Millions of men across the country suffer in silence from prostatitis, a nagging condition caused by inflammation of the prostate. And when I say “suffer,” I mean it. These men are in constant pain and may need to visit the bathroom dozens of times a day because of a stream that resembles Morse Code.
Most men with prostatitis end up visiting one doctor after another, seeking answers. But they usually only come away with a prescription that doesn’t work — and causes more problems, with mounting frustration.
The sad truth is, the mainstream has very little to offer these men. (Sound familiar?)
But prostate health has always been a particular interest of mine. And I’ve found dozens of effective remedies for prostatitis hiding in ancient, folk remedy literature and in modern scientific journals.
I’ll tell you all about five of these natural remedies in a moment. But first, let’s talk a little about this very common issue in men’s health.
Inflamed prostate strikes men in their prime
There are two main types of prostatitis. Most men have the first type, called chronic prostatitis. Symptoms include painful urination and/or ejaculation, frequent need to urinate, and generalized pelvic pain. While we don’t know what causes chronic prostatitis, we do know it won’t respond to antibiotics, so it’s not bacterial in origin.
The second type, called bacterial prostatitis, is far less common. And, as the name suggests, it’s frequently caused by E. coli bacteria in the urinary tract. In addition to the symptoms listed above, bacterial prostatitis can also cause infection symptoms — such as fever, chills, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue. This type of prostatitis responds well to antibiotics.
Of course, it can also be difficult to tell the difference between chronic prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). But as a general rule of thumb, if you’re under age 50, it’s probably prostatitis, and if you’re over age 50, it’s probably BPH.
To make an official diagnosis, your doctor should take a complete medical history. They should also perform a digital rectal exam to check for an enlarged prostate, along with urine and blood tests to check for infection.
As I mentioned, antibiotics are the most common treatments for bacterial prostatitis. But that approach won’t work for chronic prostatitis. So, most mainstream doctors have taken to prescribing BPH drugs to treat it, which can cause serious side effects.
Sadly — few doctors will tell you about the easy lifestyle changes you can make to relieve your chronic prostatitis symptoms…
Small changes offer big relief
I’ve spent 40 years investigating prostate problems. And one thing’s for sure — small and simple natural approaches can make a big difference in your day-to-day life.
So, here are just a few easy changes I recommend…
1.) Stay away from certain foods.
Some men report their prostate swells in as little as an hour after eating an irritating food
that may be particular to their own experience. So, I recommend keeping a record of it. Begin to take note of which foods seem to irritate your prostate.
2.) Avoid prolonged sitting.
Sitting too much during the day — without breaks — can irritate and inflame your prostate. So, make sure you get up and walk around at least once an hour. You can also consider investing in a stand-up desk.
3.) Drink more water
Drinking several glasses of water throughout the day will help reduce inflammation and flush any bacteria out of your urinary tract.
4.) Supplementation — beyond saw palmetto
Most men know saw palmetto can support the prostate. I recommend 900 mg per day. (Note: Choose a supplement that contains 100 mg of beta-sitosterol, the plant’s main active ingredient.)
I also recommend taking it in combination with two other natural anti-inflammatory extracts: quercetin and rye pollen extract.
Quercetin is an anti-inflammatory found in many plants. It’s effective for both prostatitis and BPH. And when it comes to chronic prostatitis specifically, one study found that men with the condition who took 1,000 mg of quercetin a day for a month reduced their pelvic pain by an average of 38 percent.
A number of other studies over the last three decades have found that 500 mg a day of rye pollen extract, another natural anti-inflammatory, helps relieve the symptoms of chronic prostatitis and BPH. But beware: If you have pollen allergies, this supplement may not be for you.
5.) Consider mind-body approaches
Science shows prostatitis does indeed have a mind-body component. So, I suggest seeking out some mind-body therapies, like biofeedback — which relaxes your bladder muscles — and acupuncture.
You can learn more about overcoming common prostate problems in the current January issue of my Insiders’ Cures newsletter (“The common, painful prostate problem researchers and experts ignore”).
In addition, I’m in the final stages of preparing a comprehensive, science-backed prostate protocol that will address all aspects of prostate health. Specifically, it will tell you how to recognize, rein in, and even reverse prostate conditions we traditionally don’t hear too much about — but are increasingly prevalent in men over age 50.
As always, you’ll be the first to know when this new prostate protocol is available. Stay tuned right here or to my Facebook page for the latest updates.