Holistic Urology
Holistic urology
Holistic urology is becoming more and more popular globally. The subspecialist viewpoint on complementary and integrative medicine (CAM) frequently assumes a lack of efficacy, potential adverse effects, and an absence of independent research to support the therapy issue. These mentioned worries are valid inquiries. To maintain objectivity, we must also consider the constraints of the accepted standard of care. The criteria for treatment are frequently not as scientific as we would like to believe. Empirically, rather than on verifiable scientific investigations, diagnosing illnesses like benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and prostatitis frequently relies on a group of symptoms.
Additionally, off-label usage of medicinal applications is expected. In other words, not in a way that the FDA has approved. Therefore, the academic gold standard of a doubleblind, placebo-controlled crossover study cannot be used to measure efficacy objectively. Applications of integrative models, however, might, in some circumstances, be more desirable. Most complementary therapies, integrative therapies, and phytopharmaceuticals are not approved in the United States. They are, however, the norm in many European nations, including Germany. According to studies, more than 50% of urologists in Germany prefer using CAM or natural therapy in their offices. Fewer side effects, an enhanced clinical outcome, and a lower price drive this choice. Numerous research demonstrating the synergistic efficacy of many “natural medicine” solutions favor this preference. It should be emphasized that not all CAM-related treatments are necessarily extensively researched. However, numerous evidence-based
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments have proven to be beneficial to patients in the field of urology.
For instance, phytotherapy for BPH has shown to be highly beneficial. Several peerreviewed scientific research investigations have been conducted on Serenoa Repens, an African dwarf palm. Stinging nettle (Urtica Dioca), beta-sitosterol, and rye pollen extract (Cernilton) demonstrated efficacy. Since the 19th century, saw palmetto, sometimes referred to as “the old man’s friend” in herbal tradition, has been used as a remedy. Sereno Watson, a Harvard botanist, was honored with its name. Standardized extracts have been demonstrated to be beneficial in BPH and may suppress the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. Studies contrasting saw palmetto with conventional treatments like Finasteride had revealed roughly equivalent efficacy. Serenoa Repens is less expensive and has few noticeable side effects, which is a huge benefit. Beta-sitosterol is another beneficial treatment. This is a plant sterol that resembles cholesterol structurally. It has also been demonstrated to help reduce cholesterol and BPH symptoms.
Additionally, it has been demonstrated that rye pollen extract (Cernilton) can lower urethral pressure. Prostate cancer cell proliferation is inhibited by green tea extract. Another particularly beneficial supplement is vitamin D3. More than 50% of Americans, with 22% having severe deficiencies, are vitamin D deficient, according to some research. Vitamin D helps to manage inflammation, strengthens the immune system, and improves cellular differentiation while reducing prostate cancer cell proliferation in trials conducted in the lab.
Urology – treatment of diseases of kidneys and urinary tract diseases
Men, women, and children of all ages can develop urological disorders, which encompass many conditions connected to the filtration and evacuation of urine from the body. Dysuria (the burning sensation during urination), frequency (the frequent want to urinate without being able to pass enough), urgency (the urgent need to urinate), flank pain (hematuria), incontinence (the spilling of urine), and other are common symptoms. Some issues, such as stress incontinence in women and prostate enlargement in males, become more prevalent as people age. These painful, challenging, and annoying symptoms can be helped by homeopathy, which can also promote optimal urinary health. Adopting healthy behaviors such as drinking enough water, performing pelvic floor exercises (Kegels), teaching girls to wipe their genital area with a front-to-back motion after using the restroom, teaching boys to use athletic cups to prevent injuries, etc., are also crucial to maintaining good urological health.
About holistic medicine and the use of this treatment approach in urology.
Herbal treatments have been utilized to treat common medical issues for many years. Many of the FDA-approved medicines of today have their direct ancestry in ancient herbal mixtures. Numerous medical diagnoses are addressed using herbal items even in today’s modern healthcare system, either directly under the supervision of a doctor or by patients employing common sense home remedies. Millions of individuals take glucosamine and different plant extracts for arthritis, arguably the most widespread condition. Niacin and herbal remedies, available through health food stores for decades, are frequently used to treat cholesterol issues. “Energy boosters” packed with ginseng, vitamins, and plant sterols may be found at almost any corner market. Saw palmetto berries have long been utilized in urology as a supplement to support prostate health. These goods are often seen as simple supplements to healthy nutrition and body maintenance. Many people are suspicious of the efficacy that is anecdotally claimed, yet many users swear by the effects they notice after utilizing these products. Because there is so little documented science to support the chemical’s identity or its mechanisms of action, there is skepticism surrounding the herbal market. These traditional, widely accessible chemicals also need relatively little safety assessment. In many circumstances, the items are effective, but there is cause for concern because we are unaware of the product’s purity, toxicity, medicine interactions, or adverse effects.
Given that there is no method to patent these difficulties, pharmaceutical corporations are unlikely to commit the money to research them (they are already generic). Without a patent, there is no assurance that such an investment will pay off because it is simply
too costly. Without extensive research, most of these products will continue to be available in the United States. However, many experts contend that because these products have “stood the test of time,” safety and effectiveness can be assumed.
The popularity of holistic urology.
According to experts, millions of people have reportedly used these products without experiencing any significant issues. Public health organizations and outside inquiries would have likely found the cause if people suddenly passed away. The reality that many people wish to take herbal supplements persists despite the absence of data. Herbal remedies offer consumer appeal in addition to being categorized as “natural” treatments since they are inexpensive (in comparison to the high expense of prescription pharmaceuticals) and readily available over the counter (no doctor visit or prescription is required). Thanks to marketing, the herbal medicine sector has become a massive, billion-dollar industry. Herbal remedies and complementary therapies function as general additions to promote well-being, stave off disease, and treat symptoms and illnesses that are already present.
Medical professionals accepted holistic urology.
A growing number of medical professionals use alternative medicine as a cost-effective general health supplement, viewing it as “complementary” to mainstream therapy. The practice of medicine has evolved into a highly regulated, scientifically based profession over the years. To preserve the greatest standards of safety and quality for the general public, numerous bodies and institutions oversee and regulate the practice of medicine and pharmacy. In any area of medicine involving patient care, the established mainstream medical community prefers to see formal statistics on research, development, and quality control. Contrary to conventional medical knowledge, “alternative medicine” sometimes lacks scientific validation and is frequently based on haphazard observation rather than rigorous, expert inspection. This “Alternative medicine” category includes acupuncture, homeopathy, reiki, psychotherapy, ayurveda, and herbal medicine. When treating an illness, a holistic medical approach considers a patient’s whole way of life, surrounding environment, and personality. Since the mind, soul, lifestyle, environment, and other facets of a person’s existence substantially impact how their physical body functions, holistic practitioners assert that “holistic medicine treats the mind as well as the body.” Instead of focusing on individual organ systems or particular disorders, holistic medicine treatments promote wholeness throughout the body. Biofeedback, meditation, massage, herbal supplements, and acupuncture are frequently used in holistic therapies as part of “natural healing.” There is no question that these therapies can aid with symptom relief in some medical conditions. Still,
traditional doctors have been hesitant to accept and use these therapies as “mainstream” in the lack of scientific assessment. Another form of “alternative medicine” that is frequently included in this category is homeopathy. A very diluted quantity of substances from the mineral, plant and animal kingdoms are used in homeopathy to activate the body’s inherent defenses. Vitamins, herbal supplements, and plant extracts are frequently used. Again, many components of homeopathy have roots in other reliable medical treatments. Still, in today’s very scientific and litigious environment, conventional doctors often reject the homeopathic approach as a whole when it comes to treating particular disorders. Direct-to-consumer marketing has taken off in the urology industry recently. Almost everyone has seen a television commercial describing a cure for erectile dysfunction, prostate enlargement, or overactive bladder. Advertising may effectively promote a product in any industry where “quality of life” is a factor, and most of these urologic concerns are centered on this concept. Not surprisingly, there has been a corresponding increase in the marketing of herbal remedies for these ailments. Nearly all convenience stores include items for “energy boost” or “sexual vitality” in the checkout lane. Until now, there haven’t been many trustworthy sites to learn about these herbal products’ effectiveness, dosage, and safety. Many traditional doctors will admit that many facets of holistic and alternative medicine are good medical principles that promote general health and wellness, notwithstanding their degree of skepticism. We feel forced to learn about different herbal treatments because an increasing number of people are contemplating them for their urologic requirements. This will allow us to respond to patient questions in a knowledgeable manner. Many people regard Dr. Mark Moyad as the foremost expert in the field of herbal supplements in holistic urology.
He is the author of numerous books on prostate health, prostate cancer, and herbal supplements. He is the Director of Preventive and Alternative Medicine at the University of Michigan and holds other consulting posts. His entire professional life has been devoted to studying numerous herbal treatments employed both formally and informally in the field of urology. The absence of peer review and quality control in the herbal sector is Dr. Moyad‘s main critique of it. He is more competent than anybody to comment on the safety and efficacy of the numerous products offered in the herbal market since he has taken the time to evaluate and critically assess the extensive body of research conducted over the last decades. He promotes many herbal supplements as superior to the competition since their chemical makeup and biological activity are supported by solid scientific research. Everyone agrees that a lot of pointless research is conducted in fields without proper peer review, and the herbal industry is no different. Dr. Moyad uses rigorous peer review to classify herbal treatments and validate any possible advantages in urology. We think this is the closest thing the urologic community has seen to a scientific study of herbal remedies. In collaboration with pharmaceutical firms, Dr. Moyad has developed medicines that accurately replicate the dosages of specific herbal constituents demonstrated in studies to treat urologic illnesses. While the active components in other commercially available medications vary in dose, they are mixed with unrelated, untested substances. Manufacturers must do this to create a “unique blend” that can be patented. You know many of these “proprietary blends” with unique doses and ingredients. The science of what works and the appropriate, scientifically validated dose is lost in all proprietary blending processes. Based on genuine research, Dr. Moyad suggests items that accurately represent the dosages of herbal ingredients useful in treating urologic disease. To be clear, all of the urologic disorders that are the focus of various herbal medicines are also treated with conventional medications. Both traditional and holistic urology therapies are typically practical and helpful. However, many people prefer to use a natural or holistic urology approach to their treatment. We hope to be able to provide some scientific advice for herbal treatment choices for individuals in need of them. The list and descriptions of several herbal products are provided below. Request a detailed brochure detailing every product feature that interests you.
The most common urological conditions that can be successfully treated with holistic urology are:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Erectile dysfunction
Incontinence, bedwetting, enuresis
Nocturia
Interstitial cystitis
Kidney stones
Urinary tract infection
If you are a holistic person looking for holistic urology, read more.
For those entrenched in modern medicine, it may be difficult to think of alternative medicine and urology as being practiced together. Nevertheless, the use of complementary and alternative medicine to treat many diseases is rising in many countries, including Western nations.
The United States has seen an increase in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) usage from 33.8% in 1990 to 42.1% in 1997, which has remained stable over the last decade. This appears to be similar to the European countries, as the Swiss Health Survey reported in 2007 and 2012. The user profile in Switzerland was comparable to other countries, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.
In their surveys in 2002 and 2007, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reported that 30% to 75% of patients suffering from cancer globally use holistic urology that includes biological, herbal, and dietary-based approaches. This report stated that about 60% of men with prostate cancer utilize some of these CAM treatments. In the US alone, 83 million adults spend over $50 billion per year on CAM, which accounts for over 11% of out-of-pocket expenditure on health care. The NCCAM has grouped CAM into five major domains. These include:
Alternative medical systems include homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda.
Mind-body interventions, such as meditation, prayer, and mental healing.
Biological-based therapy includes vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbal and unique diets.
Manipulative and body-based methods, such as chiropractic manipulation and massage.
Energy-based therapies include biofeedback therapy, Qi Gong, Reiki, and therapeutic touch.
Holistic urology in the USA
In 1999, the American Urological Association (AUA) established a ‘Committee on CAM’ with Dr. William Fair, known as the ‘Father of CAM in Urology,’ as the first chairman. It was his own experience with cancer that led him to incorporate complementary
techniques as a means to complement, not replace, conventional therapies. Dr. Fair believed in using a scientific approach to these treatments and procedures and held them to the same standard as mainstream medicine.
Some of these CAM therapies used in holistic urology that have been studied are as follows:
Phytoestrogens and isoflavones (soy products, green tea): General nutrition, fruits, and vegetables. Many reports suggest that calorie-restricted diets low in saturated fats but rich in fibers, carotenoids, phytoestrogens, and isoflavones may reduce the incidence and improve the course of LUTS, BPH, prostatitis, and even prostate cancer. This type of diet can be seen in the Asian and Western populations, which may explain the lower incidence of prostate diseases.
Phytotherapeutic preparations (saw palmetto, African plum tree bark, South African star grass root, pumpkin seeds): Plant extracts are commonly prescribed as the first choice of therapy in many European countries and are increasingly used in the US. They are usually less expensive and regarded as ‘natural’ products. The STEP (Saw-palmetto Treatment for Enlarged Prostate) and CAMUS (Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Urological Symptoms) trials failed to indicate statistical significance; however, some clinicians point out some design flaws in these studies.
Selenium, vitamin E, carotenoids, and zinc: A double-blind trial of dietary selenium on non-melanoma skin cancer in high-risk individuals showed a statistically significant lower incidence (63%) of prostate cancer than those receiving placebo. The role of vitamin E came from a result of a Finnish study in 1998 on men who smoked to evaluate whether vitamin E and beta-carotene supplements could prevent lung cancer. There was a surprising result showing a 32% reduction in incidence and a 41% decrease in mortality from prostate cancer in the study subjects.
Ginseng for Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Ginseng and erectile functioning are presently being looked at in a large Cochrane Review. Supplements have been used for centuries; however, placebo-controlled studies have shown 25-41% placebo responses.
Cranberry juice and Urinary Tract Infections: The Cochrane renal group conducted a systematic review and concluded that, compared to a placebo, cranberry juice and tablets might reduce the risk of developing symptomatic UTIs in sexually active women.
Red wine consumption and prostate cancer: The agent responsible for reducing cancer is supposed to be the polyphenol resveratrol, a naturally occurring plant antibiotic found in grape skins and red wine. The effects include antioxidant
activity, immunomodulation, growth-inhibiting activity, anti-androgenic, antiinflammatory, and inhibition of angiogenesis. Red wine consumption of at least one drink per day was linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer among those who had a screening PSA in the five years before to study baseline (HR = 0.70 (0.491.00)).
Acupuncture: ‘Qi’ or ‘life energy’ flows through meridians that connect the body organs. Interruption in this flow is thought to produce a disease state. Some acupuncture points coincide with ‘trigger points,’ anatomic sites of enriched innervation. Biophysiological and imaging studies indicate that acupuncture triggers the release of neurotransmitters and other endogenous substances. Studies have found a 50-70% reduction of treatment-associated hot flashes in men with prostate cancer.
Mind-body therapies: In addition to these biological-based therapies, mind-body methods have also been studied in urology patients. The role of mediation in health care has been subjected to study in the West for at least three decades. Its value in managing chronic pain, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer symptoms is well documented.
Yoga: An exercise regime with a 5,000-year history. For patients with urinary incontinence, cystocele, rectocele, vaginal and uterine prolapse, chronic orchitis, and interstitial cystitis, yoga postures can be beneficial. Yoga can increase a patient’s self-awareness of muscles.
Music therapy: Patients undergoing TURP showed a reduction in blood pressure and anxiety with music therapy.
Biofeedback: This technique requires equipment such as electromyography, thermal biofeedback, or electroencephalography. Studies have shown a hastened recovery of urinary control and education on the severity of urinary incontinence.
Physical exercises: In a cross-sectional study of 111 prostate cancer patients treated with external beam radiotherapy, physical activity significantly improved sexual function. A systematic review of 11 studies involving over 43,000 men detected an association between vigorous physical exercise and reduced risk of BPH and LUTS.
Homeopathy: One of the most popular treatments for urological problems continues to be homeopathy.
Ayurveda: An Ayurveda practitioner starts treating your urinary tract problem symptoms. The doctor will identify your unique issues and imbalances and customize your detox therapies, herbal remedies, and food and lifestyle regimens.
A thorough search found relevant trials published between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 2016 (with an additional extension up to December 31, 2017). The
Cochrane Collaboration tool and the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies
(MINORS) criteria were used to evaluate the internal validity of the randomized and observational studies. Mathie’s six judgmental domains and Saha’s criteria were used to evaluating homeopathic individualization quality. 14 observational studies were examined with four controlled trials (three randomized and one sequentially assigned controlled trial), all of which showed the beneficial effects of homeopathy. Renal stones and mild prostatic hypertrophy were significant research areas. Despite having a “high” risk of bias, one of the four controlled trials had “sufficient” model validity. None of the non-randomized studies received the “ideal” label because they scored poorly in the MINORS category. Nine observational studies met the “acceptable” standards for individualization quality and model validity. The controlled trials’ evidence for customized homeopathy was encouraging.
Holistic Urologist near me
The number of patients using holistic urology therapies is ever-increasing worldwide. As practitioners in holistic urology, we should avail ourselves of scientific information that has not been demonstrated by evidence in this growing field. Understanding the compositions, actions, and potential side effects of these therapies to complement our conventional treatments can only benefit the healing of our patients.
Philadelphia Holistic Clinic is the #1 naturopathic and integrative medicine facility in the City of Brotherly Love. At the clinic, licensed holistic providers work under the supervision of medical doctor Victor Tsan.
To schedule an appointment for evaluation and treatment, contact us at (267) 403-3085 or use the online booking application.
