One of the most common problems to afflict men is chronic prostatitis. Although some forms of prostatitis can be cause by infection, the majority are not. Over 95% of prostatitis is chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, which is now called prostatodynia, or chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).
Antibiotics can sometimes help this condition even though it is not infectious. Other conventional pain relief methods, alpha-blockers, or lifestyle changes can also help chronic prostatitis. One effective alternative treatment for prostatitis is the flavonoid quercetin. Side effects are low with quercetin and it has been shown to significantly reduce prostate symptoms in men.
Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome
Urologychannel.com reports that half of men experience some form of prostatitis in their lifetime. Men from about age 35 onwards can be affected by this problem. Acute bacterial prostatitis can be a life-threatening situation if left untreated, but about 95% of prostatitis is the more benign non-infectious type.
While this non-bacterial prostatitis might not be as serious, it can be quite painful and severely diminish the quality of life of men who have it. The major symptoms of chronic prostatitis are pain in the pelvic region, painful urination and/or ejaculation, urinary urgency, and general discomfort in the genital region, and sometimes blood pigment in the urine.
Men with chronic prostatitis sometimes have a tender prostate gland, which a physician can identify with a DRE. Most times men, have a negative urine culture with this disorder. However, doctors typically prescribe flouroquinolone or tetracycline antibiotics to patients as a first line treatment for problems with the prostate. Antibiotics have a slight anti-inflammatory effect. If no improvement is seen after several weeks, patients usually are given more conventional treatments to soothe the chronic prostatitis.
Conventional Prostatitis Treatments
Antibiotics are usually the first treatment for prostatitis even if there is no evidence of infection. In order to penetrate the prostate gland, these drugs need to be taken for several weeks or months. Chronic prostatitis waxes and wanes with most men, opening up the prospect of being on antibiotics for long stretches of time. This leads to antibiotic resistance and can cause gastrointestinal distress, like diarrhea, which may need to be treated with probiotics.
Beyond antibiotics, there are not many conventional treatments that physicians can recommend for prostatitis. Sitz baths and analgesics can help control the pain. Sometimes alpha-blockers like Flomax are prescribed to relax the muscles in the bladder to provide relief. The problem is that alpha-blockers have serious side effects, including dizziness, fainting, runny nose, and ejaculatory problems.
Quercetin For Prostatitis
The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that quercetin is a common flavonoid, or pigment, that is found in many plants, fruits, and vegetables. It has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, similar to the benefits of green tea. Quercetin is found in citrus fruits, tea, onions, berries, and red wine, but not in quantities that can provide a treatment response.
Most studies show that 500 mg of quercetin twice daily can help men relieve the symptoms of prostatitis. At these levels, quercetin is generally considered safe with no side effects. It is advisable to talk to a doctor before taking quercetin if you also take corticosteroids, anti-coagulants, cyclosporine, or fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Sometimes quercetin is absorbed better when taken with vitamin C or bromelain.
Quercetin Benefits
One prominent study has shown that taking quercetin significantly lowers the scores on the NIH-CPSI. This is the National Institute of Health's Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index, the gold standard for determining the severity of chronic prostatitis. A study released in the December 1999 edition of Urology concluded, "Therapy with the bioflavonoid quercetin is well tolerated and provides significant symptomatic improvement in most men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome."
There are several additional vitamins, supplements, and phytotherapies which improve chronic prostatitis, including zinc, bee pollen, and saw palmetto. Encyclopedia.com defines phytotherapy as treatment based solely on plant extracts, which would include quercetin. Dr. Bob Djavan concluded in a 2009 edition of Current Prostate Reports that, in regard to chronic prostatitis, "Phytotherapy is an effective alternative to traditional treatment options of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication."
Brian Downing - Graduated Summa Cum Laude from the College of Mount St Joseph with a Bachelor's Degree in Socio-Psychology. Subsequently co-authored an ...
