionable than in the case of erectile dysfunction.

Estimates of the proportion of men suffering from erectile dysfunction at some time in their lives vary from 10% - the rate reported to doctors – to as high as 40% of men over fifty, according to one recent study. Two things seem fairly clear though; that erectile dysfunction is not something most men would care to admit to, and that it’s a more common problem than we may realise.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is a man’s inability to achieve or sustain an erection adequate for satisfactory sexual penetration and intercourse. It’s sometimes known as impotence, but this term is not always well defined.

What causes it?

While erectile dysfunction was once explained away as a ‘psychological’ problem, it is now believed that some 90% of erectile problems are physical in origin. Physical causes can include diseases like diabetes, atherosclerosis, which is the blockage of arteries, multiple sclerosis and peyronies disease, whereby a band of tissue forms at the base of the penis ultimately compromising erection, are all implicated. Low levels of testosterone and thyroid hormone as well as raised prolactin, which is produced by the brain during times of stress are further causes of erectile dysfunction. Medications such as anti-hypertensives, anti-depressants and lifestyle factors, which include smoking, alcohol, obesity and recreational drugs, all have detrimental effects. Depression, anxiety, and relationship problems are common psychological causes of erectile dysfunction.

What can be done about it?

Erectile dysfunction is very often treatable, so it’s particularly unfortunate that many men delay seeking professional help. A first step is to consider any factors that can readily be eliminated: high blood pressure, depression medication, conflict with partners, cigarette smoking, alcohol and many recreational drugs are just some examples. Any of these possibilities can be discussed with a healthcare professional. In the case of medication, there may be alternatives, and it may be possible to eliminate other factors entirely.

Is there a natural approach?

Sex has always been a feature of human lives, so it’s no surprise that remedies for erectile dysfunction have been sought in nature for a very long time. Many of these are outlandish to say the least, but it is now clear that some herbal approaches can help. Although ‘Viagra’ gets all the headlines these days due to massive and expensive marketing campaigns by the pharmaceutical companies, there are several natural treatments that appear to be equally effective in restoring erectile ability and are probably far safer and certainly less expensive. The downside of using the drug Viagra is its side effects, which include headaches, flushing, visual disturbances, and in some cases even heart attacks have occurred in conjunction with its use.  Viagra, unlike herbal treatments and other natural remedies does not address the whole person though.

Herbal medicines and certain nutrients, on the other hand, when combined together, work synergistically (the action of all the ingredients combined is greater than the sum of their parts) to address all the parameters of sexual physiology.

The herb Ginkgo biloba, is known to aid circulation, while Tribulus Terrestris has a history of use for the enhancement of male sexual function. Other herbs such as Turnera diffusa  and Panax ginseng are believed to revitalise and energise the individual and boost their libido. These herbs also raise testosterone levels as well as improving sperm count and motility. Nutrients like vitamin E and vitamin C are important for healthy circulation, and zinc, the ‘male mineral’ is used in the production of healthy sperm.

In the meantime…

There are solutions for most cases of erectile dysfunction, so instead of letting it get you down, take the initiative today and visit your local Naturopath or Herbalist and let them find the right solution for you.