herbs for prostate health

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options With High Grade PIN

2008-01-10T05:02:00.000-08:00

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options Improve Survival Rates

As treatment options improve, the survival rates for prostate cancer also improve. This is true for all stages except distant stage (metastasized) prostate cancer (National Cancer Institute Prostate Cancer Trends).

When prostate cancer is detected at the earliest stages, patients have the greatest chance for high survival rates.

One of the best tests for early detection is a biopsy for PIN or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. PIN is generally considered the first detectable form of precancerous cells in the prostate, and can lead to adenocarcinoma. This test is independent from a PSA screening of the blood.

The PIN biopsy removes cells from different areas of the prostate and examines them for areas of increased cells or cellular proliferation that resemble cancer, and "architectural" patterns like tufting, neuroendocrine and mucinous patterns. HGPIN spreads slowly through the prostatic ducts similar to the development of prostatic cancer.

If the biopsy results are high grade PIN or HGPIN, it is considered one of the most reliable predictors of prostate cancer at this time.

What Are The Prostate Cancer Treatment Options With High Grade PIN?

Most researchers recommend follow-up biopsies at three to six month intervals for several years, then every year for life. Additional treatment is based on gathering information about the patient's individual risk. Many therapies are being tested, including preventive androgen therapy. Most invasive therapies like surgery and radiation are not considered unless there are rapid changes in the PIN biopsies.

Early detection of prostate cancer has the added advantage of opening the door for chemoprevention as one prostate cancer treatment option. Chemoprevention involves changes in the patient's lifestyle to avoid or postpone the progress of cancer.

One study using green tea extract found 90% prevention of prostate cancer in patients with HGPIN after one year of treatment. Drug studies have found 20-25% prevention of prostate cancer during five-year studies.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after skin cancer. It is diagnosed in approximately 220,000 new patients and kills almost 30,000 each year in the United States alone. African-American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world, running 60% higher than other American men (American Cancer Society, SEER National Cancer Institute).

Prostate cancer has been detected in men as young as 20 years old and by age 80 at least 80% of men have this cancer. Because it can take decades to proliferate, considering chemoprevention as part of a patient's prostate cancer treatment options offers more pro-active and positive pathways to health.

Men should consult with their primary health care provider for their best prostate cancer treatment options and early detection procedures.

You can find more information on green tea and drug studies on prostate cancer prevention at http://www.green-tea-health-news.com/prostate-cancer-prevention.html

Sharon Jones has over 40 years training and experience in science, mainstream health care, and alternative health care. Her website is http://www.green-tea-health-news.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_A_Jones

Natural Prostate Health for the Men in Our Lives

2008-01-07T01:14:00.000-08:00

Men don't really like to talk about their prostate issues. But for vibrant health and cancer protection it's important that they learn about the prostate gland, and implement health practices for prostate health. The prostate is a walnut-size gland in men that is located below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra (the pathway that drains the bladder). The function of the prostate is to produce semen. When this gland is dysfunctional it can affect sexual function and/or urination.

Prostate problems are very common in men. Over half of 40-59 year old men have enlarged prostates.

Today's stressful lifestyle is said to contribute to prostate problems from things such as:

Long hours of sitting (driving, watching TV)
Eating fast food, especially meat and milk products
Regular intake of sugar, caffeine, alcohol

The three most common disorders of the prostate are:

A non-cancerous enlargement called Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
An inflammatory infection called Prostatitis
Cancer (it is one of the most common cancers in males)

Prostate care at home can begin with these easily accessible foods, nutrients, and remedies. Here are four categories:

Food and Nutrients

Avoid an excess of animal derived foods such as meats and dairy
Avoid foods that accumulate environmental toxins - eat organic
Eat foods high in lycopenes such as tomatoes and tomato-based foods, as well as watermelon, pink grapefruit, guavas. Lycopenesgive the foods their reddish color
Obtain enough essential fatty acids like 2 tsp flaxseed oil
Take Zinc and Selenium
Take Vitamins C, E, and B
Eat garlic and pumpkin seeds

Herbs
Herbs are used widely to treat prostate disorders, especially in Europe. Here are the herbs that are most popular:

Saw Palmetto (studies show better than Proscar)
Stinging Nettle (known as Bazoton in Europe)
Pygeum (African tree bark)
Cernilton (from rye pollen)

Homeopathics
According to the "Consumer Guide to Homeopathy" (Dana Ullman,G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1995), homeopathic remedies for prostate disorders include:

Chimaphilla umbellata
Pulsatilla
Clematis
Apis
Staphysagria
Selenium
Baryta carb
Kali bic
Causticum.

Essential Oils
According to the Essential Desk Reference, good support for an enlarged prostate is to use one of the following oils in a 50/50dilution with a base massage oil:

Ledum
Frankincense
Myrrh
Orange
Idaho balsam fir
Cumin
Tsuga
Blue cypress
or blends of
Mister
EndoFlex
Dragon Time
Australian Blue

Apply 1-3 drops topically, behind the scrotum, 1-3 times daily

Visit http://www.HomeSpaLady.com for simple tips on natural health and beauty that you can do at home. Subscribe to Home Spa Lady's free "Tips of the Week" newsletter delivered to you each and every Wednesday in your e-mailbox. Visit Home Spa Lady's blog to read tips right now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilee_Tolen

Vitamins and Herbs Helped Prostate Cancer Recovery

2008-01-02T06:33:00.000-08:00

Story:

Back in April, 1998, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 advanced prostate cancer. It had metastized into the lymphatic system. I was put on hormonal therapy, i.e., a lupron shot every three months and a daily tablet of Casodex. I had lots of pain due to prostititus, bladder problems, ached all over like I had arthritus and was very weak. My medication worked and took my PSA from 144 to 0.83 in three months and to 0.1 the next three months and it has been in the range of less than 0.1 to 0.2 ever since.

A year later, April, 1999, I ordered in Dr. Julian Whitaker's Forward Plus forty-two vitamins/trace elements/minerals. The day after I began taking them, my leg aches were gone and have never returned. About a month later, my weakness was gone and I was like normal. About six weeks after beginning to use them, my arthritus or whatever it was had ended. The doctor told me that the hormonal therapy had an average life of two years. I asked him what could I do after two years and he said, "if I were you, I would get my affairs in order." I basically got angry and said, "no way, I am going to live."

Today, I give complete credit for my still being alive due to not only the hormonal therapy (that I am off of now) and vitamins et al, in improving my immune system that I have learned is so important to being healthy. I might add that other than having the Prostate cancer in my body, I am in perfect condition today. I am afraid if vitamins are taken off the market, all my ailments will return and no doubt my immune system will begin to falter resulting in my premature death due to the prostate cancer coming back. Please do not impose any laws restricting or discontinuing the sale of vitamins and herbs. If the congress wants to do anything constructive, then lets get clinical trials going for vitamins and herbs, but do not cancel them during the interim due to their importance to our health. Mainline or conventional medicine is good in many instances, but those medicines along with many doctors are killing a lot of us folks. That is why we are going over to the integrative approaches to medical problems because "modern science" does not have all the answers.

Submitted by Anonymous on May 30, 2004 - 7:45pm.Your Stories

Herbs for Prostate Health

2007-12-30T17:52:00.001-08:00

Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia:

The herbs are Saw Palmetto, Pygeum, Urtica dioica
extract, Cucurbitae peponis semen
(seeds of C. pepo and related cultivars )

Cultivation: from wild grown to cultivation methods

Extraction: methods are such as cold percolation, Battery Percolation, Double Maceration, Flow through extraction
And so on.

Since the extracts are for medicinal use, the technology developments are taking place in the developed world, are Patented by Large companies who buy the herbs in crude form from developing countries & produce valuable medicines for Prostate health.

The medicines are being used now for many years as health supplements & seem to be offering good relief to patients
as these supplements are preferred alternative to Surgery.

There is therefore good business opportunities for entrepreneurs in the developing world to process Herbs
to semi finished state & export them to health Supplements manufacturers.

Prostate-Friendly Herbs

2007-12-29T07:23:00.000-08:00

For prostate benefits, many men combine Saw Palmetto with Pygeum Africanum, an herb containing beta-sitosterol and other plant estrogens. Plant substances from the botanical red clover, called isoflavones, may also aid in maintaining a happy prostate and proper urinary function. Research has found that isolavones, also known as plant hormones, boost prostate health by inhibiting the enzymes that lead a prostate to grow bigger. (Researchers believe that the low incidence of prostate health problems in Asia is due to the fact that Asian men consume many more isoflavone-rich legumes than in US citizens). Soy also represents prostate hope. Recently genistein was found to decrease the growth of both BPH and prostate cancer cells in the laboratory, which the researchers suggested showed that the genistein found in soy has the potential to be used as a treatment for both. (Prostate 34 (2):75-9, 1998).

Lycopene, deep an antioxidant tomatoes, can also help reduce risk of prostate cancer. In an analysis 72 studies, most evidence shown that man use more lycopene suffering less prostate cancer (Cancer Natl Inst 91 (4):317 31,1999). Research show lycopene interest are performed to professionals healthcare in Cancer Prostate Prevention 2000 symposia in Toronto. "Our finding suggest that lycopene can not only help prevent prostate cancer in fact may also be useful in treat prostate cancer," commented Omer Kucuk, MD, a faculty member in deep Cancer Barabara Ann Kamanos Institution Detroit, Michigan.

A recent study evaluated the effects of Nettle in sixty-seven men over 60 years of age suffering from prostatic adenoma. Symptoms of nocturia were alleviated, especially in less severe cases. In German phytomedicine an average daily dose of eight to ten grams of the herb is used for support of rheumatic complaints, and for inflammation of the lower urinary tract and kidneys; also for maintenance of the prostate. (Leung and Foster, 1993)

The best herb for prostate health

2007-12-27T18:22:00.000-08:00

Prostate dysfunction has been called a nutritional disease. It is much more common in developed Western countries that emphasize animal-derived foods, such as red meat, dairy products, and eggs, all foods that tend to accumulate environmental toxins. In contrast, fruit- and vegetable-rich diets exert a protective effect. Physical disability, especially spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis, in men often results in significant sexual dysfunction. Under such circumstances, the last thing one needs is to have these sexual problems further aggravated by prostate disorders.

Affecting not just elderly men, prostate disorders are much more common than would be expected in middle-aged individuals. For example, over half of 40-59 year-old men have enlarged prostates, and, although most will not develop clinically significant disease, one fourth of 50-year olds have some cancerous cells in their prostate.

Due to the problem’s magnitude, this article’s purpose is to highlight various prostate-enhancing nutritional, herbal, or alternative medicine approaches that may help one avert more serious pharmaceutical and surgical therapies. Using these preventive approaches should not, however, lull one into foregoing regular prostate-screening exams.

The prostate, located below the bladder, is a walnut-size gland that produces seminal fluid. Because the gland surrounds the urethra that drains the bladder, prostate disorders often affect urination. The three most common disorders are 1) an inflammatory infection called prostatitis; 2) benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a prevalent non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate; and 3) cancer, the most frequent male malignancy.

Prostate disorders are associated with age-related changes in steroid sex hormones. After age 40, testosterone declines, and a testosterone variant called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the female-associated hormone estrogen increase. DHT stimulates cell growth and, in turn, prostate enlargement. By inhibiting DHT elimination, estrogen has the same effect.

In contrast, men who consume tomatoes, tomato-based foods (e.g., ketchup, pasta, etc.), guavas, watermelon, and pink grapefruit are reportedly less likely to get prostate cancer. These foods contain a powerful antioxidant agent called lycopene (see www.lycopene.org) that gives them their characteristic red color. Available as a nutritional supplement, lycopene not only prevents prostate cancer but also may reduce existing tumor size.