Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — also called prostate gland enlargement — is a common condition as men get older. As the prostate enlarges, the gland presses against and pinches the urethra. The bladder wall becomes thicker. Eventually, the bladder may weaken and lose the ability to empty completely, leaving some urine in the bladder. It can also cause bladder, urinary tract or kidney problems.
Prostatitis, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is a group of conditions that includes acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). It can cause infection, inflammation, and pain in the prostate gland. Men with asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis don’t have symptoms. Acute (sudden) prostatitis is a medical emergency.”
Prostatitis occurs when the prostate and surrounding tissue becomes swollen, tender, and inflamed. The causes of chronic prostatitis are complex and diverse.
It is different from having just an enlarged prostate. Symptoms can be characterized by urinary problems such as burning or painful urination, urgency, and trouble voiding; difficult or painful ejaculation; and sometimes pain in the perineum or lower back.
Basically, men have a 16-50% chance of getting prostatitis in their lifetime. Men with positive bacterial prostate tissue cultures also have higher PSA values. So, keep that in mind if your PSA level comes back high the next time your doctor checks it.
When prostatitis occurs, 5% to 10% of cases are caused by a sudden or chronic bacterial infection. However, yeast infections, parasites, injury or immune disorders can be underlying causes and sometimes an exact cause is never identified. Acute prostatitis is often caused by the same bacteria that cause urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted diseases.
According to a study published in the 2017 International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine approximately 20% of all human cancers in adults are attributable to chronic inflammation and/or chronic inflammatory conditions caused by infectious agents or other environmental factors. The researcher’s findings indicate that prostatitis is associated with a significant increase in the risk of prostate cancer in the overall testing group and almost all subgroups.
A study published in the April 18, 2014 issue of the Journal “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention” from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, men who demonstrate evidence of chronic inflammation from chronic prostatitis may have close to twice the risk of developing prostate cancer compared to those without inflammation. About one man in nine will be diagnosed with it during his lifetime, but only one in 39 will die of this disease. About 80% of men who reach age 80 have cancer cells in their prostate.
Research also suggests high dietary fat may be linked to prostate cancer. The disease is much more common in countries where meat and dairy products make up a lot of the diet, compared to those where the basic diet consists of rice, soybean products, and vegetables.
Alcohol and Prostatitis do not go well together. In fact, it is the perfect storm in a bad way! Remember in prostatitis the enlarged is already putting pressure on the urethra decreasing urine flow. Alcohol is inflammatory, which means that it worsens the inflammation that is already present in the prostate cells, thus decreasing the flow of urine further. Alcohol is a diuretic meaning the kidneys increase the amount of urine produced and increases the urge to urinate. However, alcohol can also cause the muscles in the neck of the bladder to tighten and as such it becomes more difficult to urinate. Not a great scenario!
Sugars are also inflammatory and numerous studies suggest consumption of sugars is associated with increased risk of prostate cancer among men receiving standard medical care. Studies suggest that limiting intake of sugars from beverages and other sources may be important in the prevention of prostate cancer.
Fortunately, there are many options to prevent &/or treat prostatitis.
The first step is to eliminate as much as possible inflammatory foods such as sugars, bad fats and wheat from your daily diet. Also drink plenty of water, green tea and ginger tea is great too.
Next is to improve your immune system function and help the prostate become healthier. Then depending on the cause of the prostatitis provide nutrients to eliminate infection/ pathogens, toxins, and decrease inflammation. These are some of the supplements we use in our practice for prostatitis:
Black Seed Oil (Nigella sativa) helps to maintain a healthy prostate. It contains anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Published in the 2021 journal BioMedicine titled Inhibitory effects of Nigella sativa seed oil on the testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats, “The study demonstrated that the oil seed exerted anti-BPH effects which may be associated with its antioxidant properties in vivo. In the current study, treatment with 400 and 800 mg/kg of the oil of N. sativa seed decreased the DHT level. “Interestingly, we found that the N. sativa oil partially at least decreased the DHT level in the BPH model” more than that of finasteride.” The researchers also found at the same dosage; N. sativa seed oil significantly decreased the PSA concentration compared to the BPH model group. They reported that polyphenols can suppress the level of expression of PSA genes.
Black seed (Nigela sativa) contains a compound called thymoquinone (TQ), and according to a study published in October 2020 Oncogene, showed that thymoquinone selectively killed SUCLA2-deficient prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The findings highlight a vulnerability of advanced prostate cancer cells as TQ selectively kills prostate cancer cells at advanced stages.
KYOLIC Curcumin (Kyolic) contains Aged Garlic Extract (AGE) and Curcumin with Meriva. Many studies confirm AGE has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits.
A study published in the June 2018 Journal of Oncology states, “On the whole, the findings of this study indicate that Aged Garlic Extract (AGE) exerts cytotoxic effects on cancer cells by altering mitochondrial permeability. In particular, AGE in the mitochondria activates K+/H+ exchanger, causes oxidative stress and induces mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). Another 2019 study concluded, “Notably, aged garlic extract (AGE) exhibits stronger anti-cancer activities than that of fresh garlic, by virtue of enrichment of several AGE-specific organosulfur compounds, including S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC).”
Studies show that curcumin, a derivative of turmeric, can be helpful for men with bacterial prostatitis and nonbacterial chronic prostatitis because of its ability to reduce inflammation. According to a study published in the January 2017 Journal of Pathology Microbiology and Immunology, curcumin inhibited the survival and metastasis of prostate cancer cells via the Notch‐1 signaling pathway.
Dr. Liji Thomas, M.D. has stated, “Curcumin has been shown to have antiproliferative, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic effects. Curcumin reduces the expression of androgen receptors and also inhibits binding of androgen receptors to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) gene to decrease PSA expression in hormone-dependent cells. This could inhibit tumor progression to hormone-independent status. Curcumin also targets cancer stem cells which are responsible for the initial growth of the tumor and for treatment failure.
Additionally, it acts against miRNAs which target both the tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes, preventing tumor initiation. Curcumin reduces the expression of some matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which are important in facilitating tumor invasion and spread. Curcumin also suppresses the crosstalk between prostate cancer cells and surrounding stromal or osteoblasts in bone to prevent metastasis.”
Using turmeric as a spice is a good however, taking its derivative curcumin as an herbal supplement will produce a more profound medicinal effect. A modified version called Meriva curcumin has been shown to have up to a 20-fold increase in bioavailability over standard turmeric extracts.
Oregano Oil contains carvacrol, known for inhibiting and potentially killing 90 different types of bacteria, fungi, parasites, protozoa, Candida yeast and molds, making it a great choice for treating prostatitis infection.
As with any serious health concerns it is suggested to schedule an appointment with a Holistic Practitioner to address your specific health needs. Don’t forget to tune into Holistic Healthline Radio every Saturday 8-10 am. Check our station listing on Holistichealthline.com. You can also listen on your computer or smart phone on iHeart radio or at holistichealthline.com.
To schedule a telephone or in-office appointment with a Practitioner at the Tree of Life Wellness Center call 508-336-4242.
Jane Jansen Holistic Practitioner Tree of Life Wellness Center
Host Holistic Healthline Radio