Dietary therapy for prostatitis and detailed explanation of benign prostatic hyperplasia

[Ingredients] 10g bamboo leaves, 10g licorice root, 15g achyranthes bidentata.

[Preparation] Wash the above three ingredients, add water and decoct. Drink as a tea substitute.

[Efficacy] Clears heat and drains fire, promotes diuresis and detoxifies. Used for acute prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 15g of purple gromwell root, 10g of chrysanthemum.

[Administration] Boil the above two ingredients in an appropriate amount of water. Drink frequently as a tea substitute.

[Efficacy] Clears heat, detoxifies, and promotes diuresis; suitable for acute prostatitis due to damp-heat accumulation.

[Ingredients] 15g rose petals, 10g magnolia bark flowers, 20g green plum blossoms, 30g moneywort, and an appropriate amount of green tea.

[Administration] Grind the above herbs into a powder, mix well, and put 2g into a small gauze bag. Steep in boiling water and drink as tea.

[Efficacy]Regulates Qi and promotes urination; used for acute prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 30g mung bean sprouts, 20g water celery, appropriate amount of white sugar.

[Directions] Crush water celery and mung bean sprouts together, add an appropriate amount of boiled water, stir, remove the residue and extract the juice, add an appropriate amount of white sugar. Drink immediately.

[Efficacy] Clears heat and promotes urination; used for acute prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 250g lettuce.

[Directions] Peel and wash the lettuce, shred it, and mix it with an appropriate amount of white sugar and vinegar. Serve as a side dish.

[Efficacy] Clears heat and promotes diuresis; suitable for acute prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 2 fresh kiwis.

[Preparation] Wash and peel the skin, then eat raw.

[Efficacy] Clears heat and soothes the stomach, promotes urination and relieves strangury. Suitable for acute prostatitis and urinary tract infections.

[Ingredients] 100g fresh plantain, 50g fresh bamboo leaves, 10g raw licorice root, and rock sugar to taste.

[Preparation] First, wash and chop the plantain, then put it in a pot with fresh bamboo leaves and raw licorice root. Add an appropriate amount of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Add rock sugar. Drink frequently as a tea substitute.

[Efficacy] Clears heat and promotes diuresis, drains fire and relieves strangury. Suitable for acute prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 50g of daylily.

[Administration] Decoction of daylily, drink frequently as a tea substitute.

[Efficacy] Clears heat and promotes urination; suitable for acute prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 60g houttuynia cordata, 100g lean pork.

[Preparation] Wash and cut the houttuynia cordata into sections, wash and cut the lean pork into chunks, put them together in a pot, add water and cook until done. Eat the meat and drink the soup once a day.

[Efficacy] Clears heat, promotes diuresis, and relieves strangury; used for acute prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 15g chicken gizzard lining, 10g Lysimachia christinae, 10g Lygodium japonicum, 20g Pyrrosia lingua.

[Preparation] Place the sea gold sand in a gauze bag and boil it with the other three ingredients for 20 minutes. Remove the dregs and drink the liquid immediately, once a day.

[Efficacy] Clears heat, promotes diuresis, and relieves strangury; suitable for acute prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 50g of fern shoots, 30g of kelp.

[Preparation] Soak the kelp until softened, then cut it into strips. Wash and chop the fern leaves. Put both kelp and fern leaves into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes. Eat the kelp and drink the soup.

[Efficacy] Clears heat, detoxifies, and promotes diuresis; used for acute prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 10 ginkgo nuts, 30g winter melon seeds, 15g lotus seeds, 10g pepper powder, a small amount of white sugar.

[Preparation] Remove the skin and core from the ginkgo nuts, and put them in a pot with winter melon seeds and lotus seeds. Add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Remove the dregs and keep the liquid. Add pepper powder and white sugar. Drink as a tea substitute.

[Efficacy] It promotes urination and eliminates turbidity, and is suitable for chronic prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 100g shepherd's purse, 100g fresh Imperata cylindrica root.

[Administration] Decoction of the above two ingredients, drink frequently as a tea substitute.

[Efficacy] Clears heat and eliminates dampness, promotes urination and removes turbidity. Suitable for those with chronic prostatitis belonging to the damp-heat syndrome.

[Ingredients] 150g celery, 50g japonica rice, a pinch of salt.

[Directions] First, cook the rice. When it is almost cooked into porridge, add the washed celery and cook until the rice is thoroughly cooked. Add a small amount of salt. Take once a day for 4 weeks.

[Efficacy] Clears heat, promotes diuresis, and invigorates blood circulation; suitable for chronic prostatitis.

[Ingredients] 50g mung beans, 10g sunflower seeds, a pinch of salt.

[Directions] First, put mung beans into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and bring to a boil over high heat until the mung beans are almost cooked. Then, add sunflower seeds, cover, and simmer over low heat until boiling. Finally, add a small amount of salt to taste. Drink in several portions as needed.

[Efficacy] Clears heat and promotes diuresis; suitable for chronic prostatitis.

The wedding night is supposed to be a joyous occasion, but some men unfortunately develop prostatitis during their honeymoon, adding a touch of trouble to their otherwise happy mood. This disease, also known as "honeymoon prostatitis," is mainly related to the lifestyle of newlywed men during this period.

First, the excitement and novelty of newlywed life often lead to unrestrained sexual activity during the honeymoon. Excessive sexual activity causes repeated and continuous congestion of the prostate, a significant cause of inflammation. Literature reports that men who engage in frequent intercourse within a short period have an 89.7% chance of developing prostatitis. Additionally, using methods like withdrawing ejaculation or premature ejaculation for contraception can also cause prostate congestion and inflammation.

Secondly, during the joyous occasion of a wedding, friends and relatives often offer congratulations, which inevitably involves alcohol. Ethanol is a major enemy of the prostate, causing it to rapidly become congested and eventually leading to inflammation. Furthermore, excessive consumption of spicy and rich foods, or the indiscriminate use of so-called "aphrodisiac" drugs, can also cause prostate congestion and edema, leading to illness.

Furthermore, the stress and busyness of wedding preparations, the fatigue of long-distance travel, irregular eating habits, and constant temperature changes can all lower the body's resistance, making it more susceptible to bacterial infections and prostate problems. Some individuals also neglect hygiene during sexual activity, leading to urethritis, which can then ascend and cause prostatitis.

Some men already have chronic prostatitis before marriage, which worsens due to the above reasons, or even leads to acute prostatitis. Therefore, we advise all grooms that while enjoying the joy and happiness of their honeymoon, they should not forget to prevent prostatitis to avoid being plagued by the disease and adding to their troubles.

Chronic prostatitis can occur secondary to acute prostatitis, cystitis, or pyelonephritis, or it can be caused by non-infectious factors such as frequent intercourse, excessive masturbation, interrupted intercourse, excessive alcohol consumption, habitual constipation, and overwork, leading to chronic congestion and edema of the prostate and resulting in chronic inflammation. Patients with chronic prostatitis should minimize the frequency of intercourse to allow the prostate to rest fully, reduce congestion, and promote early healing of the inflammation. Failure to practice moderation can create a vicious cycle, making prostatitis difficult to cure and worsening symptoms of sexual dysfunction. Therefore, excessive sexual desire should be corrected, interrupted intercourse or masturbation should be avoided, prolonged cycling or sitting should be avoided, and plenty of water should be consumed to maintain regular bowel movements. Daily hot sitz baths and Kegel exercises can help activate the prostate. Regular physical exercise to strengthen the body and prevent colds can also contribute to the recovery from chronic prostatitis.

From a physiological perspective, sitting slows blood circulation, especially in the perineum, directly leading to chronic congestion in the perineum and prostate. While short periods of sitting have no effect, prolonged sitting due to work or other reasons can negatively impact the prostate. This is because congestion in the perineum and prostate can cause the accumulation of metabolic waste products, blockage of the prostate ducts, and impaired drainage of prostatic fluid, leading to chronic prostatitis. Studies have shown that a significant proportion of chronic prostatitis patients are drivers, and that this condition is difficult to cure, illustrating this point. Therefore, those working in such professions should be aware of this and avoid prolonged sitting. Taking breaks and changing positions regularly can improve local prostate congestion and reduce or prevent the occurrence of chronic prostatitis.

Whether chronic prostatitis affects fertility is currently unclear. Some patients with severe prostatitis symptoms can still conceive; however, theoretically, inflammation of the prostate can affect the quantity, quality, and composition of semen, potentially leading to infertility. Therefore, this issue should be viewed dialectically.

First, when the prostate gland is inflamed, the secretion of prostatic fluid decreases, thus reducing semen volume and interfering with sperm survival and motility. Simultaneously, it reduces the activity of enzymes in the prostatic fluid, increases semen viscosity, and prolongs liquefaction time. Furthermore, inflammation can lower the pH of the semen and cause the body to produce antisperm antibodies, leading to sperm death. The prostatic fluid, due to inflammation, contains a large number of bacteria and bacterial toxins, which can consume nutrients in the seminal plasma, thereby affecting sperm survival.

Therefore, it is clear that chronic prostatitis may indeed affect fertility. However, based on clinical cases, most patients with chronic prostatitis have normal fertility. Although a small number of patients may also experience infertility, it should be recognized that there are many causes of infertility. Overemphasizing chronic prostatitis often leads to overlooking other causes, thus delaying treatment and potentially exacerbating the patient's fear of the disease.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease among elderly men, and its incidence gradually increases with age. With the continuous improvement of living standards and health levels in my country, average life expectancy has significantly increased, leading to a corresponding rise in the incidence rate. Most cases occur between the ages of 50 and 70. While it can occur before age 50, it is less common (only 10% in men aged 40-49, but up to 75% in men aged 60-70, with some reports reaching as high as 85%). The actual incidence rate is higher than reported, as some men with prostatic hyperplasia do not seek medical attention. The medically recognized causes of BPH include the following:

(1) Excessive sexual activity and masturbation cause congestion of the sexual organs, and the prostate tissue enlarges due to prolonged blood stasis.

(2) Chronic inflammation of the prostate is not completely cured, such as urethritis, cystitis, seminal colliculitis, etc., which causes congestion and hyperplasia of the prostate tissue.

(3) Frequent alcohol abuse or long-term drinking, and a fondness for spicy and other irritating foods can stimulate prostate hyperplasia.

(4) Lack of physical exercise can lead to arteriosclerosis and poor local blood circulation in the prostate, which can also cause this disease.

1. Frequent urination: The number of times a patient urinates increases significantly, both during the day and at night, especially at night, which affects the patient's sleep and rest.

2. Difficulty urinating: It takes a while to urinate while standing next to the urinal. In normal individuals, urine is expelled within 2 seconds of starting urination, but in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the initial urine output is significantly delayed.

3. Weak urination refers to the disappearance of the force of the urine stream during urination, the shortening of the "range", the inability to form a parabola, and the appearance of "weakness", sometimes even dripping.

4. Urine stream splitting: In normal people, the urine stream is concentrated into a single jet of water when urinating. However, in people with benign prostatic hyperplasia, the urine stream splits into two streams due to urethral compression.

5. When urinating, the urine should not be expelled all at once, but rather in several segments. That is, urinate for a short while, pause briefly, and then continue urinating.

6. Incomplete urination: After urinating, there is always a feeling of "not urinating completely," and urine will drip out, often wetting the crotch.

7. Urinary incontinence: A large amount of urine accumulates in the bladder, causing the pressure inside the bladder to gradually increase. When abdominal pressure increases, such as during coughing or straining, urine will overflow spontaneously.

The prostate gland consists of the urethral glands surrounding the urethra and the prostatic glands surrounding the urethral glands. It can be divided into three groups: ① urethral gland group; ② suburethral gland group; ③ prostatic group. In a normal prostate, the prostatic group occupies most of the outer ring, while the other two groups occupy a very small central area. Therefore, the prostate can be divided into inner and outer layers: the inner layer consists of the urethral gland group and the suburethral gland group, and the outer layer is the prostatic group, with a fibrous membrane between these two layers. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) mainly occurs in the inner layer, surrounding the urethra (the posterior urethra from the bladder neck to the verumontanum), the urethral gland group and the suburethral gland group, as well as connective tissue. Smooth muscle tissue gradually proliferates, compressing and surrounding the outer prostatic group to form a "surgical capsule," approximately 2–5 mm thick. The capsule has a clear boundary with the hyperplastic glands and is easily bluntly dissected. Generally, the lesions can be classified into three types: unilobal hyperplasia; bilateral lobular hyperplasia; and trilobal hyperplasia (both lobes and the middle lobe).

The pathophysiological changes caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are mainly due to urinary tract obstruction caused by the enlarged gland compressing the bladder neck and posterior urethra. Obstruction can lead to a series of functional disorders and pathological changes in the urethra, bladder, and kidneys. The degree of BPH is not necessarily proportional to the degree of urinary tract obstruction; it mainly depends on the degree of compression of the posterior urethra by the enlarged portion. Sometimes, even a small enlarged portion can cause severe obstruction. For example, in cases of median lobe enlargement, the bladder base is elevated and may protrude into the bladder, acting as a valve during urination and blocking the internal urethral opening, preventing the bladder from emptying. In cases of bilateral lobes enlargement, the posterior urethra is often compressed and elongated, causing curvature of the prostatic urethra and resulting in urinary obstruction.