A man's prostate gland usually starts to
enlarge after he reaches age 40 years or middle age. This
condition is called Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH).
The prostate gland, which is normally about the size and shape
of a walnut, wraps around the urethra between the pubic bone and
the rectum, below the bladder. In the early stage of prostate
enlargement, the bladder muscle forces urine through the
narrowed urethra by contracting more powerfully. As a result,
the bladder muscle becomes thicker and more sensitive, causing a
need to urinate more often.
The prostate gland secretes
a fluid that is discharged with sperm. The gland itself
surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from
the bladder out through the tip of the penis. As the prostate
grows larger, it may press on the urethra. This narrowing of the
urethra can cause some men with prostate enlargement to have
trouble with urination. Prostate enlargement may be the most
common health problem in men older than 60 years.
Function of Prostate Gland:
The main function of the prostate gland is
to store and produce seminal fluid. Seminal fluid is a milky
liquid that nourishes sperm.
Causes of Enlarged Prostate:
Prostate enlargement is
caused by an imbalance in Vata dosha, it’s important to avoid
Vata-aggravating foods. These include dry, cold, and light foods
and bitter, astringent, and pungent tastes. Instead, favor the
Vata-pacifying diet, which includes sweet, sour, and salty
tastes and warm, oily foods.
The specific cause of most of these problems
is unknown although they may be related to hormonal changes
brought on by aging. As a man ages an increased amount of
hormones such as estrogen and prolactin decrease the rate at
which testosterone and the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) into which
testosterone is converted by 5-alpha-reductase are eliminated
from the prostate. This excessive accumulation of DHT is thought
to be responsible for the problems of the prostate gland.
As the prostate grows larger and the urethra is squeezed more
tightly, the bladder might not be able to fully compensate for
the problem and completely empty. Rarely, blockage from prostate
enlargement may cause repeated urinary tract infections and
gradually result in bladder or kidney damage.
Symptoms of Enlarged Prostate:
Many men with an enlarged prostate have no
symptoms. Common symptoms may include the following:
-
Difficulty starting urination
-
Dribbling of urine, especially after
urinating
-
A sense of not emptying the bladder
-
Leaking of urine
-
More frequent urination and a strong and
sudden desire to urinate, especially at night
-
Blood in the urine
Treatment of Enlarged Prostate:
Once the diagnosis of prostate enlargement
is made, your doctor may not recommend immediate treatment if
symptoms are mild. Likely, one or more exams will be conducted
per year to be sure that you are not developing any
complications from prostate enlargement. Should your symptoms
become more severe, both medical and surgical treatments are
advisable.
Self-Care at Home:
-
Avoid drinking more liquids after 6 pm to reduce the need to
urinate frequently during the night.
-
Drink 8 glasses of water a day to help prevent bacteria from
accumulating in the bladder.
-
Drink cranberry juice 4 times a day to increase the acidity of
the urine, especially if you feel a urinary tract infection
coming on.
Herbs which is useful :
Shilajeet (Asphaltum):
Purified
exsudate of mineral origin, Shilajeet is a balanced general
tonic comprising useful mineral and organic constituents. It is
taken to help digestion and with the assimilation of foods.
Shilajeet is often used in combination with other specific plant
decoctions to support various functions. Traditionally it has
been used in genitourinary infections, diabetes, enlarge
prostate, bronchial asthma, stomach problems, stress anxiety and
convalescence indication.
Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris):
Gokshura is one of Ayurveda's best herbs for the Enlarge
prostate.
Indravadhi (Mutilla occidentalis):
It is nervine, tonic, antispasmodic and used in paralysis.
Kabab Chini (Piper Cubeba):
Composite herbal drugs containing Piper cubeba as one of the
ingredients are clinically effective in the treatment of cough
and enlarge prostate. Alcoholic extract of the drug shows
antibacterial activity against Micrococcus pyrogens var. aureus.
Oil of cubeb is effective against influenza virus and Bacillus
typhosus.
Ushira (Vetiveria zizanioides):
Ushira
is popularly known as Khas, Khas or Khus grass in India. It is a
densely tufted grass, found throughout the plains and lower
hills of India, particularly on the riverbanks. Different parts
of this grass is used for many diseases such as mouth ulcer,
fever, boil, epilepsy, burn,
snakebite, scorpion string, fever, headache, enlarge prostate
etc.
Swet Chandan (Santalum
album):
Indiglenous to Mysore in southern part of India. If grown in
other places than its natural habitat, it looses quality and
quantity of its essential oil. It is a parasitic tree, bury's
its roots in surrounding trees and takes nutrition. Useful in
the state of anxiety, mental tension, headaches, enlarge
prostate, anger negativity and depression. Good for urinary
track infections, due to too much heat or due to too much
drinking of alcohol, respiratory disorders, cystitis and
gonorrhea. It produce freshness in body and mind. Useful in
gonorrhea, cystitis, pimples acne, biliousness.
Diet :
Hot spices are to be strictly
avoided. The patient should be given as much water as possible
to drink. Fresh lemon juice, fresh coconut water, orange juice,
sugarcane juice and pineapple juice are extremely useful in this
condition. The patient should be given fruits like apple,
grapes, peaches and plums in good quantity.
Life Style:
The patient should not
expose himself to sun or heat. Excessive perspiration takes away
lot of water from the body and the urine thus becomes
concentrated. Passage of this concentrated urine through the
urinary tract causes irritation and gives rise to burning
sensation.
