Prostate Herbs from the
Atlantic Coast, Africa or France
Prostate herbs are more likely found as commercial vitamin or supplement preparations containing more than the main ingredient and sometimes a combination. Unlike the fresh or dried varieties we know and love in our cooking, we can’t grow plants like saw palmetto, pygeum or phytopin in our gardens for geographical reasons, so we look for commercial products from retail outlets or prescribing practitioners.
In actual fact, mostly it comes down to the ‘phyto’ sterol or ‘plant’ sterol extracted from each prostate herb. Could the message be that plant food is beneficial to our overall health?
- Saw palmetto - the fruit extract from a palm grown for example in the Atlantic coastal area of USA
- Pygeum - a remedy extracted from the bark of an African plum tree
- Phytopin - white powder extract from the trunk of a pine tree, sourced from an industrialised pine forest such as the Landes in France
- Betasitosterol - one of a number of ‘phyto’ or plant sterols found in above
- Cernitin or Cernilton - another plant sterol from the pollen of rye grass
Off the shelf prostate herbs are many (see vitamins for prostate health for how to choose one). A medical practitioner may well prescribe betasitosterol for you too. This will be prepared in a compounding chemist according to pharmaceutical guidelines. However, some alternative therapists also prescribe herbs for prostate health according to their own philosophies. Here are three of them:
1. Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a traditional form of Indian medicine based on five basic elements interacting with three physiological principals of the body. Each person is unique in these interactions and diagnosis is made from imbalances determined by the practitioner. Treatment includes detoxification, herbal mixtures, minerals, massage and managing food in relation to Ayurvedic principle.
2. Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine also embraces five elements. Yin and yang describes the opposite polarities of balance. Diagnosis is determined by the body’s function rather than structure. Qi or chi refers to the body’s energy. Acupuncture is a well known modality of Chinese medicine, as are the dried herb mixes often prescribed for preparation at home in a special pot.
3. Homoeopaths also Prescribe Herbs for Prostate
Homeopathy not only uses herbs but also many other substances to prepare natural remedies, either in liquid or pillule form. These are prescribed according to the emotional, mental and physical symptoms that are observed or described.
The philosophy of these three healing practices is that the body heals itself with
the right support. Prostate herbs can be used alongside conventional medical therapies to
assist in healing and/or managing side effects. The ideal would be to have practitioners working together.
The advantage of consulting a herbal practitioner versus choosing off the shelf, is that your prescription will be chosen for the whole of your health, not just your prostate health.
If you try off the shelf prostate herbs, observe the effects closely to see how your symptoms change, and stop if you have any unwanted or new symptoms (side effects). These will disappear on stopping the preparation. This information could be invaluable for a doctor or herbal practitioner in order to modify dosage or change preparation.
Related pages: Vitamins, Supplements, Prostate Health Diet
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