Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Ayurveda

Normal & Abnormal Prostate gland size

Introduction

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that forms part of the male reproductive system. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), is non malignant enlargement of prostrate . It is also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy, is the result of proliferation of cellular elements of the prostate. 

Enlarged gland presses against the urethra like a clamp on a garden hose. The bladder wall becomes thicker and irritable. Slowly  bladder weakens and loses the ability to empty itself, so some of the urine remains in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and partial emptying of the bladder cause many of the problems. Most people feel uncomfortable talking about the prostate, as the gland plays a role in both sex and urination. 

A decade ago it was usually found after the age of 50, but now we are treating many BPH cases in 40 + age group. Ayurveda describes BPH with two conditions known as mootrakruchra and mootraaghaata. Mootrakruchra or strangury is characterised by mild to severe pain in passing urine while in mootraaghaata, there is total suppression or intermittent flow of urine during urination.

Main symptoms

• Weak urinary stream
• Hesitancy, starting and stopping, incomplete urination
• Few drops or drop by drop urination just after main flow
• Abdominal straining during urination
• Frequent urination
• Urgency of urinatin
• Getting up at night to urinate 

If untreated following comlications may occur;

• Impaired bladder emptying
• Acute urinary retention 
• Recurrent urinary tract infections 
• Blood in the urine
• Bladder stones
• Prostate cancer 
• Renal failure

Diagnosis:

When the patient tells the symptoms, the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels the part of the prostate next to the rectum. It gives the doctor a general idea of the size and condition of the gland. If needed ultrasonography, urine flow study are undertaken.

Ayurveda Treatment

In our experience Ayurveda/ Homeopathy medicines along with healthy food habits and lifestyle give very good results provided the patient starts the treatment after knowing the problem. Unlike allopathy the patient has to take the responsiblity of curing his disease.

Branded Ayurveda medicines

Branded Ayurveda medicines (which are easy to select by patients), each progressively more powerful, choose one brand/categery according to your BPH stage.Or write your problem in the form of comment in this blog or email your case with full details to dr.eswarreddy@gmail.com, we will help.

• Bangshil & Fortege (Alarsin)  each2 tabs 3 times  2-3 months
• Himplasia (Himalaya) 1 - 2- 2, for 40 days, generally gives good results.      
• Effectto caps ( VASU) -1 bid 8 weeks - gives good results, you can add Ural – Bph caps (VASU)  to control LUTS 
• Prostowin (Bal vedics) 60 caps (upto 50 years age group) 90 caps (50-75 years age group) 120 caps (above 75 years age group) 1 - 0 - 1 after food with barley/ coconut water. 
• Prosteez  (Charak) is more powerful branded Ayurveda medicine. 1 bid or 2 bid for 40 - 60 days

Classical Ayurveda medicines

patient has to select few according to his symptoms 

• Gokshuradi Guggulu (Baidyanath)
• Varunadhi Kwath - works well on hard/enlarged things
• Chandra Prabhavati, 2 - 0 -2 , good for basic urinary problems 
• Kanchanara guggulu - balances functions of impaired glands
• Tippa sattu - general immunity and tridosha balancer
• Gokshuradhi vati - Acts on urinary system
• Shilajit (Baidyanath) 30 caps 1 - 0 -1
• Yassad bhasma (Zinc) 125 – 250 mg with honey - useful for BPH
• Chitrakadi vati - if gastric problem is present

Lifestyle & diet for better & long lasting results:

• Most of our BPH patients are from town/ city dwellers with sedentary or insufficient physical work. Just walking/ jogging won't give enough energy movement in pelvic area. So gardening, kegel exercises, forward bending Yogasanas (vajrasana, lolasana, pachimottasana, padahastasana, trikonasana, etc), Bhastrika pranayama,      Vajroli mudra certainly helps.

• If litmus test shows your saliva ph below 7.4, it means your body fluids are acidic which is the basic cause of most of the chronic diseases. Most of our BPH patients ph is around 6 only. So take 70% alkaline foods and 30% acidic foods. cut 30% - 50% of oils and soft drinks.

• Avoid/ reduce alcohol (specifically beer) coffee, tea, and spicy foods consumption & smoking, prefer moderation in sexual activity. 

• Spread out your fluid intake throughout the day. Do not let the bladder get too full. Don’t drink liquids too close to bed-time.
• Urinate as soon as the urge arises. Take time to urinate when it is convenient even if there is no urge.
• Avoid cold and sinus medications as decongestants and antihistamines can worsen BPH symptoms.
• Whenever possible sit on a hard chair instead of a soft one.
• Reduce stress

Diet to improve BPH

• Vegetables: asparagus, beetroot, cabbage, lettuce, onions, parsnip, radishes, spinach and, as long as you do not suffer from arthritis & kidney stones - tomatoes (lycopene).
• Nuts, Grains & Seeds: barley, flaxseed powder, oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, wheatbran/germ, wholegrain cereals
• Fruits: bananas, coconut, cranberries, dates, figs, goosberries, kiwi fruit, prunes, strawberries
• Herbs: alfala sprouts, bee pollen, burdock root, goldenseal, juniper berries, nettle, saw palmetto, berries

Others

Contrast sitz baths. You will need two basins/ tubs that can be comfortably sat in. Sit in hot water for three minutes, then in cold water for one minute. Repeat this three times to complete one set. Do one to two sets per day, three to four days per week.

Morale & Spiritual things(left to your choice);

When we suffer from one problem/ disease we should aspire that others (even our enemies) do not suffer from such problems.So you can spare one or two minutes to pray for the recovery of other BPH patients (of your friends/ relatives, then local, then National & International patients).
Your body originated from one single cell into trillions of cells doing unimaginable activities of different varieties every second. There is a unified intelligence cooperating, coordinating and harmonizing innumerable internal activities without your instructions. Ex: Breathing, Heart movement, Nerves communication, Metabolism, etc. First recognise this intelligence and its spectacular work. Appreciate this splendid worh and be thankful to its help and love it so that you progress in health, humanity & spirituality.

While taking food and medicines, say thanks to the farmers and Mother Nature (they are our food donors) and all the persons and things involved in this process. You can be thankful even to the materials which we use in our day-to- day life (as they too have consciousness). It costs nothing but few minutes. See the metamorphic changes in your attitude.

For those interested in Prana Shakti (Bio Plasmic Energy) healing they can spare few minutes to visualize Prostate gland, to communicate with it, to send more Prana to the cells and to clean it, to  re energize it - we post details later. As we started many health and spiritual blogs it takes few days to post new one.

Thank You for sparing your time and cooperation.

Wish all of You Health, Happiness, Contentment, Harmony, Peace And Bliss

Dr. R. S. Eswar Reddy, Dr. P. Vani & Dr. P. Radha Krishna Mohan.