Essential oils can help reduce inflammation and increase the health and vitality of the prostate, a small walnut size gland in the male reproductive system that can be tricky to support.
Prostate health problems, including inflammation of the prostate gland, are a major concern for men, especially as they age, effecting as many as 90 percent of men by the age of 70.
Preventatively supporting the vitality of the prostate may help alleviate night waking to go to the bathroom, painful or burning urination or painful ejaculation. Supporting the prostate may also help reduce frequent pain or stiffness in the back, hips, or upper thighs.
What is the Prostate?
The prostate is a crucial gland in your sexual and reproductive system
It lies just below the bladder and above the muscles of the pelvic floor, wrapped doughnut like around a thin tube called the urethra that delivers urine and semen out through the penis.
The prostate produces most of the fluid that makes up semen, including the liquid protein called prostate specific antigen (PSA), which liquefies and protects semen on its way through the uterus to the female egg. The muscles of the prostate also play an important role in protecting the delivery and vitality of the sperm, ensuring that the semen is forcefully pressed into the urethra and expelled outward during ejaculation. In order to prevent semen from entering the bladder during ejaculation, the prostate and the bladder’s sphincter muscle close the urethra up to the bladder.
The prostate also plays an important role in hormone metabolism, transforming the male sex hormone testosterone into a biologically active form called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen hormone that plays a role in puberty and helps men develop their adult male characteristics.
What Can Go Wrong?
As you grow older, your prostate begins to slowly grow in size. If it gets too large, it can cause problems. For example, an enlarged or diseased prostate can squeeze the urethra like a kink in a garden hose. This pressure on the urethra can block the flow of urine, making urination difficult and uncomfortable.
If urine is blocked for too long can back up into the bladder and not empty fully. Left and treated this blockage can permanently damage the bladder and eventually the kidneys. The older men get, the more likely they are to have prostate trouble. Common problems associated with the prostate include:
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) — As men age, the prostate gland can become inflamed and enlarged and compress the urethra, making it difficult to urinate, putting you at risk of a bladder infection or bladder stones. This is often caused by an abnormal overgrowth or inflammation of the tissue of the prostate which then blocks the urethra or the opening of the bladder. Similarly, as men age, hormone levels of testosterone decline or are converted into Dehyrotestosterone (DHT) and estrogen levels increase, which can contribute to BPH.
Prostatis — An inflammation or infection of the prostate that often results in swelling and pain. It may also lead to urination problems, sexual dysfunction and general health problems, such as feeling tired and depressed. Prostatis is primarily seen in younger men (age 20 to 50) due to chlamydia or bacteria from the urine which passes through the urethra and settles in the prostate. Men with healthy prostates do not experience this problem. Non infection forms of prostatis are also recognized and they can stem from auto-immune conditions. Prostatitis is often caused by a depletion of zinc and enzymes (which sterilizes the urethra and protects the gland from infection) seen with increased sexual activity. Excesses in alcohol, coffee, and sugar can have the same effect.
Prostate Cancer — when malignant, cancer cells form in the tissues of the prostate.
Symptoms of Prostate Problems
Early warning signs of prostate problems include
- Dribbling urine
- Trouble urinating or inability to urinate
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Burning or painful urination
- Blood in urine or semen
- Painful ejaculation
- Difficulty having an erection
- Frequent pain in the lower back hips or upper thighs
How Essential Oils Support Prostate Health
Prostates that lack vitality are often more susceptible to infection.
Natural remedies, like herbs and essential oils, can boost the vitality of organs like the prostate. Essential oils contain powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, along with antibacterial effects, that can relieve symptoms of prostate problems and possibly inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells.
For example, constituents of carnosic acid and carnosol found in Rosemary essential oil may inhibit prostate cancer. Research suggests that rosemary’s polyphenols target multiple signaling pathways involved in cell cycle modulation and apoptosis or cell death.
Similarly, Frankincense oil has been found to have anticancer and antibacterial benefits. It also can be used to relax the muscles, which can be helpful when dealing with an enlarged prostate.
Essential oils, like Frankincense, have been found to contain antitumor compounds that interfere with the body’s ability to make cancer cells.
More specifically, cancer cells are smart and resourceful. In order to survive, they need a steady stream of their own blood supply and create their own blood vessels, called angiogenesis by producing a substance called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Chemical constituents in Frankincense have been found to have an inhibitory effect on the growth of prostate cancer cells “by suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2–mediated angiogenesis.” In other words, Frankincense blocks the action of VEGF and prevents the formation of blood vessels that surround and feed tumors depriving them of the nutrients they need to grow and spread.
Preventative support is especially helpful with the prostate as it can be challenging to unravel problems once they occur. This has to do, in part with the physical location of the prostate in the body. It is physically intertwined with many crucial organs nerves and other important structures, making it difficult to remove or treat without causing damage to nearby tissues test treatment carries a risk of undeserved side effects like impotence and incontinence.
Essential Oils for Inflammation
Prostate Support™ Blend
Prostate Support™ blend was specifically formulated to support the health and vitality of the prostate gland with the following organic and/or wild crafted essential oils:
Sandalwood (Santalum album) Carries strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities, especially in regard to the prostate. Research has shown α-santalol, a major component of sandalwood oil, to inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells.
Frankincense (Boswellia Carterii): This sedative oil helps promote cellular health and immunity and has been shown to be beneficial in preventing and battling prostate cancer. It is also well-known for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, along with its ability to reduce pain and inhibit the spread of cancer. Research shows that frankincense reduces inflammation and strengthens the immune system, which can be especially beneficial for the prostate gland.
Dill (Anethum graveolens): Medieval knights would place dill seeds on open wounds to speed up healing. Research has confirmed the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of dill’s key constituents, d-carvone and d-limonene, noting that dill essential oil causes a significant decrease in inflammation and pain. Dill is also a well-known herb used as an anti-spasmodic. It is considered a tonic for organs like your stomach, liver, kidney, and bladder. Dill is also effective in strengthening and calming the brain.
Dill Seed is also rich in the anti-inflammatory constituents D- limonene and carvone.
Grapefruit (Citrus paradise): The limonene present in grapefruit helps to reduce inflammation and regulate the production of inflammatory cytokines.
Grapefruit also contains high levels of bioactive flavonoids – a category of plant compounds present in Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, bergamot and grapefruits (Study).
Flavonoids demonstrate anti-inflammatory, ant carcinogenic, lipid-lowering, and antioxidant activities according to research published in Oxid Med Cell Longev. titled “Bioactive Flavonoids, Antioxidant Behavior, and Cytoprotective Effects of Dried Grapefruit Peels”. The research notes “data suggest that grapefruit peel has considerable potential as a source of natural bioactive flavonoids with outstanding antioxidant activity which can be used as agents in several therapeutic strategies.” Flavonoids were observed in the oil glands of citrus peels ( Essential oil are found mainly in the oil glands).
Fennel Seed (Foeniculum vulgare miller): Supports the functions of many of the inner organs including the liver, kidney, and spleen. Fennel seed oil may help reduce prostate-cancer risk. It can help the urinary system function properly, helping to prevent and treat urinary stones and urinary infections.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum): An excellent nerve tonic, basil helps enhance the body’s natural ability to cope with both physical and emotional stress. Basil’s high antioxidant activity also supports normal levels of inflammation.
Apply 2- 3 drops of Prostate Support™ drops around the pelvis (the lowest part of your abdomen) and massage in the area below the genitals. To support optimal prostate health, apply first thing in the morning and before bed.
Featured Oils:
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References:
- https://draxe.com/nutrition/foods-that-boost-testosterone/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23531917/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32027979/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25938234/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22571975/
- https://curejoy.com/content/health-benefits-of-dill/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6149096/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4745316/
