Fitoterapia. 2003 Sep; 74(6): 545-52.

Phytomedicines for the prostate.

Steenkamp V.

Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, PO Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. vsteen@med.up.ac.za

Phytomedicines are becoming more popular all over the world. Prostate cancer patients and those with benign prostatic hyperplasia are increasingly exploring the use of complementary alternative medicine especially due to the risk of mortality and long-term morbidity associated with surgical procedures. The incidences of prostate diseases are continually rising and the effect of phytomedicines already tested do provide relief, are well comparable with that of traditional forms of treatment. This paper reviews the phytomedicines used in Africa, Western countries and China as a treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis and prostate cancer. Herbals which hold potential promise are mentioned, although much research is still required.