Ayurvedic remedies for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

According to [tag]Ayurveda[/tag], BPH is considered as an imbalance caused in one of the three vital parts, Head (Sira), Pelvis (Vasti) and heart (Hrudaya). The pelvis (Vasti) disorder is further classified into a disorder called Udayavarta (meaning reverse direction of vata). During Udayavarta, toxins or ama are drawn from the intestines towards the liver and then into the blood. The blood that is aggravated with pitta circulates and gets accumulated in the weakened areas (known as apana vata). Hence, to be specific, ayurveda believes that the apana vata in the large intestine and in reproductive organs becomes aggravated and rises in upward direction, leaving the reproductive organs (prostate) depleted.

DIET: Ayurveda recommends the “vata pacifying diets” and “pitta pacifying diets” as a precautionary measure. For pacifying the vata dosha, minimizing foods that are dry, light and cold and including warm and heavy foods are suggested. Foods like wheat, rice, milk, tomatoes, yogurt, citrus fruits are recommended, while care should be taken to minimize spicy, bitter foods and astringents like beans and apples. For pacifying vata, larger portions of food can be eaten, but not more than what can be digested easily. All dairy products are believed to balance vata dosha, but take care to consume warm milk and avoid milk after a full meal. Also spices like ginger, cumin, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, mustard seeds, black pepper apart from non-vegetarian food (except beef) and nuts are found to be good. However, all vegetables belonging to beans category except mung dhal and tofu should be avoided.

For pacifying pitta, minimizing warm foods and consuming cool liquid foods is recommended. Also salty, sour and spicy foods should be avoided and sweet, bitter or astringent flavors can be consumed. Dairy products are believed to aggravate pitta, and hence yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk etc should be avoided. All fruits (sweet fruits) and vegetables (except those belonging to beans category) and spices (in moderate quantities) and [tag]non vegetarian food[/tag] (except seafood, egg yolk and beef) can be consumed.

TIPS: In case of mild Prostate Hyperplasia symptoms, taking care of the following will provide some relief:

• Natural urges should not be controlled, as this tends to vitiate the Vata. Hence urination should be done whenever there is an urge.
• Alcohol, caffeine and tobacco are believed to increase the vata, hence they should be avoided, especially after dinner.
• Doing regular [tag]physical exercises[/tag] helps in keeping the body warm, which in turn normalizes vata in the body.
• [tag]Stress[/tag] should be avoided as far as possible, as it tends to increase vata.
• Foods that cause constipation should be avoided, as this in turn causes vata imbalance. Hence low fat, [tag]high fibre foods[/tag] are recommended.
• Medications ([tag]Cold and cough[/tag]) are believed to increase symptoms and hence should be avoided.
• Weaning from drinking fluids at least two hours prior bed time may help relieve the symptoms.