The Prostate Gland
Hello, this is Dr. Ellen. In this month’s ‘Real Common Sense’ newsletter, I want to write about the prostate gland, some of the problems that may arise, and some of the approaches to helping those with some of those problems. Regarding cancer of the prostate, I will talk about some of the difficulties in diagnosis, but will not discuss the complex issues involving its treatment.
By the way, if you haven’t had a chance to see my previous newsletters, you can find them on my website, www.drellencutler.com under ‘Media’.
What is the Prostate Gland?
The prostate gland is a small organ roughly the size of a ping pong ball or walnut. It is situated in the pelvis below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The upper part of the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder out of the body, passes through the prostate. The ‘normal’ prostate is soft and smooth to the touch during a digital rectal examination (DRE), which is done by the examiner placing a gloved finger into the rectum and gently pressing toward the front of the body.(1)
The prostate gland is primarily an organ of the male reproductive system. Its main function is to produce prostatic fluid, which is rich in zinc and enzymes that help nourish sperm. One important enzyme is prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which helps make the semen less viscous. With sexual arousal, the prostate pushes prostatic fluid through the ducts and into the urethra. This mixes with sperm and other fluids in the urethra and is subsequently ejaculated as semen. Hormones including testosterone help control the function of the prostate gland. The prostate contains an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into a biologically active form called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone is important for normal prostate growth and development, but can also promote male pattern baldness later in life.(1,2)
What Can Go Wrong
There are three main types of problems that can arise with the prostate gland. One category is inflammation of the prostate gland, known as prostatitis. It is most commonly seen in people under 50 years of age. A number of symptoms may occur, including those of a urinary tract infection (UTI) such as painful urination (dysuria), unusually strong feelings of the need to urinate (urgency), frequent urination (frequency), and increased urination at night (nocturia). There are several different types of prostatitis. Bacterial prostatitis often arises following a urinary tract infection. Acute bacterial prostatitis is relatively uncommon, starting suddenly, and is typically treated with antibiotics. With chronic bacterial prostatitis, the symptoms usually start gradually but in spite of antibiotic treatment, the bacterial infection keeps recurring, thus taking longer to treat than acute bacterial prostatitis. However, the most common type of prostatitis and the one I have most often been asked to address in my clinic is chronic prostatitis, sometimes referred to as chronic pelvic pain syndrome or prostatosis, which is not considered to be related to an ongoing infection. There can also be asymptomatic prostatitis, which is usually discovered after having tests for other health problems.(3,4)
A second problem that can arise with the prostate is an enlargement of the prostate gland, referred to as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The prostate gland tends to grow larger with age, which is the reason BPH is common in older people. It is rarely seen in those under 40 years of age. BPH may cause pressure on the urethra and result in problems with urination. Symptoms that can arise are sometimes referred to as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and include difficulty initiating urination, feeling as if urination is incomplete, a weak urine stream and/or a discontinuous stream with or without dribbling at the end of urination, and symptoms of a UTI.(3,5) Medications used for BPH include “alpha blockers” such as tamsulosin (Flomax) that relax the smooth muscle of the bladder neck and prostate, and “5-alpha reductase inhibitors” such as finasteride (Proscar) that shrink the prostate by preventing conversion of testosterone into DHT. Interestingly, daily tadalafil (Cialis), used to treat erectile dysfunction, may also be used to treat an enlarged prostate.(5) Lifestyle management of BPH (and non-infectious chronic prostatitis) usually includes regular physical activities and exercise and a whole food plant-based diet. Phytonutrients and herbs that may be helpful include beta-sitosterol, Pygeum, rye grass pollen, saw palmetto, stinging nettle, zinc (as found in pumpkin and sesame seeds), and soy products.(6,7)
The third and most concerning problem that can afflict the prostate gland is prostate cancer. It is the second most common cancer in males, with 66 years being the average age of diagnosis.(1) Symptoms that may be seen with prostate cancer include LUTS, erectile dysfunction, and visible blood in the urine (hematuria), though it may not present with any symptoms. Prostate cancer is usually considered as a possible diagnosis with an elevated PSA found on blood testing. However, PSA can be increased not only by prostate cancer but also BPH, prostatitis, ejaculation, and even exercise. A DRE may actually have a greater predictive value than PSA testing, but these two should be done along with an evaluation of symptoms to determine if a prostate biopsy is to be considered.(8) The PSA referred to above is the total PSA. Other tests include percent-free PSA and the complexed (i.e., not free) PSA. There are scoring tests that combine the three values in order to improve the determination of those who may be candidates for a biopsy when the total PSA is only slightly elevated or if another biopsy should be done if a previous biopsy was negative.(9)
Ellen Cutler Method (ECM)
In my clinical practice, I have had a number of opportunities to use ECM energetic testing and clearing methods with those suffering from problems with their prostate gland, primarily those with chronic prostatitis and BPH. Of course, the great advantage of using ECM is the ability to find specific and often seemingly unrelated sensitivities and other underlying problems leading to disrupted function of the prostate. Fortunately, once discovered, many of the individual’s underlying problems can be cleared using the ECM desensitization techniques along with individualized lifestyle modifications and supplementation. Most have benefitted from moving toward a whole food plant-based diet and using a high-quality full spectrum digestive enzyme blend at the beginning of each meal. I typically recommend Dr. Ellen’s Way ‘Digest Supreme’ or Dr. Ellen’s Way ‘G.I. Calm’ for those with gastrointestinal complaints. Other supplements I have frequently found to be beneficial for individuals with prostate issues are saw palmetto extract, pumpkin seed extract, Pygeum bark extract, beta-Sitosterol and the chelated minerals zinc and selenium. Fortunately, many have found significant improvement in their complaints using ECM.
Till next month, please be well, be healthy, and remember…
Dr. Ellen
References:
- “What is the prostate gland?” at https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319859
- “The Prostate” at https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/prostate/what-is-prostate-cancer/the-prostate#:~:text=a%20radical%20prostatectomy).-,Function,function%20of%20the%20prostate%20gland.
- “Prostate Diseases” at https://medlineplus.gov/prostatediseases.html
- “Prostate Problems” at https://www.webmd.com/men/prostate-problems
- “Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)” at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20370087
- “How to shrink the prostate naturally” at https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321231
- “Do Supplements Help with BPH?” at https://www.webmd.com/men/prostate-enlargement-bph/enlarged-prostate-supplements-remedies
- “Prostate Cancer in Primary Care” at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12325-018-0766-1
- “Screening Tests for Prostate Cancer” at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/tests.html
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information and the products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease.