NONSURGICAL TREATMENTS FOR BPH: HERBS AND NATURAL REMEDIES
Many products are receiving a lot of attention from creditable health investigators. Some medicinal herbs appear to have merit in helping to heal die prostate gland. One in particular that is getting a lot of attention is die saw palmetto berry.
The saw palmetto berry, also called serenoa repens, is native to the United States and was used by the Seminole hundreds of years ago as a potent aphrodisiac. It has gained popularity in Italy over the past quarter century; now, it accounts for 3 8 percent of all medications prescribed for benign prostatic hyperplasia in that country.
Many European researchers in France and Britain are very optimistic about its use. A study of 110 men with BPH showed that saw palmetto extract significantly increased urine flow, decreased the amount of urine left in the bladder after urinating, and cut down the nighttime excursions to the bathroom. A study in Italy showed similar results.
The herb works by possibly preventing the breakdown of testosterone into phihydrotestosterone (PHT), a more potent form of the hormone that researchers believe may trigger prostate enlargement. Results from a recent clinical study published in die medical journal Current Therapeutic Research corroborate numerous other double-blind controlled studies showing that the fat soluble extract of saw palmetto is an effective treatment for BPH. The journal went so far as to say it was superior to any other drug prescribed for BPH.
The FDA outlawed its sale as an over-the-counter prostate treatment in 1990. It can still be sold legally in the U.S. as a food supplement. Since it has no side effects, many are purchasing it. The testing required to have it approved by die FDA as a drug for prostate treatment would cost $200 million, which is too much for a small herb company. The cost is $19.95 for 100 capsules (about a month's supply).
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