Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): Inevitable—or Preventable? By age 80, approximately 90% of men have an enlarged prostate, medically referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In conventional medicine, BPH is now widely regarded as an almost inevitable consequence of aging. At Beyond Health, we don’t accept inevitability as destiny. Understanding BPH and Its Risks The prostate gland surrounds the urethra. As it enlarges, it can compress the urethral channel, leading to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that range from mildly annoying to severely debilitating. Common symptoms include: Weak or interrupted urine stream Difficulty starting or stopping urination A feeling of incomplete bladder emptying Dribbling Frequent urination, especially at night Urgency or sudden need to urinate Burning or pain during urination Over time, irritation and damage to the urethral lining can increase the risk of urinary tract infections. If left unaddressed, progre…

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 ma…