Natural Herbal Remedies to Treat Prostate Problems

Many men over 40 years of age find themselves facing prostate problems that they never had to deal with before. Many men over 40 first notice prostate problems when they realize they are having difficulty urinating. Many men experience problems with starting the flow, and may experience embarrassing symptoms such as dribbling.

These are common symptoms of a common condition known as benign prostates hyperplasia (BPH), a disorder caused by the prostate gland. In the United States, most men who see their doctor with symptoms of BPH are usually prescribed a drug known as finasteride (Proscar).

This drug has several known side effects, such as loss of sex drive and some believe it may even help contribute to the development of prostate cancer in some high-risk populations.

However, in other countries such as Germany, men are often prescribed gentle yet effective herbal remedies to treat prostate problems and symptoms of BPH. In Germany, most men who approach their doctor with symptoms of BPH are prescribed saw palmetto or other natural yet effective herbal treatments.

Saw palmetto is a well-regarded herb that is used to treat many conditions, and that has been proved particularly effective in treating prostate problems. However, saw palmetto remains a little-understood herb. Most scientists are still not exactly sure how saw palmetto works to help alleviate the symptoms of BPH.

Most scientists believe that saw palmetto works by stopping the cascade of enzymes that damage the prostate. Most scientists also believe that saw palmetto works by occupying the binding sites on the prostate that are usually occupied by enzymes that could trigger BPH. Saw palmetto is thought to help reduce prostate inflammation and swelling, and it is believed to help block estradiol, which is a type of estrogen that is believed to make prostate cells multiply.

Regardless of exactly how saw palmetto works, it is believed that taking approximately 160 milligrams of saw palmetto extract twice a day is all that is needed. In order to control the symptoms of BPH, most herbalists believe that this dosage is appropriate and that treatment should be continued for as long as necessary.

When you are shopping for the appropriate saw palmetto, make sure that the saw palmetto label states that it contains 85 to 95 percent fatty acids and sterol. Anything less than this percentage may not be potent enough to have any effect.

Another popular herb that may help treat prostate problems is nettle. Nettle is an herb that has been shown to enhance the action of saw palmetto. When shopping for nettle capsule supplements, make certain that the supplement contains at least 300 milligrams of pure nettle extract.

Another herb, known as pygeum, may also be helpful in the treatment of BPH. Pygeum is an herb derived from the bark of an African tree, and it has been shown to help reduce the symptoms of BPH. The herb pygeum has also been show to be particularly effective when used in conjunction with stinging nettle and saw palmetto.