ACUPRESSURE FOR-ENLARGED PROSTATE: A SIMPLE TREATMENT USING ACUPRESSURE POINT
Acupressure to treat enlarged prostate can be very effective. An enlarged prostate causes urination problems. 40% of men over age 50 are troubled by this condition, by the age of 70, 90% man are affected. At early stages, the symptom of an enlarged prostate is frequent urination, especially at night. Later on, urination becomes difficult; eventually, this can lead to urinary retention and inability to urinate.
Prostate Enlargement Symptoms
The continuous decrease in size of the urethra due to increment in size of prostate gland can cause trouble while urinating. Some men experience pin in bladder or a burning sense while urinating, blood in the urine. Men with BPH have symptoms of the disease. The symptoms may be listed as follows:
• A weak urine stream
• Difficulty starting urinating
• Dribbling at the end of urinating
• Needing to urinate two or more times per night
• Inability to urinate
• Incomplete emptying of your bladder
• Incontinence
• Pain with urination
• Blood in urine
• Slowed or delayed start of the urinary stream
• Straining to urinate
• Strong and sudden urge to urinate
• Prostate Enlargement Causes
The actual cause behind prostate enlargement is not known. Factors like changes in the cells of the testicles and aging are responsible for growth of the prostate gland. The likelihood of development of an enlarged prostate increase with age. The exception to the problem of prostate enlargement are the men who had their testicles removed at a young age (may be because of testicular cancer). There is another condition in which the prostate gland may shrink in size instead of enlargement. This happens when the testicles are removed after a man develops BPH.
As the number of cells increases, the prostate grows larger. However, it is unknown about the precise reason for this increase. During the early stage of prostate enlargement, the muscles of the bladder become thicker and urine is forced through the narrowed tube of urethra. This results in increased sensitivity of the bladder muscle, thus causing a need to urinate more frequently.
As the size of the prostate increases and the urethra gets squeezed, resulting into the bladder getting problem in becoming completely empty.
Prostate Enlargement Treatment
The treatment of the problem will be based on how bad the symptoms are. Your doctor will also consider other medical problems you may have. If the prostate enlargement condition worsens and symptoms like blood in the urine are present, consult a doctor immediately. Men over 50 years of age should have their prostate gland checked annually by a physician even if they have no symptoms. This procedure allows your doctor to roughly estimate the size and consistency of the prostate. You can have your urine check for blood or any signs of infection. Your blood may be tested for kidney problems or sent for a screening test for prostate cancer. After the diagnosis process is over, you may be recommended immediate treatment if the symptoms are mild. And then, one or more exams may be conducted per year to ensure that prostate enlargement is not creating any problem. One should not completely rely on these medical treatments, taking some precautions can also help in avoiding the complications of prostate enlargement, like:
• One should not delay urination once an urge is experienced.
• You should go and urinate as soon as you feel the urge, and empty the bladder completely
• Also, go to the bathroom regularly, even if you don’t feel a need to urinate.
• Avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol, especially after dinner.
• Avoid drinking a lot of fluid all at once.
• Don’t drink any fluid before 2 hours of bedtime.
• Cold weather and lack of physical activity may worsen the condition.
• Keep yourself warm and exercise regularly.
Foods to avoid: –
• Red Meat
• You may love your steak but the problem with meat is that it elevates levels of arachidonic acid in your body, and that, in turn, increases inflammation, the very thing your enlarged prostate does not need. Choosing alternatives such as lean meat and fish is a better option for men needing to reduce inflammation of the prostate.
• Eggs & Poultry
• A study published in the January 2006 issue of Urology which explored the connection between food and the increased occurrence of BPH symptoms, found that eating eggs and poultry appeared to increase symptoms, so these too should be avoided if possible. Egg yolks also have high levels of arachidonic acid, which, as mentioned earlier, increases inflammation. Try eating only the egg white, as this is a good source of protein.
• Processed foods & sugar
• Highly processed food (which tends to include junk food and take-aways) and refined sugar all increase inflammation in your system. Cut them down or out to reduce the pressure on your prostate.
• Caffeine
• Avoiding or limiting your caffeine intake including coffee, tea and fizzy drinks can make a big difference to your urinary health. Caffeine has a diuretic effect, which means it increases your urge to go to the toilet. Because it can be difficult for men with an enlarged prostate to empty their bladders completely, drinking these beverages, especially late at night, can irritate the bladder and increase the need to go to the toilet.
• Instead, try drinking chamomile tea which has anti-inflammatory properties, green tea which has antioxidant benefits or caffeine-free coffee alternatives such as Bambu. Another important drink for your prostate is water. It’s vital to stay well hydrated, but remember to try not to drink anything at least 2 hours before bedtime.
• Spicy foods
• Curries, chili, hot sauces can make tasty meals but men with an enlarged prostate need to be wary of spicy foods like these, as they can irritate the bladder and prostate, causing urinary symptoms associated with BPH.
• Dairy
• A low fat diet is a recommended way to help relieve BPH symptoms. Dairy is typically high in saturated fats as well as inflammatory chemicals which can worsen your symptoms. Reducing your dairy intake or switching to soya alternatives are a good idea. Worried about the suspected estrogenic effects of soya?
• Alcohol
• Avoiding alcohol is recommended as it acts as an irritant in the bladder and prostate, resulting in the need to urinate frequently. There is, however, some evidence that moderate alcohol consumption can help reduce the risk of BPH, but the key word here is moderation!
• So watch what you eat and drink, look out for foods which aggravate your BPH symptoms or drinks that make you need the toilet more and try to avoid them if possible or at least eat and drink them less often.
Acupressure: Disease related to kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and prostate enlarged gland can easily be treated by applying acupressure twice daily on the points of hand and feet as shown in the pictures below.
For More Information Consult:-
Dr. Kamaljit Singh M.D. (A.M), PhD
Managing Director/Chief Consultant
Dr.Kamal Bio Magnetic Holistic Health Centre Pattaya/Bangkok (Thailand).
Mobile (+66) 869032543
Email: info@drkamalholistic.com Web: www.drkamalholistic.com