Enlarged prostate is a painful condition that affects many men over the age of 40. The prostate is very small, slightly larger than a peanut. As the prostate becomes larger, more pressure is placed on the bladder, which could eventually end in urinary retention. There are numerous theories as to what causes the prostate to grow, mostly dealing with the testosterone chemical in a man's body.

If you are diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, the doctor will go over several treatment options. If your condition is not severe, then prescription medications can be very effective. He or she will prescribe one type of medicine to start shrinking the prostate, and a second medicine to relax the muscles and take the pain away.

In some circumstances, the prostate is so enlarged that the doctor has no option but surgery. There are also two types of surgical procedures involved with this condition. One procedure is when the doctor scrapes some of the tissue away from the prostate in order to take the pressure off of the bladder. The second, and the most preferred, procedure involves making several small cuts around the prostate.

If you would prefer to try an alternative medical treatment, there are two that have been found to be the most effective. While this may sound out of the ordinary, pumpkin seeds have several healing properties which have been found to be very effective in men suffering with an enlarged prostate.

Pumpkin seeds have a fatty oil that acts as a natural diuretic and helps to improve the flow of urine. In turn, this helps to counteract the effect of the enlarged prostate gland on the urethra. Pumpkin seeds also contain high levels of zinc, approximately eight milligrams of zinc. Many doctors will recommend their patients to take sixty milligrams per day of zinc, due to the fact that it has proven to reduce the size of the enlarged gland. Another benefit of pumpkin seeds is that they have a high count of amino acids, such as alanine, glycerin, and glutei acid.

Saw palmetto is another alternative. Saw palmetto is a small palm tree with seeds that were an important part of the Seminole Indians' diet. You can purchase it in capsules at most stores. It helps turn the testosterone in the man's body into dihyrotestosterone, which is the same effect that many medicines would have. The largest benefit is that it increases urine flow without having the issue of frequent urination.

There are many opinions of saw palmetto as to whether or not it is effective. However, all of the studies that have been produced have shown a large benefit from using saw palmetto. A study was conducted in Germany with more than three thousand men, and saw palmetto brought to greatest results. There are many alternative medical treatments, but the two mentioned above have had the most benefits. Make sure that you consult with your doctor prior to trying any form of medical treatment in order to determine which method is the safest and most effective for your condition.