Biljni lekoviti proizvodi za ublažavanje simptoma urinarnih tegoba

Abstract

In both sexes, "lower urinary tract symptoms" (LUTS) are a very common syndrome that present a major clinical and public health problem due to its negative impact on numerous quality of life aspects. Herbal medicinal products (HMPs) holds an important place in the therapy of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and benign prostatic obstruction (BPH) as frequent causes of LUTS. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products of the European Medicines Agency (EMA/HMPC) lists more than 20 herbal drugs used for production of traditional herbal medicinal products (THMPs) for the treatment of UTIs, classified as urinary antiseptics and diuretics. In the context of actual scientific data, HMPs are considered as a useful adjunct to contemporary pharmacotherapy of uncomplicated UTIs. HMPs have a place in the therapy of BPO, too. According to EMA/HMPC, only one herbal medicinal product with soft hexane extract of saw palmetto fruit has the status of a herbal medicine, while the others are used as TMPs for the relief of LUTS related to benign prostatic hyperplasia. HMPs are less potent than synthetic medicines, and still are not included in standard BPO treatment protocols. However, their use have some great advantages: they can be taken through self-medication, in consultation with the urologist and, therefore, applied significantly earlier than synthetic medicines in initial stages of the disorder.