Traditional Chinese Medicine associates hyperplasia of the prostate
with damp heat and kidney deficiency. After the age of 40, men’s vital
energy in the kidney system decreases, resulting in a disturbance of the
sex hormones. Sexual energy decreases, affecting circulation in this
area and the function of the prostate. To compensate for the decline of
prostate function, men in China have historically used acupuncture
treatments to improve the circulation and energy in the prostate.
The American Cancer Society classifies prostate cancer as the most
common form of cancer among U.S. men. If you are a man over the age of
40 and prostate cancer runs in your family, it is advisable to monitor
your Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels. A PSA blood test measures
the level of a protein released by prostate cells which can reveal
prostate growth and sometimes cancer. The main symptoms of an enlarged
prostate are weak urine flow, straining to urinate, and the feeling of
incomplete bladder emptying.
Chinese herbal therapy and acupuncture can help normalize PSA levels.
Many times, two traditional Chinese herbal formulas are prescribed with
modifications: Ba Zheng San for damp-heat patterns and Ji Sheng Shen Qi
Wan for kidney deficiency patterns. Kidney essence revitalizes the
prostate so that it becomes capable of self-regulating toward normal
functioning.
To help nourish the prostate, Chinese medicine encourages men to eat
more nuts, seeds, pumpkin, mushrooms and berries. Managing stress,
regular exercise and massaging the prostate are also vital for
maintaining prostate health. Besides Chinese and Western herbs such as
saw palmetto, many delicious foods help maintain a healthy prostate
because they contain lycopene, a prostate protective antioxidant. These
foods include watermelon, pink grapefruit, guava, papaya, apricot and
cooked tomatoes.
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