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| | | 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.
Air temperature appears to play a role in chronic prostatitisas cold is frequently reported as causing symptom aggravation and heat is often reported to be ameliorating.[40] It appears that cold is one of the factors that can trigger a process resulting in CP/CPPS (chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome). Cold also causes aggravation of symptoms and can initiate a relapse. A survey showed that the occurrence of prostatitis symptoms in men living in northern Finland - a cold climate - is higher than that reported in other parts of the world. This could be partly caused by the cold climate. |
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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GLOSSARY
Acute: An illness or symptom of sudden onset, which generally has a short duration.
Allergy: Hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular antigen (allergen), resulting in an increased reactivity to that antigen on subsequent exposure, sometimes with harmful immunologic consequences.
Antigen: A substance, usually protein or protein-sugar complex in nature, which, being foreign to the bloodstream or tissues of an animal, stimulates the formation of specific blood serum antibodies and white blood cell activity. Re-exposure to similar antigen will reactivate the white blood cells and antibody programmed against this specific antigen.
Anti-inflammatory: Reducing inflammation by acting on body mechanisms, without directly acting on the cause of inflammation, e.g., glucocorticoids, aspirin.
Antiviral: Any of a number of herbs, drugs or agents capable of destroying viruses or inhibiting their growth or multiplication until the body is capable of destroying the virus itself. Most antiviral agents are members of the antimetabolite family.
Bacteria: Microscopic germs. Some bacteria are "harmful" and can cause disease, while other "friendly" bacteria protect the body from harmful invading organisms.
Biopsy: Excision of tissue from a living being for diagnosis.
Cancer: Refers to the various types of malignant neoplasms that contain cells growing out of control and invading adjacent tissues, which may metastasize to distant tissues.
Chronic: Usually Chronic illness: Illness extending over a long period of time.
Cytomegalovirus: (CMV): A member of the herpes virus family which may induce the immune-deficient state or cause active illness, such as pneumonia, in a patient already immune-deficient due to chronic illness, such as cancer or organ transplantation therapy.
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the large molecule that is the main carrier of genetic information in cells. DNA is found mainly in the chromosomes of cells.
EDTA: (Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic Acid): An organic molecule used in chelation therapy.
Herpes Simplex: An infection, often recurrent, caused by herpes virus type 1 and 2. It causes cold sores around the lips and mouth, and also causes painful blisters on the genitals and in the pubic area, thighs, and buttocks.
Hormones: Chemical substances secreted by a variety of body organs that are carried by the bloodstream and usually influence cells some distance from the source of production. Hormones signal certain enzymes to perform their functions and, in this way, regulate such body functions as blood sugar levels, insulin levels, the menstrual cycle, and growth. These can be prescription, over-the-counter, synthetic or natural agents. Examples include adrenal hormones such as corticosteroids and aldosterone; glucagon, growth hormone, insulin, testosterone, estrogens, progestins, progesterone, DHEA, melatonin, and thyroid hormones such as thyroxine and calcitonin.
Hypoallergenic: A substance that has a low capacity for inducing hypersensitivity (i.e., an allergic reaction).
Interstitial Cystitis: A chronic bladder problem involving a bladder wall that is inflamed and irritated. Symptoms include an urgent need to urinate, both daytime and nighttime; pressure, pain and tenderness around the bladder, pelvis and perineum (the area between the anus and vagina or the anus and scrotum) which may increase as the bladder fills and decrease as it empties during urination; a bladder that won't hold as much urine as it did before; pain during sexual intercourse; in men, discomfort or pain in the penis or scrotum. In many women, the symptoms get worse before their menstrual period. Stress may also make the symptoms worse, but it does not cause them.
Nervous System: A system in the body that is comprised of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, ganglia and parts of the receptor organs that receive and interpret stimuli and transmit impulses to effector organs.
Placebo: A pharmacologically inactive substance. Often used to compare clinical responses against the effects of pharmacologically active substances in experiments.
Prostate: The prostate gland in men that surrounds the neck of the bladder and the urethra and produces a secretion that liquefies coagulated semen.
Prostatectomy: Removal of the prostate gland.
Virus: Any of a vast group of minute structures composed of a protein coat and a core of DNA and/or RNA that reproduces in the cells of the infected host. Capable of infecting all animals and plants, causing devastating disease in immunocompromised individuals. Viruses are not affected by antibiotics, and are completely dependent upon the cells of the infected host for the ability to reproduce.
