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| Prostatitis |
Last updated: May 12, 2008 |
Signs, symptoms and indicators | Conditions that suggest it | Contributing risk factors | Other conditions that may be present | It can lead to... | Recommendations
 Signs, symptoms & indicators of Prostatitis: | |  | | | | Symptoms - Metabolic |  Frequent/occassional 'chills' or having chills from an illness
Frequent/occasional unexplained fevers
Having a slight/having a high/having a moderate fever | Acute bacterial prostatitis may produce a fever. |
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Symptoms - Reproductive - General |
 Painful ejaculation or painful ejaculation rarely
Painful perineum
Counter-indicators:
 Absence of painful perineum
Absence of painful ejaculation |
Symptoms - Urinary |
(Very) painful urination
(Very) weak urine stream
Urinary urgency
Having blood in urine
Counter-indicators:
Strong/average urine stream |
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Conditions that suggest Prostatitis:
Risk factors for Prostatitis: | | | | | | Allergy | Allergy / Intolerance to Foods (Hidden)| | For chronic prostatitis, a hypoallergenic/rotation diet or food allergy testing would be appropriate. Patients have reported that avoidance of their offending foods resulted in the disappearance of prostate symptoms. |
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Hormones |
Low Melatonin Level |
Infections |
STD Gonorrhea| | In men the bacteria can spread up the urethra and affect the prostate, seminal vesicles, Cowper's glands and the epididymis. An abscess will form causing pain, fever and chills. This abscess will eventually drain which releases pus into the urethra or anus. |
Yeast / Candida| | A significant number of men with chronic prostatitis have found relief ranging from a cure to welcome reduction of symptom severity after following an anti-candida regimen. The full science behind this phenomenon is incomplete at this time. |
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Lab Values - Chemistries |
Normal PSA or elevated PSA| | The screening tests used for prostate cancer include the prostate specific antigen (PSA), digital rectal examinations and prostatic ultrasound. All three can be skewed by the presence of prostatitis. The PSA levels can be falsely elevated by prostatitis. If a patient has an elevated PSA, along with finding of prostatitis, treatment and a repeat of the blood test is recommended. Many patients with chronic prostatitis will undergo prostate biopsies because their PSA values are too high. The biopsy is necessary as prostatitis can not be distinguished from prostate cancer in many cases. |
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Symptoms - Reproductive - General |
History of prostatitis |
Symptoms - Urinary |
History of having blood in urine |
Uro-Genital |
Consequences of Vasectomy |
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Prostatitis suggests the following may be present: | | | | | | Allergy | Allergy / Intolerance to Foods (Hidden)| | For chronic prostatitis, a hypoallergenic/rotation diet or food allergy testing would be appropriate. Patients have reported that avoidance of their offending foods resulted in the disappearance of prostate symptoms. |
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Infections |
Yeast / Candida| | A significant number of men with chronic prostatitis have found relief ranging from a cure to welcome reduction of symptom severity after following an anti-candida regimen. The full science behind this phenomenon is incomplete at this time. |
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Prostatitis can lead to:
Recommendations for Prostatitis: | | | | | | Animal-based |  Probiotics / Fermented Foods| | Probiotics should be taken after a course of antibiotics. The long term use of antibiotics for prostatitis has been found to destroy the normal urethral flora that would otherwise interfere with virulent organisms. |
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Botanical |
 Cernilton (Flower Pollen)
Pygeum (Pygeum africanum)| | Pygeum extract has also shown an ability to improve the capacity to achieve an erection in patients with BPH or prostatitis as determined by nocturnal penile tumescence in a double-blind clinical trial. BPH and prostatitis are often associated with erectile dysfunction and other sexual disturbances. Presumably, by improving the underlying condition, pygeum can improve sexual function. |
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Diet |
Increased Water Consumption| | Drinking plenty of water helps by diluting the acidity and salt in the urine and dilutes any irritants that you might be eating such as caffeine, cranberry, citrus acid, peppers and spices, etc.. |
Alcohol Avoidance| | See the link between Prostatits and Spicy Food Avoidance. |
Caffeine/Coffee Avoidance| | See the link between Prostatits and Spicy Food Avoidance. |
Spicy Foods Avoidance| | Major culprits are acidy foods such as cranberry, cola, and coffee. Alcohol and spicy foods are also irritating to the prostate.
Dr. Krisiloff has treated 1,710 men with chronic prostatitis. The treatment was simple and inexpensive and based on the theory that chronic prostatitis is an allergic inflammatory reaction to caffeine, alcohol, and hot spices. [The Krisiloff Diet: A Simple Dietary Cure for Prostatitis] |
Soy Isoflavones (genistein, daidzein)| | Animal studies suggest that a daily intake of dietary soy protein may play a protective role against the development of prostatitis. [J SterBiochem & Molec Bio, 43: pp.557-564, 1992] |
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Digestion |
 Bromelain| | Bromelain and papain promote the absorption of quercetin and have their own anti-inflammatory properties. [Jpn J Pharmacol 1972;22: pp.519-34] |
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Drug |
Antibiotics| | If you have acute bacterial prostatitis, you will usually need to take antibiotics for 7 to 14 days. Almost all acute infections can be cured with this treatment. Analgesic drugs to relieve pain or discomfort and, at times, hospitalization may also be required.
The treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis can require antibiotics for a longer period of time, usually 4 to 12 weeks. About 60% of all cases of chronic bacterial prostatitis clear up with this treatment. For cases that don't respond to this treatment, long term, low dose antimicrobial therapy may be recommended to relieve the symptoms. In some cases, surgical removal of the infected portions of the prostate may be advised. |
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Mineral |
Zinc| | In spite of the fact that no research has examined the effect of zinc supplementation on prostatitis, many doctors of natural medicine recommend zinc for this condition. Zinc levels are significantly reduced in both chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) and non-bacterial prostatitis (NBP), so supplementation would seem wise. [Int J Androl 1982;5: pp.487-96] [Fertil Steril 1975;26: pp.1057-63] |
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Oriental Medicine |
Acupuncture| | In the present series of observations, 360 cases of prostatitis were treated with acupuncture of Sishenchong (EX-HN 1), etc. and self-drafted prescription I, II and III. After 4 courses (28 sessions) of treatment, 321 cases (89.17%) were cured, 35 cases (9.72%) had improvement and 4 cases (1.11%) failed. The total effective rate was 98.89%. [World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Vol.10 No.1, March, 2000] |
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Oxygen / Oxidative Therapies |
Ozone / Oxidative Therapy| | Rectal insufflation with ozone is considered to be effective for prostatitis. Daily use, after a warm enema, is recommended. Rectal implant suppository sticks of ozonated olive oil (OOO) are also available, though may be hard to find. Filling a gelatin capsule with OOO and quickly inserting into the rectum should provide a similar effect. |
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Physical Medicine |
Hydrotherapy| | Hot baths are helpful for almost all men with prostatitis regardless of the kind. These are often referred to as sitz baths and the warm water and relaxation of the bath soothe the prostate and helps relieve symptoms.
The contrast sitz bath increases pelvic circulation and tone of the smooth muscles of the region. It is indicated in chronic prostatitis. The strong revulsive effect created increases the blood flow in the pelvic region dramatically. The Contrast Sitz bath uses alternating hot and cold water. Hot phase 105 F to 115 F for 3 minutes; Cold phase 55 F to 85 F for 30 seconds. Increases pelvic circulation and tone of smooth muscle of the pelvic region.
A hot enema, up to 103° F may be used three to four times a day, especially in acute cases. |
Lymphatic Stimulation| | Although lymphatic therapy, or the manipulation and draining of the body's lymph nodes, is the fourth most commonly prescribed medical treatment in Europe, in the U.S. it is almost unknown. Yet an unimpeded lymph system, which carries immune cells, is essential not only for health, but in enabling the body to heal from serious illnesses, soft tissue damage, breast cancer, and prostatitis, among others. |
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Psychological |
Stress Management| | Stress management may also be helpful in those men who feel that their symptoms are worsened at times of stress. |
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Vitamins |
Bioflavonoids| | Quercetin has been reported to improve symptoms of non-bacterial prostatitis and prostadynia. An uncontrolled study of 500 mg BID for at least two weeks significantly improved symptoms in 59% of men with chronic prostatitis. [JANA 1999;2: pp.36-9] A later double-blinded study improved symptoms in 67% of men.[Urology 1999; 54: pp.960-3] |
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KEY | | Weak or unproven link | | | Strong or generally accepted link | | | Strongly counter-indicative | | | May do some good | | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended |
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