Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs Treat Prostate Enlargement

Research from China has found that a combination of acupuncture and moxibustion can effectively reduce symptoms of enlargement among prostate patients. This along with Chinese herbs successfully slowed prostate enlargement.

Acupuncture tested against the herbs

The researchers tested 128 patients with prostate enlargement for three months. They divided the patients into two groups and gave one group acupuncture and moxibustion. The other group was given a traditional Chinese herbal medication for prostate enlargement called Qianliekang.

The acupuncture points that were used by the clinicians were Shenshu (BL 23), Pangguangshu (BL 28), Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Shuidao (ST 28). They also utilized warm moxibustion therapy at the Shenshu (BL 23) point, along with the Guanyuan (CV 4) point and the Shenque (CV 8) point. The acupuncture was administered once a day for the three months.

The herbal medication group received 4 tablets of Qianliekang three times every day for the three months.

What is Qianliekang? 

 Qianliekang – also called Qian lie kang – is an ancient formula for male reproductive issues. It typically contains rapeseed pollen – as well as Phellodendron and Cyathula. The remedy has been used for centuries for prostate issues, along with other male reproductive problems. The herbal medicine tablet is often referred to as the “Prostate Tablet.”

Chinese clinical research has confirmed its efficacy for reducing inflammation and prostate hyperlasia symptoms.

The Acupuncture worked better

The researchers tested the patients’ prostate symptoms using the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), maximal urine flow rate (Qmax) and residual urine tests.

After three months of treatment, the researchers found that both groups had reductions in symptoms, but the acupuncture group had significantly lower prostate hyperplasia symptoms. Using the scoring mentioned above, the acupuncture group had significantly lower I-PSS scores (8.6 versus 15.3), higher maximal urine flow scores (16.8 versus 12.5) and lower residual urine scores (10.4 versus 32.1) when compared to the herbal medicine group.

Still the herbal medicine group did have an effective treatment rate of 68.7%. So the herbal treatment did certainly help. But the acupuncture and moxibustion scored even higher, with an 89% effective rate.

Other studies confirm acupuncture effective for prostate

This is not the first study that has indicated the ability of acupuncture to treat enlarged prostate.

In a Chinese study published in 2008, researchers studied 276 cases of benign prostate hyperplasia in a multicenter study. Again they divided the 276 patients into two groups and gave one the Qianliekang tablet treatment and the other 138 patients were given electroacupuncture.

In this study, the researchers measured the I-PSS cumulative scores, along with a life quality index score, nocturnia urination, urine stream rate, maximal urine flow, residual urine, prostate volume and other scores to measure the patients’ level of hyperplasia.

Using these parameters, this study found that electroacupuncture had an effective treatment rate of 96.4 percent, while the Qianliekang tablet treatment had an effective treatment rate of 86.2 percent.

Application

Noting both studies’ success rates in treatment, the likelihood of success utilizing acupuncture appears to be great. However, it should be noted that the effective treatment rate does not necessarily mean the patients fully recovered and were normal after the treatment periods. It merely states that the treatments resulted in significantly improved scores – hence there was effectiveness in the study.

But it should also be noted that the treatment in the study was daily. So expectations from one or two acupuncture treatments should be reserved. But certainly if the Qianliekang tablet remedy is taken daily and the acupuncture treatments are somewhat regular, then the treatment success found in this clinical study may have some real application.

What is meant is that given the effectiveness of each treatment, odds of a successful treatment are thereby increased by many acupuncturists who utilize acupuncture with moxibustion along with prescribing the Qianliekang tablet.