Question: I have prostatitis. Are there specific supplements that I can take to get rid of this problem instead of taking antibiotics?

Dr. Brownstein's Answer:

Prostatitis is swelling of the prostate gland that results from inflammation. Infections can be the underlying cause of prostatitis. Symptoms include painful urination, increased urinary frequency, and pain in the groin or rectum. Severe prostatitis symptoms can also result in body aches that mimic flu symptoms. When such symptoms last for more than three months it is called chronic prostatitis.

Bacterial causes of prostatitis often respond to antibiotics. However, the prostate can become inflamed due to nonbacterial causes. This can occur due to trauma such as sitting on a bicycle seat for an extended time period.

In most cases, it is not clear what is causing the inflammation. Risk factors for prostatitis include pelvic trauma, dehydration, having a sexually transmitted disease, and having past episodes of prostatitis.

In some men, one course of antibiotics does the trick and the prostatitis goes away. However, for many men who develop chronic prostatitis, repeated courses of antibiotics become less effective. Eventually, antibiotics can cease to work altogether.

I have found a holistic approach to prostatitis is very effective. This includes ridding the diet of refined foods and eliminating food allergies. The most common food allergy is dairy. I have observed that most men suffering from chronic prostatitis improve their condition by eliminating dairy foods from their diet. Herbal products such as olive leaf and oregano oil are also very helpful.

Finally, 25 to 50 mg a day of Lugol’s iodine solution or tablet Lugol’s (in the form of Iodoral or Iodizyme HP) helps to alleviate inflammation of the prostate gland.

I can’t stress enough the importance of cleaning up the diet to help overcome prostatitis.