Great article I found…

Battling BPH: Can Injections Really Help?
by Michael Moriarty

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Natural supplements also show promise as alternatives for problems associated with enlarged prostate

As “Baby Boomer” men approach sixty, prostate health has become a major topic of discussion. The National Institutes for Health (NIH) recently reported that more than half of all men age 60 or older will suffer from symptoms related to an enlarged prostate (Linz, 2005).

Even so-called minor signs, including more frequent urination and increased nighttime visits to the bathroom can become more troublesome serious than they initially appear. Until recently, invasive surgical procedures were considered the best “fix” to the problem. But surgery can mean a two-day stay in the hospital for patients and up to six weeks of recovery.

Due to the sheer number of men entering the high-risk age category for poor prostate health, researchers are busily exploring alternatives (Myunderse, 2005). As crazy as it may seem, many doctors believe that injections may be the best new option to shrink an overgrown prostate. While preliminary results show great promise, some men are hesitant to submit to injections anywhere near their prostate. Fortunately, health professionals are also rediscovering natural supplements, some of which have been in use for thousands of years.

The “Male” Problem
Not only are the signs associated with an enlarged prostate—including frequent urination and urgency, a weak urine stream and leaking—inconvenient and embarrassing, but also, if left unchecked, such urinary challenges can lead to more serious problems like urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney damage and incontinence.

Recently, some physicians have expressed renewed interest in using injections to reduce prostate size and relieve pressure on the urinary tract. Initial swelling immediately follows the procedure, while a subsequent shrinkage of the prostate should follow (Kim, 2002).

While injection therapy has been around since the late 1800s, and a resurgence in interest in prostate injection therapy reappeared in the late 1970s—acetic acid [vinegar pickling base] and phenol was utilized—several new intraprostatic injection delivery methods and injectable materials have been developed, tested and refined through the years. Currently, alcohol (tissue-dehydrating ethanol is used) injections seem to be the most common; researchers are also currently studying the impact of other injected compounds, including Botox® (Nachbur, 2005).

Injections May Be Used More
Studies suggest that injections seem to be somewhat effective in inducing shrinkage of the prostate, having only a varying degree of success. Moreover, widespread use of injections may be years off, especially since outcomes have been mixed. In one repeat trial, injections were found to be effective in only 56% of the subjects. The results were far less successful than in the previous study. (Sharma & Goel, 1977).

In addition, the delivery of the injections can be daunting. Injections can be delivered via ultrasound-guided instruments, transperineal, transurethral or transrectal methods, which may be as uncomfortable to contemplate as BPH itself. For those who cannot handle the thought of surgery or injection therapy, there may be another alternative: nutritional supplementation.

Natural Fortifiers Soothe the Signs
Nearly a century of modern nutritional research and the advent of scientifically advanced nutrient extraction techniques have allowed scientists to isolate the most effective nutrients found in ancient remedies derived from fruits, bark and other organic sources. Breakthroughs in supplementation and nutraceutical science have lead to highly effective natural supplements specially formulated to help ease signs associated with an enlarged prostate.

Over 30 scientific clinical trials have found Saw Palmetto to be highly effective. The indigenous inhabitants of Florida consumed Saw Palmetto for thousands of years; their medicine men were known to give it to men with testicular issues and weak sexual function (Gettel, 2005). An extract of Saw Palmetto was studied in a renowned double-blind, placebo-controlled trial during which the extract was shown to help ease many signs of BPH, as measured by the International Prostate Symptoms Score (I-PPS) (Pytel et al, 2002).

Subjects who were administered the extract showed dramatic improvements in I-PPS at each three-month interval, with the study stretching out over two years. Urinary tract problems improved almost immediately during the trial, and, sexual function, while remaining stable in the first year, dramatically improved in the second year.

African Barks Supports Healthy Prostate
The journey to find natural alternatives has also taken researchers to Africa to investigate the science behind Pygeum Africanum, a tall evergreen tree native to the continent (wholehealthmd.com, 2005). An exploration of the bark’s extract involved scientifically testing it in a clinical setting, with results similar to those in the Saw Palmetto trials. Overall I-PPS and ‘Quality of Life’ ratings rose dramatically in the respondents. Reported benefits of Pygeum Africanum included soothing of prostate tissue, healthy urination and a positive impact on cholesterol deposits in the prostate (Chatelain, Autet & Brackman, 1999).

Meanwhile, the antioxidant extract Quercetin has also been found beneficial for prostate health (Nair et al, 2004). A double-blind trial reported that 67% of the participants receiving Quercetin showed improvement compared to 20% of the placebo group (Shoskes et al, 1999). In addition, researchers suggest that Quercetin may affect the health of prostate cells (see “Nutrient Spotlight”).

You Have More Options Than Ever
Modern nutraceutical research now offers new ways of integrating natural options such as Saw Palmetto, Pygeum Africanum and Quercetin in a liquid-gel supplement delivery system for optimum absorption. Of course, natural supplements cannot replace a thorough medical examination, but the promise of natural supplementation cannot be overlooked.

References
Chatelain, C., Autet W. & Brackman, F. (1999). Comparison of once and twice daily dosage forms of Pygeum africanum extract in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized double-blind study, with long-term open label extension. Urology. September. 54(3), 473–478.

Gettel, G.W. (2005). The history of Saw Palmetto. sawpalmetto.com. December 22. Retrieved online January 24, 2006 from http://www.sawpalmetto.com/history.html.

Kim, E.D. (2002). Ethanol injection for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Current Urology Reports, 3(4), 276–9.

Linz, D. (2005). Healthy for Life: Injections Help Enlarged Prostates. wchstv.com, West Virginia. Dec. 22, 2005 Retrieved online January 24, 2006 from wchstv.com/newsroom/healthyforlife/2421.shtml.

Mynderse, L.A. (2005). Three techniques for guided injection permit selection of the optimal treatment. Urology Times. Jul 1. Retrieved online January 23, 2006 from http://www.urologytimes.com/urologytimes/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=170581.

Nachbur, J. (2005). Healthy for Life Extra. University of Vermont, wchstv.com, West Virginia. Dec. 22. Retrieved online January 20, 2006 from wchstv.com/newsroom/healthyforlife/2421.shtml.

Nair, H.K. et al. (2004). Inhibition of prostate cancer cell colony formation by the flavonoid quercetin correlates with modulation of specific regulatory genes. Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology. January. 11 (1), 63–69.

Pytel, Y.A. et al. (2002). Long-term clinical and biological effects of lipidosterrolic extract of Serenoa repens in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Advances In Therapy. November-December. 19(6): 297–306.

Sharma, G.D. & Goel, P.P. (1977). Transperineal intraprostatic injection treatment of benign prostatic enlargement. Australian / New Zealand Journal of Surgery. 47 (2), 220–222.

Shoskes, D.A. et al. (1999). Quercetin in men with category III chronic prostatitis: a preliminary peospective, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Urology. 54, 960–963.

wholehealthmd.com (2005). Pygeum Africanum. December. Retrieved online January 23, 2006 from http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,10052,00.html.