Passing problems: prostate and prunus

The urologist's arsenal to treat BPH includes drug, surgical, and herbal options. Notwithstanding their side effects (nausea, fatigue), drugs such as finasteride that inhibit 5-alpha-reductase are often a first-line defense in the early stages of BPH. Prostate surgery sounds drastic but, despite some serious side effects (impotence, urinary incontinence), is routinely performed to remove the part of the gland that is impinging on the urethra. Reassuringly for most men, the historic cure of castration to control PBH has been abandoned. For many, the oldest and perhaps most effective remedies are the natural alternatives of herbal medicines. Among these, three plants are regularly used in European phytotherapy either singularly or in combination. They are nettle root, saw palmetto berry and pygeum bark. Interestingly, they hail from three different continents and three unrelated families. P. africana , and the issue of its sustainable production to meet increased demand, is the focus of this article.