Enlarged Prostate Causes and Natural Treatments: Alternatives for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)

Prostate problems afflict about 50 percent of men during their lifetime, and after ruling out prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is usually the diagnosis. Conventionally, this common disorder is treated with drugs or surgery. However, before resorting to drugs (with side effects that may be serious) or surgery (which also has obvious risks), it makes sense to look first for six possible root causes of BPH. After identifying any of these causes, you can remedy those problems to see if this resolves the condition.

Although BPH seems to be largely the result of hormonal changes associated with aging, laboratory testing can pinpoint biochemical changes that can be addressed, leading to a reduction of symptoms without recourse to drugs or surgery. If you’re concerned about prostate health, you can also lower your risk of problems by attention to these factors.

Recommended Laboratory Tests for BPH Causes

Six factors linked to BPH, according to a thorough review of the medical literature, are:

1. Decreased levels of testosterone. Recommended: Male Hormone Test

2. Deficiencies of essential minerals, such as zinc, selenium and copper. Recommended: Mineral Blood Test

3. Deficiencies of essential fatty acids, such as an imbalance of omega 3 vs. omega 6. Recommended: Essential and Metabolic Fatty Acids Test

4. Deficiencies of amino acids lysine, alanine and glutamic acid. Recommended: Amino Acid Test

5. Pesticide and environmental toxins, such as dioxin and benzene. Recommended: Heavy Metal Urinary Test

6. Heavy metal toxins, such as cadmium. Recommended: Heavy Metal Urinary Test

Investigating Causes Prevents Surgery and Drug Side Effects

By running the lab tests above, you may be able to identify biochemical causes that can be addressed, leading to a reduction of symptoms without recourse to surgery or drugs. One possible life-altering side effect of prostate surgery is incontinence. Side effects of common prostate medications include decreased sex drive, impotence, breathing problems, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, weakness, sleep disturbances and many more. In addition to such moderate to severe side effects, the prostate symptoms may eventually return.

Note also that some prostate drugs are rather expensive and must be taken for the rest of your life, to avoid the return of the original symptoms.

It just makes sense to investigate causes before embarking on either surgery or drugs.

Where to Find Help

If your primary care physician or urologist is not open to testing for the possible causes listed above, a Functional Medicine practitioner can help you. You’ll find a worldwide directory of health care professionals who have been trained in Functional Medicine at http://www.functionalmedicinedoctors.com.