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The Perfect Prostate: A Guide to Male Health Using the Wisdom of Ayurveda
The prostate is a small gland that sits just below the bladder. It opens into the urethra and secretes an alkaline fluid that makes up a part of the semen. Under various stresses it can become swollen and this obstructs the flow of urine out of the bladder. This is known as Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). It has a cost of about $1 billion per annum in the US affecting about 50% of all men between 40-60 years old, so if men could look after their prostates they would be richer in pocket and health!
Symptoms
Increased urgency and frequency (because the bladder is filled but urination is obstructed)
Feeling of incomplete emptying
Increased night time urination
Hesitant and intermittent flow
Obstructed flow terminal dribbling
Decreased urinary force
Premature ejaculation
Occasional blood in the urine
There can be some serious long-term affects of prostate imbalance as the inflammation causes an increase in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) which can indicate early stages of prostate cancer. There is the other problem of a bladder that is constantly obstructed causing a strain on the kidneys that can cause chronic renal failure.
Causes
In biomedical terms BPH is a steroidal hormone problem where the reduction in testosterone production after 40 years of age results in an increase in the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) as well as oestrogens. DHT is an androgen (a steroid hormone) that can cause inflammation and swelling in the prostate whilst oestrogens impair the uptake of zinc, low levels of which cause inflammation of the prostate.
Ayurvedic View
According to the Caraka Samhita (a classic text of Ayurveda) the major causes of this condition are suppression of natural urges, fasting, excessive exercise, excessive intercourse, too much astringent, bitter, and pungent foods, wine and meat in excess. These lead to stagnation in the reproductive tissue. Excessive sex is probably the most common cause as too much ejaculation depletes the prostate of nourishing fluids and as a result the excessive demand for semen causes inflammation of the tissue.
This dryness in the prostatic tissue leads to an aggravation of vata, the principle that regulates all movement in the body and one aspect of which controls the downward flow of all wastes and fluids in the body. With this vital regulatory principle in a state of confusion the channels of the reproductive system become blocked. Blockage in this lower part of the pelvis creates pain in the testicles, inappropriate sex drive, irregular flow of fluids (sometimes not coming and at other times not appearing at all) and swellings. There is a build up of inflammatory pitta toxins as well as damp kapha accumulations. So, beginning with a vata derangement has resulted in all three principles of vata, pitta and kapha becoming disturbed.
Treatment
The general line of treatment is to reduce all three principles and when an appropriate threshold has been reachedto nourish the reproductive tissues. These recommendations are appropriate for any man wanting to keep a healthy reproductive system.
Avoid:
Excessively hot and spicy foods: Aggravates inflammation
Alcohol: Aggravates inflammation, taxes kidneys
Salt: Aggravates inflammation
Poor quality fats and oils: Cause inflammation and increase stagnation
Inorganic food: pesticides are renowned for increasing DHT (causing prostate inflammation)
Increase:
Water: Cleans the kidneys and is a very cheap and healthy diuretic
Soya products (helping to reduce the amount of circulating oestrogens in the blood)
Zinc: Helps to reduc
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