Enlarged Prostate or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) 前列腺肥大 和 良性前列腺增生 (BPH)

Symptoms

Men over 50 often experience symptoms associated with prostate enlargement, such as:

• Frequent urgency: Strong, sudden need to urinate that’s hard to control.

• Slow urine flow: Difficulty initiating urination, with a noticeable delay.

• Frequent nighttime urination: Increased need to urinate at night.

• Weak urine stream: Reduced flow that makes it hard to fully empty the bladder.

• Pain or burning: Some may experience discomfort or a burning sensation when urinating.

Causes

Enlarged Prostate may result from several factors, including aging, hormone changes, and diet.

• Hormonal factors: As men age, testosterone levels gradually decline while estrogen levels relatively increase. This can influence prostate cell growth. An increase in estrogen is also possibly linked to certain genetically modified foods or estrogen-rich foods, like soy products.

• Dietary factors: Frequent intake of genetically modified soy products or alcohol could disrupt hormonal balance and affect prostate health.

• Benefits of cruciferous vegetables: Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts are high in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, which help reduce oxidative stress, support the immune system, and promote digestion. When combined with alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), these vegetables may boost antioxidant effects, helping to reduce inflammation. They also contain glucosinolates, which aid liver detoxification, benefiting metabolic and blood sugar health.

Treatment and Management Tips

1. Vitamins and minerals:

   • Zinc: 15 mg daily; it helps maintain prostate health.

   • Pumpkin seeds: Half a cup daily, as they contain zinc and plant nutrients beneficial for the prostate.

2. Herbal supplements:

   • Nettle root: Known for helping relieve urinary issues related to prostate enlargement.

   • Saw palmetto: Commonly used to manage symptoms like difficult urination and frequent nighttime trips.

3. Reduce sugar: Excessive sugar can worsen inflammation, so limiting sugar intake may help.

4. Avoid genetically modified foods: GMO foods may disrupt hormone metabolism; choose natural, whole foods with lower estrogen content.

Useful website

https://www.healthline.com/health/over-the-counter-enlarged-prostate

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/saw-palmetto

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/zinc-supplements

以下是對前列腺增生 或 前列腺肥大的一些詳細資訊和建議：

症狀

隨著年齡增長，50歲以後的男性容易出現前列腺肥大的症狀，常見的包括：

• 尿急：有強烈的尿意，難以忍耐。

• 尿流緩慢：小便開始困難，需要等一會才能順利排尿。

• 夜尿頻繁：夜間頻繁醒來小便。

• 尿流微弱：小便流速減弱，無法順暢排出。

• 小便刺痛或灼痛：部分人會在小便時感到疼痛或灼熱。

病因

前列腺肥大或前列腺增生可能由於年齡、荷爾蒙變化和飲食習慣等多種因素共同引起。

• 荷爾蒙因素：隨著年齡增長，睾酮水平逐漸下降，而雌激素的相對比例增多，可能會影響前列腺細胞的增生。雌激素的增加與某些基因改造食物或激素含量較高的食品（如黃豆）可能存在關聯。

• 飲食因素：例如，經常攝取基因改造的黃豆製品或飲酒等，都可能干擾荷爾蒙平衡，進而影響前列腺健康。

• 十字花科蔬菜的益處：十字花科蔬菜（如西蘭花、花椰菜、甘藍菜、Brussels sprout 等）含有豐富的抗氧化劑、維生素和膳食纖維，有助於減少氧化壓力，支持免疫和消化系統健康。當這類蔬菜與α-硫辛酸（ALA）一起食用時，可能進一步提升抗氧化效果，幫助減少體內自由基和炎症反應。此外，十字花科蔬菜中的葡萄糖苷可以增強肝臟解毒功能，對於穩定血糖和代謝健康也有幫助。

療法與改善建議

1. 補充維生素和礦物質：

   • 鋅（Zinc）：每日15毫克，對維持前列腺健康有幫助。

   • 南瓜子：每天攝取半杯南瓜子，它含有鋅和植物營養素，有助於前列腺健康。

2. 草本植物：

   • 蕁麻根（Nettle Root）：有助於緩解前列腺增生引起的排尿問題。

   • 鋸棕櫚（Saw Palmetto）：常用於緩解前列腺症狀，能減少排尿困難和夜尿問題。

3. 減少糖分：過多糖分可能加重體內的炎症反應，因此建議戒糖。

4. 減少基因改造食品：基因改造食物可能干擾荷爾蒙代謝，建議選擇天然食材，減少加工和高雌激素含量的食品。

Useful website

https://www.healthline.com/health/over-the-counter-enlarged-prostate

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/saw-palmetto

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/zinc-supplements

Notes:

1
Enlarged Prostate is primarily due to the effects of androgens (male hormones). As men age, changes in androgen metabolism occur, particularly with testosterone gradually converting into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone accumulates in the prostate tissue, stimulating cell proliferation and leading to an increase in prostate size.

While androgens are the primary cause, the relative increase in estrogen with age may also enhance the prostate tissue's sensitivity to DHT, further promoting growth. Thus, prostate enlargement is usually driven by androgens (especially DHT), with estrogen potentially playing a supportive role.

1
前列腺增生肥大主要是由於雄激素的作用。隨著年齡增長，男性的雄激素代謝發生變化，特別是睾酮逐漸轉化為二氫睾酮（DHT），這種激素在前列腺組織中會積聚，刺激細胞增生，導致前列腺體積增大。

雖然雄激素是主要原因，但隨年齡增長，雌激素比例的相對增加也可能促進前列腺組織對DHT的敏感性，進一步引發增生。因此，前列腺增生通常是由雄激素（尤其是DHT）直接作用引起的，而雌激素在其中可能起到輔助作用。



2
Enlarged Prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are similar conditions but have some subtle distinctions:

• Enlarged Prostate: This is a broad term referring to any increase in prostate size, which can occur due to various causes such as aging, inflammation, or prostate cancer.

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): This specifically refers to a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate due to age-related changes in androgens (male hormones). BPH is the most common cause of prostate enlargement in older men.

In summary, BPH is the most common cause of prostate enlargement, but not all cases of prostate enlargement are caused by BPH.

2
前列腺肥大 和 良性前列腺增生 (BPH) 是類似的情況，但有一些細微的區別：

• 前列腺肥大：這是一個廣義的術語，指任何原因引起的前列腺體積增大，例如年齡增長、炎症或前列腺癌。

• 良性前列腺增生 (BPH)：特指由於年齡相關的雄激素變化引起的非癌性前列腺增大。BPH 是老年男性中最常見的前列腺增大原因。

總結來說，BPH 是最常見的前列腺肥大原因，但並非所有的前列腺肥大都由 BPH 引起。

中醫針灸穴位

在中醫學中，前列腺增生肥大被歸結為“癃閉”或“淋證”等範疇，主要病因病機涉及腎氣虧虛、氣滯血瘀及濕熱下注等因素。以下是詳細的病因病機分析、治療原則以及常用的針灸穴位：

中醫病因病機

1. 腎氣虧虛
   年齡增長後，腎氣逐漸虧虛，特別是腎陽不足，無法有效溫煦膀胱和前列腺，導致排尿無力、夜尿增多、尿頻等症狀。

2. 氣滯血瘀
   久坐、久立或情志不暢等情況下，氣機阻滯，血液循環不暢，氣滯血瘀於下焦會影響前列腺，常見於排尿不順、尿流細小的患者。

3. 濕熱下注
   飲食不節制、過食辛辣或過度飲酒，使濕熱之邪聚於下焦，進而導致前列腺腫大和排尿不適，症狀包括小便灼熱、刺痛等。

4. 腎陰虧虛
   陰虛火旺使腎陰損耗，易出現尿頻、口乾舌燥、心煩等，這也會導致前列腺增生。

治療原則

針灸治療前列腺增生主要依據「補腎壯陽、通利膀胱、活血化瘀、清熱利濕」的原則進行，具體治療方法包括以下幾種：

1. 補腎壯陽：適用於腎虛型病人，強化腎陽的功能，以提升排尿力量。

2. 活血化瘀：適用於氣滯血瘀型病人，通暢經絡，消除瘀阻，改善排尿不順。

3. 清熱利濕：適用於濕熱下注型病人，清熱利尿，緩解小便刺痛、灼熱的症狀。

4. 滋陰清熱：適用於腎陰虧虛型病人，清除虛熱以減少尿頻、心煩等症狀。

常用針灸穴位

1. 關元穴（任脈）
   位置：臍下3寸。
   功效：補腎壯陽，溫補下焦，改善尿頻和夜尿。適用於腎氣虛弱的患者。

2. 三陰交（足太陰脾經）
   位置：內踝尖上3寸。
   功效：調和肝腎、利濕通經，對改善尿頻、尿急有幫助。常用於濕熱下注和氣滯血瘀患者。

3. 中極穴（任脈）
   位置：臍下4寸。
   功效：利尿通淋，化濕止痛，對於膀胱與前列腺的問題有良好效果，適用於排尿困難和小便不暢。

4. 腎俞穴（膀胱經）
   位置：第二腰椎棘突下，旁開1.5寸。
   功效：補腎益氣，調和腎經氣血，有助於減少夜尿和改善尿頻症狀，適合腎陽虛患者。

5. 太溪穴（腎經）
   位置：內踝後方與跟腱之間。
   功效：滋補腎陰，平衡陰陽，適用於腎陰虧虛型患者，緩解尿頻、口乾舌燥等症狀。

6. 膀胱俞穴（膀胱經）
   位置：第二骶椎旁開1.5寸。
   功效：疏通膀胱氣機，改善排尿不順，適合氣滯血瘀型患者。

針灸操作手法

• 補法：針對腎氣不足的患者，可以採用溫和的補法，輕輕捻轉針體，針感以穩定為主，保持針感以補益腎氣。

• 瀉法：對於濕熱下注或氣滯血瘀的患者，可以適當提插加強針感，清除濕熱，通利經絡。

• 留針：一般留針15-20分鐘，促進氣血流通，加強療效。

綜合調理建議

在針灸的同時，建議配合中藥和生活方式調整以加強治療效果：

• 飲食調養：避免過食辛辣和油膩食物，減少飲酒，適量補充清淡的十字花科蔬菜（如西蘭花、甘藍）和富含抗氧化物的食物。

• 生活調整：保持規律的生活作息，避免久坐和長時間憋尿，適量運動以增強體質。

總結來說，針灸治療前列腺增生旨在調整腎、膀胱經絡氣血，改善下焦的氣血循環，從而緩解症狀、改善生活質量。

An overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including the underlying causes and mechanisms, treatment principles, and commonly used acupuncture points with their international point designations.

TCM Causes and Mechanisms

1. Kidney Qi Deficiency
   As men age, kidney qi can gradually weaken, particularly kidney yang. This deficiency can lead to insufficient warmth and nourishment to the bladder and prostate, resulting in symptoms like weak urination, frequent nighttime urination, and urinary urgency.

2. Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis
   Prolonged sitting, lack of exercise, or emotional stress can cause stagnation of qi and blood flow. This stagnation can affect the lower jiao (lower abdomen) and lead to symptoms such as difficulty urinating and a weak urine stream.

3. Damp-Heat Accumulation
   Poor dietary habits, such as excessive consumption of spicy foods and alcohol, can lead to the accumulation of damp-heat in the lower jiao. This condition can cause prostate swelling and urinary discomfort, with symptoms like burning or painful urination.

4. Kidney Yin Deficiency
   Kidney yin deficiency may lead to a hyperactive state that can also contribute to urinary frequency and dryness, presenting with symptoms like thirst, restlessness, and frequent nighttime urination.

Treatment Principles

Acupuncture treatment for BPH primarily focuses on principles such as tonifying kidney yang, promoting urination, invigorating blood circulation, and clearing heat-dampness. Specific treatment strategies include:

1. Tonifying Kidney Yang: Suitable for patients with kidney deficiency to strengthen kidney function and improve urinary power.

2. Invigorating Blood and Qi: For patients with stagnation, using acupuncture to improve circulation and alleviate urinary obstruction.

3. Clearing Heat and Draining Dampness: For patients with damp-heat accumulation to alleviate symptoms such as burning urination and promote urinary flow.

4. Nourishing Kidney Yin: For patients with yin deficiency to reduce hyperactivity and symptoms such as thirst and irritability.

Common Acupuncture Points

1. Ren 4 (Guanyuan)

   • Location: 3 cun below the umbilicus (navel).

   • Function: Tonifies kidney yang, warms the lower jiao, improves urinary symptoms. Useful for patients with kidney qi deficiency.

2. SP 6 (Sanyinjiao)

   • Location: 3 cun above the medial malleolus, posterior to the tibia.

   • Function: Harmonizes the liver and kidney, promotes dampness drainage. Helps with urinary urgency and frequency.

3. Ren 3 (Zhongji)

   • Location: 4 cun below the umbilicus.

   • Function: Benefits the bladder, promotes urination, and clears dampness. Effective for urinary retention and frequency.

4. BL 23 (Shenshu)

   • Location: 1.5 cun lateral to the second lumbar vertebra (L2).

   • Function: Tonifies kidney essence, regulates kidney qi. Helpful for nocturia and frequent urination.

5. KD 3 (Taixi)

   • Location: In the depression between the medial malleolus and the Achilles tendon.

   • Function: Nourishes kidney yin, strengthens kidney function. Useful for kidney yin deficiency symptoms.

6. BL 28 (Pangguangshu)

   • Location: 1.5 cun lateral to the sacral foramen (S2).

   • Function: Regulates the bladder, promotes urination. Effective for urinary issues related to blood stasis and qi stagnation.

Acupuncture Techniques

• Tonification Technique: For kidney deficiency, a gentle tonification technique is used, focusing on maintaining a stable needle sensation to nourish kidney qi.

• Reduction Technique: For cases of damp-heat or qi stagnation, a stronger needling technique may be applied to invigorate circulation and clear excess.

• Retention of Needles: Needles are generally retained for 15-20 minutes to promote the flow of qi and enhance the therapeutic effect.

Comprehensive Treatment Recommendations

In addition to acupuncture, it is advisable to combine treatments with herbal medicine and lifestyle modifications to enhance effectiveness:

• Dietary Adjustments: Avoid spicy, greasy, and excessive alcohol consumption. Incorporate more light, detoxifying foods such as cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli and cabbage) and foods rich in antioxidants.

• Lifestyle Changes: Maintain regular routines, avoid prolonged sitting or holding in urination, and engage in moderate exercise to enhance overall health.

In summary, acupuncture for benign prostatic hyperplasia focuses on regulating kidney and bladder functions, improving the circulation of qi and blood in the lower jiao, and alleviating symptoms to enhance quality of life.