By age 80, about 90% of men have an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. It’s now considered inevitable in most men. While BPH can be asymptomatic, when symptoms occur, they range from bothersome to life-threatening. LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) are produced when the prostate, which encircles the urethra, begins squeezing it, interfering with urinary function. Symptoms can include a weak, interrupted urine stream; a sense of incomplete bladder emptying; dribbling; difficulty starting or stopping urination; frequent urination, especially at night; a painful, burning sensation during urination; and sudden urgent needs to urinate. Damage to the urethral lining encourages urinary tract infections. BPH sometimes gets progressively worse, causing bladder stones, incontinence, pain during intercourse, impotence and even life-threatening conditions such as complete blockage of urine flow or irreversible bladder or kidney damage…

Current medical treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) leave a lot to be desired. Although the most popular BPH medications, drugs like Proscar (finasteride), alleviate BPH symptoms (lower urinary tract symptoms, or LUTS), they are apt to produce loss of libido, ejaculatory disorders and impotence as side effects. Meanwhile, surgery doesn’t always work, and its risks—infections, loss of sexual function (up to 30% of the time), and scar tissue, which can make the problem surgery was supposed to correct even worse by further narrowing the urethra—make it a less than inspiring option. Fortunately, BPH is not a new disease. It’s been around for thousands of years, and it’s been treated successfully for just about as long with herbs that alleviate symptoms without the major side effects associated with drugs. Botanist and integrative practitioner, Dr. Andrew Weil explains why herbs are so often superior to drugs. He notes that whole plants contain many different compound…