Drugs and herbs in two divergent lines of benign prostatic hyperplasia therapy

Abstract

Prostatic adenoma, or benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), is a natural and common disease in elderly men. Its etiology is multifactorial. BPH is associated with annoying symptoms and morbid complications. The treatment of BPH with drugs, or synthetic chemicals, damages hepatic and renal tissues developing cirrhosis and kidney failure. As an alternative, there has been recourse to the use of medicinal plants or natural health. Pumpkin seeds, nettle leaves and soybeans have been proven to be potent against pain and discomfort in BPH patients. Moreover, plants used at high doses during a long period as treatment, may be toxic and complicate the lifestyle of BPH patients. Both, drugs and plants, used without precaution is a dilemma of prevention and toxicity. The patients simultaneously consume the drug and plants to anticipate healing. Combined drug-plant therapy could have harmful effects on health due to an accumulating antagonistic synergy of chemical and natural.