Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases in men over the age of 50. The disease is so widespread that many doctors already talk about the inevitable character of the disease in this age group. According to statistical data, after the age of 60 seven out of ten men fall victims to this disease.

The prostate is a glandular organ in men’s body composed of chestnut-shaped muscle-fibrous tissue of approximately 3.5 to 4 cm. It is located below the bladder and in front of the kidney, surrounding the urethra, thus allowing urine and semen to go out from the penis. The main function of the prostate is to produce a part of semen. The gland’s dimensions, size and structure change with aging. At approximately the age of 45, prostate cells located closest to the urethra start to grow, i.e. benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) develops. It is characterized by progressive glandular enlargement and gradually increasing pressure on the urethra.

One of the theories trying to explain the emergence of this disease is the imbalance between male and female sex hormones in human body. Other factors can be urinary infections, not fully healed prostatitis, Chlamydia infections, sclerosis of urinary bladder neck, etc.

The enlarged prostate gland causes compression of the bladder, which explains the first disturbances in urination. Gradually the compression may spread to the rear part of the urethra, thereby narrowing its aperture and making urination even more difficult.

During the evolution of the disease three stages can be distinguished, mostly depending on complaints of the patient and the amount of residual urine in the bladder after urination. During the first stage patients have almost no residual urine. This stage is characterized with frequent urination, especially at night, which is often obstructed. Urine stream gets weaker. The general condition of man is good. During the second stage night time urination (nocturia) becomes more frequent, accompanied with a sensation of not emptied bladder. The amount of residual urine increases. During the third stage the urine stream is very weak and starts to come out in a few small drops. Urinary retention happens frequently and the quantity of residual urine exceeds 200 ml. Additional urinary tract infections occur more often. The most common complications include: acute urinary retention, haematuria /blood in urine/, urinary infections, which if not treated promptly lead to kidney failure.

There are two ways of treating benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) – conservative and surgical.

Conservative treatment is allowed in the first stage of the disease, while in the second and especially in the third stage benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) needs for surgery.

The herbal treatment has a remarkably good effect on the disease during its early stage. It helps to regulate urination and remove subjective complaints, which is a result of strengthened bladder muscles and improved prostatic functions. At the present stage of phytotherapy development, herbal combinations offered in tablets supplant the need for brewing herbal teas and are a convenient way of administration in the treatment of this disease.

Given my clinical experience of internal medicine, as a specialist and long time phyto therapeutist, I recommend Prostatizal Plus, which is designed specifically for prostatic diseases. This is a natural product containing standardized dry extracts of herbs such as hazel, small-flowered willow, harrow and marigold. Biologically active substances obtained from these herbs have a very good anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antispasmodic and analgesic effect. Prostatizal Plus eases the difficult and often painful urination. It gradually removes urine retention in the bladder. It helps to remove urinary infections, which are common complications of prostate hyperplasia. Prostatizal Plus helps to boost the sexual energy in men.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic progressive disease characterized by stromal and glandular hyperplasia, clinically manifested in lower urinary tract obstruction. Statistics for Bulgaria shows that every year over 10,000 men have the diagnosis Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and 50% of the patients are over the age of 50. There is a trend towards an increasing number of younger patients. The reasons remain unclear yet.

Clinical symptoms are divided into two main groups:

1. Irritating symptoms of inflammation of the lower urinary tract 
   • frequent and low quantitative urination (polakiuria);
   • night-time urination (nocturia);
   • sudden, compelling urge to urinate;
   • burning sensation and pain upon urination (dysuria);
   • suprapubic pain.
2. Obstructive symptoms (difficulty to urinate)
   • difficulty to start urinating;
   • urinary efforts;
   • weak urination;
   • sensation of incomplete bladder emptying.
   • Complications of BPH include:
   • frequent prostatitis, sometimes with bleeding;
   • bladder stones;
   • chronic renal failure (CRF).

The American Urological Association (AUA) has developed а scheme for grading the severity of BPH disease in patients, based on 7 clinical questions with answers awarding 1-5 points. Depending on the number of points, BPH is classified in 3 groups under the MSI (an international symptom index): 

• 0-7 points – light form
• 8-19 points – moderate form
• 0-35 points – severe form 

The BPH treatment is carried out with two main groups: 

1. Natural Products

2. Synthetic products

• 5α-reductase inhibitors (proscar, finasterid)
• selective adrenergic 1α-antagonists (Omnic, cardura)

In Western Europe (Italy, France, Germany), 90% of the new patients diagnosed with BPH start a treatment with natural products. It is a reasonable treatment alternative in the early stages of BPH. Natural products have a high effectiveness/safety ratio, match well with and enhance the effect of drugs, slow down the worsening of the disease and delay the development of prostate cancer. In my long-term practice as urologist I prescribe Prostatizal plus of VITA HERB most often, being convinced of its clinical effect. Prostatizal plus is a natural product that helps to enhance and restore the prostate gland function. It contains 4 standardized extracts from: 

• small-flowered willowherb (Extr.HB Epilodium parviflorum)
• hazel bush – rind (Extr.Cort.Corylumavellanae)
• rest-harrow - roots (Extr. Rad.Ononis spinosa)
• marigold - blossom (Extr. Fl. Callendula officinali)

These biologically active components have synergic effect – i.e. they complement each other’s action. The small-flowered willow herb, known in Tyrol as “women’s hair” has an anti-inflammatory, anticancer, diuretic effect, eases the difficult and painful urination. Hazel bark is most commonly used for prostatitis and kidney stones due to its diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Rest-harrow is by rule included in herbal prescriptions to treat urinary tract infections. Thanks to its diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect it helps the release of residual urine in the bladder with BPH patients.

Marigold has a powerful antimicrobial effect against prostatitis – the antiseptic effect of marigold cream on wounds is well known.

In my practice I usually apply the following schemes with Prostatizal Plus in prostatism.    

• Acute prostatitis: Vibramycin - 0.100, 2 times a day x 1 capsule /for 7-10 days/ + Prostatizal Plus 2 times x 1 tablet. After the inflammation is over, the treatment continues in 3-6-12 monthly courses with Prostatizal Plus only 2 times a day x 1 tablet.
• As a complementary natural product 2 times a day x 1 tablet along with the main synthetic drugs and subsequently the patient continues the maintenance therapy only with Prostatizal Plus 2 times a day x 1 tablet.
• For prevention in men at the age over 45-50, 3-month courses 2 times a day x 1 tablet twice annually with or without complaints.

Clinical results:

• excellent product tolerance and safety;
• improvement of clinical symptoms in 80% of cases - relief of pain and irritation while passing urine, reduction in nocturia (the frequency of night time urination);
• reduction in the number of recurrences;
• rejuvenation of the ultrasound image of the prostate gland /shrinks in size/
• reduction in complications - inflammation, bladder stones, chronic renal failure (CRF);

I advise all my BPH patients to have:

• clinical examinations every 1-6 months;
• urine examination every 1-3-12 months;
• digital rectal examination (DRE) – once a year;
• study of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) – once a year.

Diet is an important factor in BPH - exclude alcohol, caffeine, fizzy drinks and fatty foods.

In the light /0-7 points/ and moderate /8-19 points/ form without complications – the treatment is: Prostatizal Plus® 2 times a day x 1 tablet in longer courses. In severe form /20-25 points/ - the treatment should be upon consultation with an urologist.

Remember that timely prevention with Prostatizal Plus and consultation with an urologist ensure health and sexual life in men over 50 years.