The prostate gland is a small gland in men that is usually by the bladder. It encases the urethra and is a part of a man’s reproductive system. As a man ages, the prostate can cause problems such as frequency to urinate, uncomfortable urination, pain, etc. Because only men have prostate glands, there are some disorders and/or problems that come with the prostate gland and only affect men.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the enlarging of a man’s prostate gland. BPH can be uncomfortable because it can block the urethra, which causes symptoms within the urinary tract. It is one of the most common urological problems that is seen in aging men.
Typically this condition is, by itself, harmless and is part of aging, but sometimes it can cause a restriction in the urine flow. This creates discomfort among other problems, but it does not increase the risk for prostate cancer on its own.
Causes of an enlarged prostate are not always immediately apparent and sometimes are completely unknown. It has been suggested that BPH is hormonal, because hormones can contribute to the growth of the prostate, but this has not been proven.
Another theory about an enlarged prostate and why it starts to grow is just that it could possibly be part of the natural aging process. There has been an implied link between the testes and an enlarged prostate, as an enlarged prostate is almost never seen in men who’s testes were removed before puberty. This theory has not been proven but it does seem to show a strong link between the two.
Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate
There are many symptoms that could potentially indicate an enlarged prostate or can predict problems with your prostate down the road. If you experience any of these symptoms, it could potentially be indicative of a prostate problem, so you may want to visit your doctor to confirm.
- Incontinence (urine leaking out or inability to hold it in)
- Urinating more often
- Recurring urinary tract infections
- Discomfort or pain while you are urinating
- Feeling pressure to urinate more frequently but also urgency when you try to hold it in
- Feeling like you are not emptying your bladder entirely, even when you do use the restroom.
- Noticing a hesitation before you urinate; maybe the flow does not come as easily as it used to or it may take a minute to start urinating while you are in the bathroom.
- Noticing an interruption of urine flow while you are using the restroom. If your urine flow stops and starts again or just stops before you feel your bladder being empty this could be a problem
While all of the above symptoms can seem like they are obvious, sometimes the symptoms of BPH are not always immediately apparent. Some of the symptoms are more subtle than others, which is why it is important to consult your doctor if you suspect a prostate problem.
If you suspect you have a prostate problem or that you may have BPH, it is important to get diagnosed and have your doctor monitor your situation. Some complications of untreated BPH can create issues with your health, which is why it is important to be proactive about your situation.
Some of the possible complications of BPH when it is left without treatment are
- Kidney infections
- Kidney failure (eventual)
- The hydronephrosis
- Systemic acidosis
- Recurring urinary tract infections, which can cause damage to other systems and could even move up to the kidneys
- Can also cause discomfort and incontinence
- Acute urinary retention
These complications are not the only ones that you can see if you have BPH that is left untreated. To learn more about BPH and how it can affect you, please consult your doctor. Your doctor will be able to tell you what changes you can make (in additions to the ones in this guide) to help maintain your prostate and quality of life.
Diagnosing an Enlarged Prostate
In order for your doctor to diagnose a large prostate, s/he will need to do a few exams and possibly a couple of tests. This, in addition to your history, will help your doctor to determine if the symptoms you are seeing are in fact from an enlarged prostate.
Your doctor will review your history, perform an examination, perform an analysis of your urine, one repeated uroflow, and possibly do an ultrasound of the kidneys, prostate and bladder. The ultrasound will help your doctor determine the measurement of how much the bladder is holding, as well as how much the kidneys are processing.
This will help determine how much urine is flowing between the organs, and how efficiently your body is doing this. This can also rule out bladder disorders and other problems that are not related to a larger prostate.
You Have an Enlarged Prostate. Now What?
Natural treatments to an enlarged prostate can help prevent you from having to start on a medication regimen, but still tend to alleviate the symptoms that come from an enlarged prostate. Because everyone’s body works differently, homeopathic treatments may work really well for some, but not for others. Because natural treatments do more good than harm, they are a safe, effective way to try to treat your enlarged prostate before you have to go on medication or have an invasive procedure.
In order to come up with a homeopathic or natural treatment plan, you will want to see a homeopathic healer. A homeopathic healer can determine what treatment plan to take and how intensive the natural treatment needs to be in order to see the best results.
Homeopathic treatments are aimed at finding the root cause of the issues, not just to treat the issues themselves. If you identify what is causing the issues, it is much easier to find a whole solution instead of putting a band aid on the symptoms only (which is what a lot of pharmaceutical treatments do). For a personal solution to your enlarged prostate, you will want to find a homeopathic physician or holistic treatment specialist
Homeopathic Remedies to Treat an Enlarged Prostate
These are examples of possible treatments that a homeopathic physician could use to help you with your symptoms of an enlarged prostate
- Staphysagria: This treatment helps with urgency to urinate and frequent urination. It also is able to help with alleviating the feeling of urine being in the urethra even after using the restroom and can help soothe a burning sensation when urinating. This treatment can also help empty the bladder (as an enlarged prostate can make you feel like you have not emptied your bladder entirely)
- Arnica Montana: This treatment is best for when the enlarged prostate is a result of an injury of some sort. This will help alleviate symptoms of pain, numbness, or tingling that are associated with prostate injury or damage
- Sabal Serrulata: This treatment can help with the urge to urinate too often, especially at night. It can help alleviate burning when you urinate and also prostate discharge
- Phosphorus: This remedy can possibly help with prostate download and hematuria
- Baryta Carb: This remedy can help with BPH in the elderly
- Pareira Brava: This treatment can help with alleviating the urine retention and feeling like you constantly have to urinate. It can also help with painful urination, the sensation of a full bladder all the time, and incontinence
- Belladonna: Belladonna will help with prostate hypertrophy and help reduce inflammation from BPH
- Hortensia: This supplement will help with the enlargement of the prostate gland, and can help reduce frequent urination. It can also help you feel relief from pain caused by urination and can help you if it is hard for you to start urinating.
- Conium: Conium is a great remedy for BPH. It can help alleviate the difficult urination, painful sensations, and can help stop the interruptions to the urine flow. It also can help with the incontinence drip in the elderly
In order to identify which of these natural treatments will help you and your symptoms specifically, it is important for you to visit a homeopathic healer. They will go over your history, symptoms, and other factors to choose which of these treatments will work the best for you.
