It's Only Natural

Chapter XVI

Prostate Problems

Disorders of the prostate are among the most troublesome conditions that beset the middle-aged man. The three most common difficulties are inflammation of the gland (prostatitis), benign prostatic hypertrophy (simple enlargement) and prostatic carcinoma (cancer).

Prostatitis

Prostatitis may occur at any adult age, but it is most common between twenty-five and forty. It is usually caused by some infective agent that comes from another part of the urinary tract. Orthodox treatment consists of antibiotics, although these aren't universally successful, and the prostatitis tends to return after the initial treatment is finished. Some clinics have treated this condition by direct injections of antibiotics into the prostate. They reported a good rate of cure, but I haven't investigated these claims and therefore can't substantiate or deny the efficacy of this method.

In our Clinic, we have traditionally treated prostatitis with the electrical magnetic waves of diathermy, microwave and Magnatherm, and a variety of specific nutritional compounds to help stimulate the reticuloendothelial system. These treatments are usually effective in overcoming acute prostatitis. The Depolar Ray is especially helpful in this condition though to be effective the treatment must extent from one-half to one hour each visit. The new Low Level Laser has also shown good promise of being effective in this condition. Most certainly this condition would fall into this reported field of efficacy.

Prostatic Cancer

The prostate is a relatively common site of cancer. Fortunately, the prostate is usually palpable and the hard, irregular masses of cancer tissue can usually be discovered early. We recommend the middle-aged man to have this examination with the same regularity that his wife has a Pap smear. If such examinations are done regularly, there is no reason for prostatic cancer to develop beyond the stage where it can be successfully treated surgically. Although we aren't surgically inclined, if a very high rate of cure can be obtained through surgery and only tentative help by other means, we aren't afraid to recommend surgery. When the cancer is found in its early stages, surgery is usually quite successful. Therefore we generally recommend it, unless the patient is vehemently opposed.

Now days we also have the PSA blood test the check to see if there might be some cancerous activity in this organ. We have found that where the PSA begins to rise, we can often stop this rise and even lower it in many patients by the use of the same basic treatment that we use for benign hypertrophy.

The above paragraph was written some twenty years ago and during the interim there have been several interesting studies concerning prostatic cancer. The first of these tended to show that this cancer is often very slow growing and that the survival rate of those who had it operated on and those who did not was almost the same.

Later, with the bringing to light of several famous people who died of this cancer and others who were saved from this fate (just in the nick of time) by immediate surgery, there seemed to be a big push to remove all such tumors, regardless of the earlier studies.

Since cancer is not my specialty, I cannot really comment on the paradoxical nature of these two finds except to wonder if the earlier finding might not have been thought of as threatening to the surgical community and so they initiated a campaign to counteract it. This much in the same way that the orthopedic surgeons are now waging a campaign to nullify the Government report of acute low back conditions which favored manipulation over surgery.

Benign Hypertrophy

By far the most common prostatic involvement is the benign enlargement (hypertrophy) that comes with middle or old age. Some physicians consider this condition a natural physiologic change that occurs in the aging male. We, at Beverly Hall Corporation Healing Research Center the do not agree. Although this condition is common and we make it a general practice to examine every male over the age of forty for this type of enlargement, we find relatively normal prostates in many of our older patients who have attempted to follow the natural life style we recommend.

Much research has been done in a search for the cause of this disorder. The results of this work have given us many clues as to its cure.

Most of the early research seemed to show that this condition was caused by an apparent deficiency of one of the various fatty acids-which at that time was called Vitamin F. These acids-linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic-when given to the patient with prostatic enlargement, help in alleviating the symptoms and in even causing a decrease in the prostatic size.

Further investigation demonstrated that trace minerals in various combinations might help. Zinc in particular has been singled out as a possible vital factor and some authorities have recommended eating pumpkin seeds to supply zinc, thereby alleviating the disorder.

Still later work has shown that the specific amino acids- glutamic acid, alanine, and aminoacetic acid-when supplied in a raw assimilable form and in a specific proportion are very beneficial in correcting the general symptom pattern of benign prostatic hypertrophy. A compound of these amino acids has so proven its value that it is the only product I am aware of that is allowed by the FDA to state on labels that it is helpful for the symptomatic relief of benign prostatic hypertrophy.

There is an interesting story behind that labeling, by the way. The original product had been on the market for some time and had gradually gained acceptance by physicians of all persuasions. Then one day, a member of the FDA decided that this should not be; a nutritional product couldn't help this disorder and so it was ordered off the market. Usually, when such an action is taken, the company, not having the vast sums needed for a battle that are available to a federal agency, takes down its tents and steals off into the night. Fortunately for the middle aged men of America, the heads of this company weren't about to give in so readily and they took the government to court to prove the value of their product. During this trial, renowned urologists from all parts of the country took the stand to tell of their successful experiences with this compound. And in the end, not only did the government lose its case, but the company also won the right to label their product as being useful for the symptomatic relief of benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Another useful agent in the treatment of benign hypertrophy is the herb Saw Palmetto. This classic (and classy) herb has been used for this purpose for centuries and is as beneficial today as it was when it was discovered. At our Healing Research Center we treat this condition with remedies that contain all these salubrious compounds and others not so well known.

In general, I believe that prostatic enlargement results from nutritional deficiencies that become manifest in men as they reach middle age. Treatment therefore should not only be directed toward supplying the nutrients already discussed, but also in making certain that the patient's whole basic nutrition is as balanced as possible.

Sexual Activity

Because the prostate is an integral part of the sexual apparatus, I think that its integrity can be affected by conditions that influence sexual function. The obvious purpose of the prostate gland is to supply a thickened medium to make up the bulk of the seminal fluid, which carries the sperm into the vagina during ejaculation. Many authorities have conjectured that the prostate is also a hormone-producing gland. Some of these authors have thought that certain hormones produced in the prostate are absorbed by the vaginal mucosa, having a beneficial effect on the general female economy and a stabilizing effect on her nervous system. (See Chapter 26 and the book One Flesh by this author)

If the prostate functions as most other glands do, and we have no reason to expect it to work differently, the more it is used, excluding obvious excesses, the better it should work. If, on the other hand, it is inactive for long periods or is otherwise abused, it may become congested, something that could play a part in producing hypertrophy. If sexual intercourse is engaged in by a married couple every few days, the prostate, barring rather severe deficiencies, should have every opportunity to retain its normal structure. Assuming, however, that sexual relations are sporadic, occurring maybe once or twice a month, the circulation of the formed prostatic fluid is definitely inhibited and it is possible that this gland may eventually become hypertrophic owing to the stagnant condition of its secretions. It does seem that as some men grow older that prostate slows down the production of its excretion and so congestion many not occur as rapidly as in a younger man or one whose hormone structure is such that his prostatic fluid production does not diminish with age. For these men, the release of the prostatic fluid is still beneficial but it may not be necessary (or possible) to have intercourse as frequently as in the younger or more virile man.

This theory of prostatic stagnation is definitely not accepted by most medical practitioners. These same practitioners, however, do not have any more satisfactory explanation for this problem and until they can either adequately disprove my theory or come up with a superior one of their own, I shall continue to suggest to my male patients that they make every attempt to continue normal sexual relations at reasonable intervals as late in life as possible. It is usually possible for me to tell the exact status of a middle-aged man's sexual activity by palpating his prostate gland. Only rarely has such an examination failed to give me truthful information.

Treatment

The treatment of this condition in our Clinic is broken down into three parts-first, that which must be done by the patient himself; second, that which can be helped by nutritional supplementation; and last, treatments that must be carried out under the supervision of the treating physician.

From the foregoing discussion on sexual activity and prostatic stagnation, one may correctly surmise that we first apprise a patient of the nature of his prostate gland, its normal purpose, and what he can do through the proper regulation of this sexual activity to aid his physician in correcting his disorder.

In unmarried patient, or those who are at an age when sexual activity is no longer practical or possible, we suggest a regimen of breathing exercises designed to absorb the prostatic secretions back into the general body circulation. The more sophisticated of my readers may find such suggestions naive, but clinical experience has proven the usefulness of this method.

Clinical experience has also shown that promiscuous activities by men not only do not help, but actually tend to aggravate prostatic difficulties. My own theory is that the vaginal secretions of different women are almost as dissimilar as their faces, and although it is possible for a man to adapt and actually thrive from the effects of a single vaginal secretion bathing his sexual organs, a mixture of secretions produces a result that is somewhat chaotic to his sensitive sexual structures. I find, therefore, that prostatic difficulties often accompany promiscuity as readily as they do habitual masturbation and married continence.

My experience has shown that a contented sexual existence with one woman continued at a consistent regular rhythm late into life is the best possible external environment to assure a healthy prostate gland.

Nutritional Supplementation

Most of the nutritional products used to help prostate difficulties have already been discussed. Vitamin F can be obtained from a number of sources. The original product used for this purpose was vitamin F perles from the Royal Lee Foundation. I like to support originators by using their products until I am sure that a competing product is definitely superior; if this occurs, I then use the more effective compound. In our Center, we still use the original vitamin F perles, although any one of several cold-processed oils- safflower, soy, and sunflower-could be effective if used for some time we find the concentrated F perles more effective.

In using zinc and other trace minerals, we recommend the chelated form, or the colloidal form. I often recommend a complete spectrum of trace minerals for my prostate patients. There are several products that contain the amino acids found to be most useful to help this condition. Here again I like to stick with one of the old classical formulas since it seems to work consistently better than the others.

Saw Palmetto can be added in many forms. We are now beginning to use a form distilled fresh by our own in-house herbalist. You just can not beat freshness in herbal compounds.

Office Treatment

Office treatment has proven an invaluable part of prostatic therapy. Once the gland is considerably enlarged, the correction of deficiencies and poor sexual habits don't relieve the swelling without proper local treatment.

The first procedure we use is a good prostatic massage. To carry out this procedure, the patient is asked to assume a knee-chest position and the doctor slowly inserts a cotted, well-lubricated index finger into the patient's anus. Both sides of the prostate are carefully and thoroughly examined, and the prostate is then massaged in such a way as to lift the gland off the urethra (urinary tube), to break up any mild adhesions and loosen the gelatinous-like substance present in the enlarged gland. At first we treat these cases as often as once a week, although as soon as good improvement is made, the patient is reduced to bimonthly and later to monthly office visits.

In our Centers, we use either diathermy or Magnatherm before the prostatic massage is given. This treatment helps prepare the body tissues so they can more readily respond to massage.

The Depolar Ray is helpful in all cases and is never omitted from our prostate therapy. This little known therapeutic device generates an alternating magnetic energy that seems to stabilize some of the unknown factors that may play a role in prostatic hypertrophy. Although the Depolar Ray is not a cure-all for prostatic disorders, it has nevertheless proven itself to be invaluable in the treatment of prostatic hypertrophy for the last forty years.

Lately our treatment of this condition has been augmented by the use of the MicroLight 830 low light laser. It seems to be revolutionizing our treatment for Prostatic Hypertrophy.

Prognosis

It hasn't been necessary, to my knowledge, for any of our prostatic hypertrophy patients to require later surgery. In our experience this ailment responds well to natural therapy. Obviously, the earlier we start therapy, the better and more rapid are the results. Even with advanced cases, however, we usually can relieve the symptoms, enabling them to live a relatively normal life.

The two common types of surgery performed for this enlargement are not without their own attendant difficulties. In transurethral resection, a cutting edge is passed up the urethra and a section of the prostate is removed from the inside. This is useful in some patients, but usually it requires another operation ten to fifteen years after the first one, unless natural therapy is instituted.

The more radical total removal of the prostate offers permanent cure, but it tends (as can the transurethral resection) to definitely alter the patient's sexual life. Most surgeons are loath to mention these sexual difficulties before surgery, but it is rare for a patient not to have sexual weaknesses after either operation.

Prostatic operations are currently very popular among physicians. It's not necessarily their fault, however, that such operations must be performed. Most men have an inherent dislike and fear of medical treatment, and therefore usually won't seek attention for a prostate disorder until it is well advanced. If we could treat these men at an earlier state, much surgery could be avoided.

By constant publicity, we have convinced the women of our country to get their Pap tests and to examine their breasts, and from these simple procedures many disastrous problems have been prevented. Unfortunately, no such efforts have been made to have prostates checked on a similar basis. For this, I make a plea here and now. If you are forty or older, please go to a physician knowledgeable in these methods and have your prostate examined. If he finds it enlarged, let us help you follow the recommendations in this chapter. Prostate disorders strike right at the very seat of your manhood, and there is no reason you should be robbed of the many pleasures that should be yours in middle and later life.

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