Ayurvedic Treatment for Prostatitis clears the inflammation of the gland and rejuvenates the genitourinary system. Prostatitis is a condition affecting only males. It affects the prostate gland, a small gland situated directly below the bladder only in men. In this condition, there will be inflammation and swelling of the same. The prostate gland functions in the production of fluid (semen) that nourishes and helps in transporting sperm. Prostatitis causes painful or difficult urination in many. Pain in the groin, pelvic area or genitals and sometimes flu-like symptoms will be present in many cases, too.
Prostatitis is more common in men 50 or younger but can be developed at any age. Sometimes the cause isn’t identified. If prostatitis is caused by a bacterial infection, it can be managed with a course of antibiotics mostly.
Depending on the cause, prostatitis can be acute or chronic. It will resolve, either on its own or with treatment in most cases. But some cases of prostatitis last for months with a high recurrence rate (chronic prostatitis).
Signs & symptoms of Prostatitis
Signs and symptoms of prostatitis include:
- Pain or burning sensation during urination (dysuria)
- Difficulty urinating, such as dribbling or hesitant urination
- Frequent urination, particularly at night (nocturia)
- Urgent need to urinate
- Cloudy urine
- Blood in the urine
- Pain in the abdomen, groin or lower back
- Pain in the area between the scrotum and rectum (perineum)
- Pain or discomfort of the penis or testicles
- Painful ejaculation
- Flu-like signs and symptoms (with bacterial prostatitis)
Causes of Prostatitis
In many cases of prostatitis, the cause is not known. Common strains of bacteria can be a cause. It can be acute or chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Risk factors for prostatitis include:
- Being young or middle-aged
- Having had prostatitis previously
- Having an infection in the bladder or the tube that transports semen and urine to the penis (urethra)
- Having pelvic trauma, such as an injury from bicycling or horseback riding
- Using a tube inserted into the urethra to drain the bladder (urinary catheter)
- Having HIV/AIDS
- Having had a prostate biopsy
Pathophysiology of Prostatitis
Sexual transmission of bacteria is possible but hematogenous, lymphatic, and contiguous spread of infection from surrounding organs can also happen. Prostatitis is characterized by the presence of acute inflammatory cells in the glandular epithelium and lumens of the prostate, with chronic inflammatory cells in the peri glandular tissue. Inflammatory cells in urine or prostatic secretions do not correlate with the severity of the clinical symptoms. A nonspecific mixed inflammatory infiltrate composed of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes is a common picture in chronic bacterial prostatitis.
Viral and granulomatous prostatitis is present in persons with HIV infection, and the condition is culture-negative. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most found virus causing prostatitis in HIV infected people. Other microbes associated with culture-negative conditions are Mycobacteria, like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and fungi, like Candida albicans.
Diagnosis of Prostatitis
Urine tests to check for signs of infection in urine
Blood tests
Post-prostatic massage
Ultrasound
CT scan
Treatments of Prostatitis
Prostatitis treatments depend on the underlying cause. They can include:
- Antibiotics
- Alpha-blockers
- Anti-inflammatory agents like Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Prognosis of Prostatitis
In acute bacterial infections, when it is happening for the first time, the prognosis is usually good with proper medicines and therapy. In recurrent & chronic cases, the prognosis depends upon the underlying cause.
Complications of Prostatitis
Bacterial infection of the blood (bacteraemia)
Inflammatory conditions like epididymitis
A pus-filled cavity in the prostate (prostatic abscess)
Semen anomalies leading to infertility can happen with chronic prostatitis
Ayurvedic Concept of Prostatitis
There is no direct correlation or description in Ayurveda for prostatitis. But while explaining disorders of the urinary system where urine output is less than normal, Mootrakrucchra can be compared with prostatitis to an extent by their clinical features.
Ayurvedic Nidana of Prostatitis
Causative factors for the vitiation of Kapha, Pitta and Vaata
Ayurvedic Purvaaroopa of Prostatitis
Not mentioned separately
Ayurvedic Samprapti of Prostatitis
Normally, mootravahasrotas works through continuous filtration and filling of vasti by minute and numerous tubules. This process includes Vrkka (Kidney)gavini(ureter), mootravaha dhamanis and siras & nadi (Renal vessels and nerves associated) Vasti(bladder) and mootrapraseka (urethral opening). In men, the male reproductive organs including prostate and seminal vesicles are also a part of this area. When the vitiated Kapha & Pitta cause any obstruction in this system, the Vaata gets aggravated and the disease manifests.
Ayurvedic Lakshana of Prostatitis
Vaatika
Vasti-vamkshana-medhra arti – Severe pain in the bladder and penis/area of the urethral opening
Alpalpam muhu mootrayet – frequent urination as drops
Or
Paittika
Peeta/Rakta/sadaaha – Yellow/red discolouration with the burning sensation
Or
Kaphaja
Vasti-medhara gourava & sopha- Heaviness & oedema of Bladder and penis/area of the urethral opening
Sapiccham mootram- Turbidity of urine
Savibandham mootram- Obstructed urination
In tridoshaja mootrakruchra, signs & symptoms of all three doshas will be present.
Ayurvedic Divisions of Prostatitis
Vaatika
Paittika
Kaphaja
Tridoshaja
Ayurvedic Prognosis of Prostatitis
Sadhyam in new and single dosha vitiated
Kashtasadhyam in chronic & three doshas involved
Ayurvedic Treatment (Chikithsa) of Prostatitis
Ayurvedic treatment for prostatitis depends upon the predominance of vitiated dosha. Considering the swelling and inflammation, the Kapha & Pitta are managed first with caution not to vitiate Vaata.
Samana
Teekshna-ushna-katu bhojanam(pungent, hot and spicy diet)
Diet with Yava (Barley)
Ksharam (Alkaline diet and drinks)
Kaalaseyam-buttermilk
Dhatreephalarasa+ela
Madya+ela
Kantakariswarasa+honey
Sodhana
Vamanam
Virechanam
Sneha-Swedanam
Asthapanavasti
Anuvasanavasti
Uttaravasti
Commonly used Ayurvedic medicines for Prostatitis
Bruhatyadi kashayam
Varanadi Kashayam
Veerataradi kashayam
Chandanasava
Kumaryasavam
Gokshuradi guggulu
Punarnavasavam
Kanchnar Guggulu
Kaisore Guggulu
Brands available
AVS Kottakal
AVP Coimbatore
SNA oushadhasala
Vaidyaratnam oushadhasala
Home remedies for Prostatitis
The following might ease some symptoms of prostatitis:
- Soak in a warm bath (sitz bath) or use a heating pad.
- Limit or avoid alcohol, caffeine, and spicy or acidic foods.
- Avoid prolonged sitting or bicycling.
- Drink plenty of caffeine-free beverages.
- Low sodium intake.
- Omega 3 fatty acid intake.
- Gluten-free diet.
Diet for Prostatitis
- To be avoided
Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.
Junk foods- cause disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine
Carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion
Refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening Agni (digestive fire)
Milk and milk products – increase kapha, obstruct channels and obesity
Curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases
- To be added
Light meals and easily digestible foods
Green gram, soups.
Freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain etc
Behaviour:
Protect yourself from the hot climate.
Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight wind rain or dust.
Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.
Avoid holding or forcing the urges like urine, faeces, cough, sneeze etc.
Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Be active.
Yoga for Prostatitis
No hectic exercises or physical activities are recommended in severe cases of prostatitis.
Regular stretching and cardio exercises are advised in mild cases. Also, specific yogacharya including naadisuddhi pranayama, & pavanamuktasana is recommended.
Regular exercise helps improve the bioavailability of the medicine and food ingested and leads to positive health.
Yoga can maintain harmony within the body and with the surrounding system.
Pavanamuktasana
Nadisudhi pranayama
All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.
Research articles of Prostatitis