Lifestyle Changes
These could really help with your symptoms. Try them first.
- Cut down or cut out alcohol and caffeine.
- Drink small amounts all day rather than large amounts all at once.
- Avoid fluids at bedtime.
- Avoid decongestants and antihistamines.
- Go when you have the urge and when a bathroom is handy.
- Double void: Empty your bladder, wait a moment, then try to empty it again.
- Relax. Stress can trigger the urge to pee.
- Exercise regularly.
Complementary Medicine
If you have a lot of interest in natural remedies and supplements to help improve your overall health, I would highly encourage you to purchase The Supplement Handbook by Mark Moyad, MD, MPH. Dr. Moyad is considered an international expert in medical supplements and offers some very insightful information for a variety of medical conditions. The information provided here was taken from his book.
Also NOTE: If you are considering starting on one of these supplements, please notify your primary care physician and ask about any potential interactions with the other medications or supplements that you are currently taking. These supplements are very much medications.
Saw Palmetto
In early studies, saw palmetto extract showed promise in treating BPH symptoms, such as frequent urination and trouble starting and maintaining flow. However, newer research has shown no benefit. There is some evidence that beta-sitosterol and pygeum may help symptoms. The American Urological Association does not recommend saw palmetto or other complementary medicines for BPH.
Beta-sitosterol, nonglucosidic
60 to 195 milligrams a day in divided doses
Plant Sterols are found in a variety of plants and plant oils. They block the uptake of cholesterol from dietary and bile sources in the intestinal tract. They also reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, but do not impact HDL (good) and triglycerides. Beta-sitosterol is one of the main plant sterols found in our diets.
Dr. Moyad mentions that there are four high quality studies done on beta-sitosterol, none of which have been done in the last 10 years. One of the four showed that beta-sitosterol did not work better than placebo, but the other three showed improvement in urinary flow and frequency in patients with moderate BPH. These studies used doses in the range listed above.
Gastrointestinal side effects were the most common complaint (1.6%) and erectile dysfunction was another (0.5%).
My suggestion: Make heart-healthy dietary changes and exercise regularly to lower the (bad) cholesterol in your diet! Not only will you see improvements in your overall health but you may be able to help your BPH symptoms!
Pygeum Africanum
75 to 200 milligrams a day in divided doses (the supplement must have at least 14% sterol content)
Most of the active substances in pygeum africanum (bark of the African plum tree) are triterpenes, ferulic acid esters, and phytosterols, including beta-sitosterols, which could have anti-BPH properties, although beta-sitosterol is the most researched. Pygeum africanum has been used in Europe since 1969 for the treatment of mild to moderate BPH, and it arguably has the largest number of consistently positive clinical trials to date compared to almost any other dietary supplement product for BPH right now.
An analysis of 18 pygeum africanum clinical trials involving 1562 men suggested a potential benefit with this supplement. The majority of the studies looked at the effects of taking the supplement in the dosage range listed above.
Gastrointestinal side effects were the most common complaint.
There are two big problems with pygeum. First, there has not been a well done study in more than a decade. Second, it comes from an endangered tree and the demand is high. Year after year, the supplement appears to wane. As a result, there are quality control issues. Whether companies are selling the actual pygeum used in studies or a new or altered version of it usually isn’t clear from the packaging alone. So check with the manufacturer to find out where the pygeum came from.
Flaxseed and SDG
300 to 600 milligrams a day
Flaxseed is heart healthy and low cost. In one clinical trial with 87 patients, 300 to 600 milligrams of flaxseed-derived supplement called secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) significantly improved urinary symptoms compared to the placebo. Similar SDG products have also been found to significantly reduce cholesterol and glucose levels.