Every man has a prostate gland, and by the age of 50 half have an enlarged prostate gland.
The prostate gland is responsible for supplying the fluid that makes up semen. It’s shaped like a doughnut and it wraps around the urethra (the tube that carries urine) near the base of the bladder. When the prostate gland swells, a condition called prostatic hypertrophy, it may begin pushing inward against the urethra, making urination slow or difficult. It some cases, it swells outward and presses against the large intestine, interfering with the passage of stools.
Doctors sometimes use drugs to reverse the swelling, but the medications aren’t ideal because they can have sex-inhibiting side effects. Fortunately, there are other alternatives. Problems with the prostate gland weren’t unheard of among Native Americans, and they developed a number of remedies that are still in use today. One of these remedies, in fact, may offer a bonus by providing a sexual lift.
Saw palmetto. The Seminole tribe in the Southeast first discovered this small palm tree, and they nibbled the seeds as a food. It wasn’t long before they noticed that it was helping older men with prostate problems as well.
“Its benefits include increased urinary flow, reduced residual urine, and decreased frequency of urination,” says Purdue University Professor of Pharmacognosy, Varro Tyler, Ph.D. In a German study of over 2,000 men, researchers found that a daily dose of one to two grams of saw palmetto seeds (the equivalent of about 320 milligrams of saw palmetto extract) produced substantial improvement.
Saw palmetto appears to reverse prostatic swelling by preventing the male hormone testosterone from being converted into a compound called dihydrotestosterone, which is thought to be responsible for prostate growth. Because of saw palmetto’s reputation for increasing sex drive, it’s among the most popular herbal aphrodisiacs being sold today. Most people take saw palmetto in supplement form.
Pumpkin seeds, licorice root, and stinging nettle. Each of these herbs, which were widely used by Native Americans, has captured the attention of researchers for its potential prostate-shrinking powers. As with saw palmetto, they are believed to work by preventing testosterone from making a prostate-enlarging conversion to dihydrotestosterone.
Pumpkin seeds can be roasted and eaten whole. Licorice root and stinging nettle are usually taken as teas.
Prostate enlargement can be a serious problem, not only in its own right, but because some of its symptoms may be similar to those caused by prostate cancer. To rule that out, it’s important to call a doctor at the first sign of symptoms, the most common being frequent or difficult urination.
This Prostate Enlargement article is taken from :
Healing Secrets of the Native Americans - Porter Shimer
