Herbal Remedies for Prostate Cancer

Before the rise of processed food, man has lived on a simple diet comprised of balanced amounts of meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains. However, over the centuries, his lifestyle changed. And so did his diet. Where before balance was achieved with the nutrients he took, today his diet now often consists of foods that are rich in fats, oils, and complex carbohydrates. The imbalance either caused an excess in nutrients, or a deficiency. Either way, both spell trouble in today’s society as both contribute to several chronic diseases, including prostate cancer.

Herbal Remedies for Prostate Cancer: Pathology of the Disease

Prostate cancer affects not just elderly men. In fact, the physical disability has been found to be much more common than would be expected among middle-aged individuals. For instance, more than 50 per cent of men with ages ranging from 40 to 59 years old have enlarged prostates. And while most will not develop the dreaded disease, one fourth of these 50-year-olds have some cells in their prostate that would lead to prostate cancer.

In an attempt to address this issue, many dietary and herbal approaches have been used. These steps taken in restoring the balance may include: dietary supplements and herbal remedies.

Herbal Remedies for Prostate Cancer: Treatment

Herbal remedies, or herbal medicine, for prostate cancer has been scientifically studied but little evidence has been found. Even so, many people affected with prostate cancer have turned to prostate-enhancing nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, and alternative medicine in order to avert more serious pharmaceutical and surgical therapies.

Herbal remedies are widely used in Europe to treat prostate cancer. However, American regulations make these herbal remedies available only as mere dietary supplements in this part of the world. Even so, these herbal remedies are still considered beneficial either as complementary medicines (used with conventional therapies) or as folk remedies.

Tomato-based foods are common herbal remedies for cancer of the prostate. According to many scientific studies, these foods are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that is said to help fight off cancerous cells. As a nutritional supplement or herbal remedies, lycopene may not only prevent prostate cancer but may also reduce the size of the tumor.

Another herb that has been used in herbal remedies for prostate cancer is saw palmetto. Derived from the berries of a small palm tree growing in the U.S. southeastern coastal region, these herbal remedies are important parts of Native American traditional medicine. Saw palmetto herbal remedies are said to inhibit the synthesis of growth-stimulating DHT, thus inhibiting prostate enlargement. These herbal remedies are also said to help eliminate DHT by lowering down estrogen levels.