Male Plus - Prostate Component

continued from previous page prostate ingredients in Male Plus

Milk Thistle Seed - A Remedy For: Appetite loss, Liver and gallbladder problems. Milk Thistle seed has demonstrated significant value in the treatment of hepatitis, cirrhosis, inflammatory liver disease, and liver damage from toxic substances. It's also an antidote for death-cap mushroom poisoning.

The rest of the aboveground portion of the plant has occasionally been used for disorders of the liver, gallbladder, and spleen, and has been taken as a stimulant and tonic, but there is little evidence that it has any effect.

What It Is; Why It Works: A compound in Milk Thistle seed dubbed silymarin has been shown to protect the liver from a variety of toxic substances. It prevents toxins from penetrating the interior of liver cells, while promoting the growth of healthy new cells to repair liver damage. It also has antioxidant properties, mopping up damaging free radicals.

Native to Europe, the Milk Thistle plant generally reaches a height of 2 to 5 feet. The Latin name "marianum" and English name "Our Lady's Thistle" stem from the color of the leaf veins, which, legend has it, were turned white by drops of the Virgin Mary's milk. Thanks to this legend, Milk Thistle was once used as a tonic for nursing mothers.

Avoid If... No known medical conditions preclude the use of Milk Thistle. Special Cautions: There are no side effects on record.

Possible Drug Interactions: No interactions have been reported.

Ingredients in Male Plus Being Used For BPH

There exists in the botanical and nutritional kingdoms several substances with potential for inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase, and thereby preventing or treating BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia).

Saw Palmetto provides a complex of the best documented and most economical of these factors. Regular use of Saw Palmetto extract over time can correct nutritional deficiencies and improve the biochemical environment of the prostate thus building prostate health and opposing the development of the aging process.

An enlarged prostate (BPH) will occur in over 50% of men in their lifetime. A common condition, its frequency increases with age, from 5 or 10% at age 30 to 90% in men over 85. Its symptoms relate to bladder obstruction and include urinary frequency, many trips to the bathroom at night, and difficulty urinating. It also causes sexual dysfunction. Excess alcohol consumption and certain pesticides or other pollutants can contribute to BPH.

As stated, the primary culprit in BPH is dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Testosterone levels are thought to decline with age while estrogen increases. Higher estrogen levels are thought to inhibit the removal of DHT from the prostate. The latest research shows that as testosterone levels fall with age, estrogen becomes a primary culprit. Prostate size correlates with the estradiol level and with the ratio of estradiol to free testosterone.

Lately it has been thought that testosterone does not decline but becomes bound to serum protein in the blood. The body produces DHT to compensate.

Urtica (stinging nettle extract) unbinds testosterone. Stinging Nettle is also an aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase is the enzyme that the body uses to convert androgens such as testosterone into estrogen. Stinging Nettle is synergistic with pygeum in this regard.

In a study done in Germany, Stinging Nettle increased urinary volume by 66.1% (10.9 to 18.1 ml/sec.). IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) went from 18.2 to 8.7. On this scale 0-7 is slightly symptomatic, 8-19 is moderately symptomatic, and 20-35 is highly symptomatic.

A natural approach to BPH involves zinc and certain herbs which are most effective and mild to moderate cases. Severe cases may require surgery or Alpha blocker drugs (e.g. Hytrin or Minipress).

Zinc was shown in studies in the 1970's to reduce the size of the prostate gland and ameliorate symptoms in most subjects. Zinc also inhibits 5-alpha-reductase and Prolactin which increases uptake of testosterone in the prostate. Beer, stress and tryptophan aggravate the problem. (BPH victims should probably avoid 5-HTP).

As usual, essential fatty acids (EFA's) were found to cause significant improvement in BPH. As with so many other conditions, BPH victims have imbalanced or diminished fatty acids.

For some unknown reason, a combination of the amino acids glycine, glutamic acid and alanine (200 mg each) has an excellent effect on BPH symptoms.

Oxidized cholesterol damages the prostate and is carcinogenic. Oxidized cholesterol stimulates prostate hyperplasia. Antioxidants (as found in Male Plus) prevent oxidation of cholesterol. Cholesterol lowering nutrients should also be used.

Soy extract also relieves BPH. Various components of soy inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, block excess estrogen, and lower cholesterol. In one study a component of soy (beta-sitosterol) doubled urinary volume and decreased urinary residual by one half.

Continue: specifics about the BPH benefits of the herbs in Male Plus

Male Plus 3rd Component: Probiotic Enzyme

Back to page 1: ProBLEN Male Plus