Posted on 05/06/2025 6:46:51 AM PDT by Red Badger
When you try to find the right supplements to treat a health condition, it can feel like a shot in the dark. You often have to count on word of mouth. But some men with BPH have found success with supplements. And there’s at least some scientific research to back them up.
When you have BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), your prostate is larger than normal. It can cause problems such as a weak urine stream or a need to pee a lot throughout the day. Your doctor might suggest a prescription drug to treat your symptoms, but you might find that the side effects are too much to take. Or, you’d just rather not have to take medicine so often.
The Issue with Supplements
Supplements aren’t as closely regulated as medicines your doctor prescribes.
That means their quality, safety, and effects can vary. It’s best to talk to your doctor before you start any supplement. They may cause problems with prescription medicines, treatments, or tests you might need.
The Most Common Supplements
The best-studied, most commonly used supplements to treat BPH are:
* Beta-sitosterol
* Pygeum
* Rye grass
* Saw palmetto
Beta-sitosterol:
This is a substance found in many plants. It doesn’t affect the size of the prostate, but it may help your bladder empty and give you a stronger urine flow. It may improve other BPH symptoms as well.
Studies with Harzol and Azuprostat, two supplements that contain beta-sitosterol from South African stargrass, have shown particular promise.
Pygeum:
This comes from the bark of the African plum tree. It seems to help some men with BPH wake up less at night to pee, go fewer times during the day, have a stronger urine stream, and empty their bladders better.
Rye pollen extract:
This substance may improve a number of BPH symptoms, such as:
* Dribbling after you finish peeing
* Having to pee often throughout the day
* Having painful urination
* Having a weak urine stream
* Having an urgent need to pee
Some research shows that it may also shrink the prostate, give you a better flow, and help you empty your bladder.
Saw palmetto:
This is a short tree that grows in North America. Some small studies have shown a benefit. However, several large studies do not show that saw palmetto reduces the size of the prostate or eases urinary symptoms. Men may try it hoping to relieve common BPH symptoms such as:
* You have a hard time getting pee to start
* You must go often throughout the day
* Having a weak stream
* Having an urgent need to urinate
It may also help with waking up at night to go to the bathroom and feeling like you still have to pee after you just went.
For men who’ve had success with saw palmetto, it can take about 4 to 6 weeks to see results.
Supplements That Show Promise
Other supplements show hopeful signs of helping in studies so far, but there’s less research on these than the more common options.
Pumpkin seeds:
These and pumpkin seed oil extract seem to help with BPH symptoms and may shrink the size of the prostate. It may also be helpful when used along with other supplements such as saw palmetto.
Stinging nettle:
This is a type of herb, and its root may help with urine flow and waking up a lot at night to pee. It’s sometimes used along with other supplements to treat BPH symptoms.
Too Early to Say
Then there are the supplements where it’s just too early to know whether they’re useful. Early studies look good, but doctors need much more data on them.
Some of these include:
* Aqueous garlic (garlic extract in water)
* Flaxseed lignan extract
* Milk thistle
* Powdered, dried cranberry
* Quercetin (found in apples, tea, and red grapes, for example)
* Red clover
* Selenium
None of the supplements worked for me but one of the prescriptions helped but I had side effects like others mentioned.
I had an Aquablation with the side effects you described. I still need to take finasteride and tamselosin. what is a PAE.
Does a PAE have a limit size on the prostate it works for? (ie if the prostate is above such and such size—then a PAE is not appropriate.)
I read the reviews on all the ‘BPH supplements’ on Amazon and Google. They are practically all negative, waste of time, money, etc.... Apparently none of these things work at all, they just rip people off........................
Supplements work for me.
https://shop.bioticsresearch.com/products/palmetto-plus-forte?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=f1e046726&pr_rec_pid=4313271828566&pr_ref_pid=4313271763030&pr_seq=uniform
Add low dose Cialis 5mg once a day.
I hated the BPH meds. All of them made me feel miserable. The above combination works like a charm.
There is also a product called Libidon that may be beneficial.
https://jaycampbell.com/peptides/libidon-prostate-peptide-bioregulator/
Prostatic Artery Embolization
Your Urologist probably won’t recommend it because Urologists don’t perform the procedure.
Interventional Radiologists use a microcatheter to deposit beads or glue in the arteries supplying your prostate. The prostate shrinks over a period of a few weeks to six months and relieves your symptoms.
No - the larger the better. (to a point)
Mine was 106cc.
I’ve heard of that or something similar that they do in Europe where they cauterize or block the blood flow to your prostate.
TURP worked for me. Went home the next day, no catheter, no pain. No side effects, no ongoing medications, still fine a year and a half later.
The pumpkin seeds mentioned are a very good source of Zinc, which helps both sexes with bladder issues. Stronger flow, better emptying, less pressure.
Zinc needed.
Here is more information and possible help from Earthclinic.com:
https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/enlarged-prostate-prostatitis.html
“Cayenne
Cayenne pepper, known for its spicy flavor, is also considered beneficial in managing symptoms of an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The active component in cayenne pepper, capsaicin, is thought to play a critical role in its therapeutic effects. Capsaicin is known for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, which can be particularly beneficial for reducing the inflammation associated with an enlarged prostate. This reduction in inflammation can potentially alleviate symptoms like urinary frequency, urgency, and discomfort.
Furthermore, cayenne pepper is believed to improve blood circulation. Enhanced circulation can aid in efficiently delivering nutrients and oxygen to the prostate gland, possibly promoting better overall prostate health. Additionally, some studies suggest that capsaicin has properties that may help reduce prostate cell proliferation, a key factor in the development of BPH.
Standard Dosage
There is no specific recommended dose for cayenne pepper in the context of BPH. In general culinary use, a pinch to a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder is commonly used in cooking. As a supplement, following the manufacturer’s dosage instructions is essential.
Precautions: Cayenne pepper may cause gastrointestinal irritation in some individuals, especially in high doses. It’s also a blood thinner and may interact with blood-thinning medications.” . . .
PAE has been around for a while. I think the first guy was in Brazil, but I may be mistaken.
Currently it is a standard treatment and covered by most insurance.
I was scheduled for aquablation until I did a deep dive into the procedure. There is a lot of misleading marketing out there for all the MISTs.
I considered all available options, and for me, PAE offered the best risk/reward equation.
If you are older, not sexually active and not working, there are other options that are “one-and-done” that may be better.
Did you have ejaculation sparing TURP?
Must have, as there was no real difference before/after.
Tamulosin
I mean his dementia got worse over time anyway, but there was a marked cognitive improvement for a least a year after we took him off.
I am happy for you.
es-TURP preserves function in 80% of cases and is usually reserved for smaller (<50cc) glands.
untreated BPH can kill you ... i have a friend that allowed it to get so bad he went into kidney failure from back pressure in the bladder at the same time he had a heart attack and could be stented with only one of the two stents he needed because his kidneys weren’t working well enough to eliminate the iodine contrast dye necessary for two stent placements ... he had to wait for a few weeks for the 2nd stent ...
Regarding Aquablation, clinical data claim minimal bleeding, near 100% preservation for erectile function and around 90% for ejaculatory function, and claimed to be significantly better than traditional BPH treatments like TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) [OTOH, given the state of “clinical data”, your mileage may vary]
if considering Aquablation just be sure to consult a urologist who specializes in Aquablation [and has done a large number of them] and not some cowboy:
[and no, i have no dog in this hunt]
Clinical data that has been paid for by the manufacturer of the equipment.
In reality, urologists need to go back in with a TURP to achieve hemostasis.
Catheterization and hospitalization time is also frequently understated in literature.
Best thing for a healthy prostate is frequent ejaculation
yes you have to go at it like it owes you money
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