Acupuncture Can Ease Some Types of Prostate Disorders, 40 Percent of Men in 50's Affected

A new study suggests that electro-acupuncture may relieve some prostate disorders.

In a clinical trial of approximately 100 patients, acupuncture was applied to treat certain prostate conditions, including problems with bladder emptying, frequent urination, intermittent interruptions in the urinary stream, urgent urination, weakness of the urine stream, straining during urination and the need to get up and urinate in the night. Researchers found that acupuncture can improve these conditions significantly for patients with moderate or severe benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition in which the prostate becomes in large. As a result, researchers conclude that acupuncture is effective and improves the quality of life for patients.

According to the Mayo Clinic, benign prostate hyperplasia affects approximately 40 percent of men in their 50's and 90 percent of men in their 80's, which can be a common cause of urinary issues such as dribbling, hesitant urination, straining to urinate, urgent urination, frequent urination and nocturia. This will increase the risk for kidney disease and urinary tract infections due to urination storage and elimination dysfunction. Prevention methods including surgery, lifestyle modifications and medications are standard biomedical approaches for the treatment of prostate issues.

Researchers chose a special acupuncture point for the study based on prior research, showing that it is more effective than terazosin, an alpha-1 antagonist drug used for treating enlarged prostates, in improving International Prostate Symptoms Scores. The drug terazosin also lowers blood pressure but may include side effects including dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, constipation, loss of appetite, exhaustion, dry eyes, nasal congestion and erectile dysfunction. This is, in part, due to the fact that terazosin blocks the action of adrenaline on the smooth muscle tissues of the urination bladder and blood vessel walls. The acupuncture point used in the study did not induce adverse affects but instead relieved the urinary discomfort and dysfunction associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Information regarding the study can be found in the article "Electroacupncture for Moderate and Severe Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A randomized Controlled Trial" in the online journal Plus One.