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| Conditions:
Prostatitis
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Proposed Natural Treatments | Herbs and Supplements to Use Only With Caution | References
Related Terms
• Acute Bacterial Prostatitis; Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (in Men); Chronic Prostatitis; Prostatalgia;
Prostatodynia
Principal Proposed Natural Treatments
• None
Other Proposed Natural Treatments
• Acupuncture; Biofeedback; Bromelain; Buchu; Couch Grass; Cranberry; Echinacea; Eleutherococcus; Garlic;
Goldenseal; Grass Pollen Extract; Lapacho; Marshmallow; Multivitamin/Mineral Supplements; Pipsissewa;
Proteolytic Enzymes; Pygeum; Quercetin; Saw Palmetto; Vitamin C; Watermelon Seed; Zinc
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland in men that surrounds the urethra.
It produces a fluid that is part of semen. There are three main types of prostatitis: acute bacterial, chronic
bacterial, and chronic non-bacterial.
Acute bacterial prostatitis is the easiest form to treat, but it is also the least common. Symptoms include chills,
fever, pain in the lower back and genital area, urinary frequency and urgency (often at night), burning or painful
urination, and body aches. Examination of the urine shows white blood cells. Antibiotic treatment is highly
successful for this form of prostatitis.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis resembles acute prostatitis, but it is milder and may go on for a long time (months or
years). It is believed that chronic bacterial prostatitis is caused by a problem in the prostate that makes the gland a
focus for infection. Antibiotic treatment usually relieves symptoms, but they often come back after treatment is
stopped.
Chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome or prostatodynia, is the most
common form of prostatitis. Unfortunately, it is also the least understood and the hardest to treat. Symptoms
include urinary urgency, urinary frequency (especially at night), pain or burning while urinating, difficulty
urinating, lower abdominal pain or pressure, rectal or perineal discomfort, lower back pain, painful ejaculation,
and impotence. These symptoms may wax and wane for no obvious reason. Conventional medicine lacks a
specific treatment for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis. Supportive treatments may be used, including stool
softeners, pain medications, and warm sitz baths.
Proposed Natural Treatments for Prostatitis
Quercetin belongs to a class of water-soluble plant coloring agents called bioflavonoids, which have
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Bioflavonoids have been investigated for a wide variety of medical
uses. A study published in 1999 suggests that quercetin may be helpful for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis. In
this double-blind trial, 30 men with fairly severe chronic non-bacterial prostatitis were given either quercetin (500
mg twice daily) or placebo for a month. 1 The results showed that participants given quercetin improved to a
significantly greater extent than those in the placebo group. The greatest gains were seen in reduction of pain.
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A special grass pollen extract has also shown promise. In a 6-month, double-blind study of 60 men with
non-bacterial prostatitis, use of the grass pollen extract was more effective than placebo. 9 Grass pollen is better
known as a treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). All the other commonly used natural treatments
for this condition have also been suggested for prostatitis. However, while there is reasonably good supporting
evidence that some of these help BPH, the evidence regarding their use in prostatitis remains weak. For example,
uncontrolled trials and other highly preliminary forms of evidence hint that the herb pygeum might be helpful for
prostatitis.6,7 Also, an open-controlled trial (using a no-treatment group) found indications that saw palmetto
might be helpful for prostatitis; 8 however, an open comparative study found the drug finasteride more effective
than the herb for this purpose. 2
Interestingly, a combination of herbal extracts (including Serenoa repens (@saw palmetto@), Urtica dioica
(@neetle@), @curcumin@ and quercitin) may turn out to be modestly beneficial as additional treatment. In a
trial of 143 men with chronic bacterial prostatitis, the preperation enhanced the effectiveness of a two-week
course of antibiotic (prulifloxacin in this case). 11
Other herbs and supplements sometimes recommended for prostatitis, but that lack almost any supporting
evidence, include bromelain, buchu, couch grass, cranberry, echinacea, eleutherococcus, garlic, goldenseal,
lapacho, marshmallow, multivitamin/mineral supplements, pipsissewa, proteolytic enzymes, vitamin C,
watermelon seed, and zinc.
Acupuncture and biofeedback have been tried as well. A study involving 89 men with chronic nonbacterial
prostatitis, a 10-week trial of acupuncture was modestly more effective than sham (fake) acupuncture at relieving
symptoms, both during treatment and for a period of 6 months following treatment. 10
Herbs and Supplements to Use Only With Caution
Various herbs and supplements may interact adversely with drugs used to treat prostatitis. For more information
on this potential risk, see the individual drug articles in the Drug Interactions section of this database.
References [ + ]
1. Shoskes DA, Zeitlin SI, Shahed A, et al. Quercetin in men with category III chronic prostatitis: a preliminary
prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Urology. 1999;54:960-963.
2. Kaplan SA, Volpe MA, Te AE. A prospective, 1-year trial using saw palmetto versus finasteride in the
treatment of category III prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. J Urol. 2004;171:284-288.
3. Rugendorff EW, Weidner W, Ebeling L, et al. Results of treatment with pollen extract (Cernilton N) in chronic
prostatitis and prostatodynia. Br J Urol. 1993;71:433-438.
4. Buck AC, Rees RWM, Ebeling L. Treatment of chronic prostatitis and prostatodynia with pollen extract . Br J
Urol. 1989;64:496-499.
5. Suzuki T, Kurokawa K, Mashimo T, et al. Clinical effect of Cernilton in chronic prostatitis [in Japanese;
English abstract]. Hinyokika Kiyo. 1992;38:489-494.
6. Menchini-Fabris GF, Giorgi P, Andreini F, et al. New perspectives on the use of Pygeum africanum in
prostato-bladder pathology. Arch Ital Urol Nefrol Androl. 1988;60:313-322.
7. Carani C, Salvioli V, Scuteri A, et al. Urological and sexual evaluation of treatment of benign prostatic disease
using Pygeum africanum at high doses. Arch Ital Urol Nefrol Androl. 1991;63:341-345.
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8. Reissigl A, Pointner J, Marberger M, et al. Multicenter Austrian trial on safety and efficacy of phytotherapy in
the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. AUA 98th Annual Meeting: Abstract 103937.
Presented April 26, 2003.
9. Elist J. Effects of pollen extract preparation Prostat/Poltit on lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with
chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study. Urology. 2006;67:60-63.
10. Lee SW, Liong ML, Yuen KH, et al. Acupuncture versus sham acupuncture for chronic prostatitis/chronic
pelvic pain. Am J Med. 2008;121:79.e1-7.
11. Cai T, Mazzoli S, Bechi A, et al. Serenoa repens associated with Urtica dioica (ProstaMEV) and curcumin
and quercitin (FlogMEV) extracts are able to improve the efficacy of prulifloxacin in bacterial prostatitis patients:
results from a prospective randomised study. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2009;33:549-53.
Last reviewed August 2011 by EBSCO CAM Review Board
Last Updated: 8/1/2011
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Copyright © 2011 EBSCO Publishing. All rights reserved.