Prostate Cancer

The specter of prostate cancer is a worry to many men. Currently, surgery is the primary medical treatment; and is often the only option presented. However, where prostate cancer is concerned, there are definitely some facts you need to know before you consent to any surgical procedure.

> Nearly every man autopsied has evidence of prostate cancer - but they died of something else!

> Less than I0% of the men diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S. will have their cancer progress to disseminated cancer.

> A landmark Swedish study published in 1992 looked at 223 men with early, untreated prostate cancer. The average age at diagnosis was 72. A 10-year follow-up study showed survival rates similar to those of men who received standard intervention, either radical prostatectomy or radiation. Of the 124 men who died during the decade, only 19 died of prostate cancer.

> Get more than one opinion before you opt for surgery. You will probably not find agreement among the doctors you consult. Willett F. Whitmore, Jr., MD of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York has stated that "optimal management of clinically localized prostatic cancer may be more a matter of opinion, than a matter of fact."

There are now other options besides radical prostatectomy, radiation and castration (whether surgical or hormonal). For one thing, you can choose no treatment. Also, there is a great deal that you can do before and after you develop malignant disease, if you are willing to make changes in your lifestyle and eating habits.

There is now overwhelming evidence that cancer is a disease of nutrition and lifestyle. In fact, the flat statement was made that 75% of all cancer is caused by diet and smoking, with another 3% attributable to excessive sugar intake, 2% attributable to environmental pollution, 4% occupational, 3% alcohol use, 1% medicine and medical practices, and <1% attributable to food additives.

Yet, how many of us worry more about what's been added to our foods than we do about our diet as a whole? (Cancer mortality is more closely linked to sugar consumption than to any other factor.)

> Stop smoking! 75% of all cancer is a matter of diet and tobacco use. Although there is no direct link between prostate cancer and tobacco use, smoking and other tobacco habits eat up whatever anti-oxidants you may be consuming. Since most of us are anti-oxidant deficient, this is counter-productive.

> Eat a diet rich In whole, unprocessed foods, including lots of fresh vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains, using meat as a supplement, rather than the main dish. Unprocessed grains are a rich source of selenium, a powerful inhibitor of tumor cell growth.

> Consume soy products daily. In countries where tofu, miso, soy milk and/or soybeans are a regular part of the diet, the incidence of prostate cancer is minimal.

> Lose weight if you are obese. Obesity negates the effectiveness of other dietary measures.

> Increase your melatonin (a hormone which suppresses the growth of prostate cancer cells) by incorporating good habits. Meditate daily. Keep a regular sleep schedule and sleep in a darkened room (no artificial light). Your room should get morning light, so that your pineal gland will produce adequate amounts of melatonin.

If you already have prostate cancer, then you need professional advice. At the RFHC, working with your oncologist, we will prepare a personalized nutritional program for you based on your individual biochemical profiles in your blood chemistry, and utilizing orthomolecular doses of nutrients. In addition, you will be given a diet that incorporates state-of-the-art anti-cancer knowledge, including eliminating all sugar.

The assistance we provide at the RFHC is considered adjunctive therapy, and is designed to correct nutritional deficiencies, with the emphasis on quality of life. Interestingly, the consensus among the medical doctors at the Florida cancer convention was that denying nutritional support to cancer patients may soon be considered malpractice, since there is overwhelming evidence of nutrition's beneficial effect both on survival time and quality of life.

Call the RFHC for your personalized nutritional evaluation if you are coping with malignant disease.

[see Consent Agreement Concerning Scope of Practice, Nutritional Therapy and Supportive Cancer Care]

Does this apply to you? If so, see our information on Consultations.

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Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)

Prostate Inflammation

There are 3 prostate conditions that can cause a man grief. The first: prostatitis/prostatosis is inflammation or infection of the prostate. Although medically it is almost always treated as an infection, bacterial infection of the prostate is quite rare. Much more common is lymphatic congestion and inflammation, which is very painful. Unfortunately, prescribed antibiotics don't help nor do the prescribed muscle relaxers, tranquilizers and psychotherapy. This is a physical problem.

Neurovascular dynamics (NVD) and diathermy are very effective against prostatosis. NVD directly moves the lymphatic fluid, draining the prostate. In stubborn cases, diathermy to the area speeds recovery. In addition, some men need specific herbs to support prostate function and prevent recurrence of the condition.

Lifestyle changes which support good prostate function include: a whole food diet rich in soy products, vegetable fiber and zinc. In particular, I recommend raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas) which are an excellent source of dietary zinc. Hot sitz baths will sometimes relieve mild cases. Regular sexual activity also is important to prevent prostatic inflammation, together with adequate physical exercise.

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

 The second condition that afflicts almost every American man over the age of 45 is benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). There are a variety of surgical procedures used to treat this condition medically and, recently, drug therapy has been explored, with mixed results. The surgery is effective for 15 to 20 years, and may then need to be repeated if you have the surgery at a young age (40's or 50's).

Since this condition is silent, what should you watch for? Early symptoms include: urinating more frequently, especially at night; difficulty beginning urination; urinary stream that's weak or thin; difficulty stopping the stream; and/or dribbling after urination seems complete. These symptoms may progress to urinary urgency and inability to empty the bladder completely. In its most severe form, BPH can cause urinary retention (complete inability to urinate) that is a medical emergency, requiring catheterization.

You may have noticed that all of these symptoms relate to the urinary tract, rather than the prostate. That's because as the prostate enlarges it closes the urethra, making it difficult to impossible for the bladder to empty. So, the doctor's first job is to determine where the problem lies - is it your prostate or is it your bladder? You may simply have a bladder infection.

Let's assume you do have BPH. The question I hear most often is: Are there alternatives to surgery?

Absolutely! First of all, studies have shown that doing nothing and, in essence, "living with" the symptoms causes no problems for most men. However, if the symptoms are too distressing, there are other options, as well. Although the prescription drugs have been somewhat disappointing, I have been successfully "shrinking" prostates the entire time I've been in practice, as did Dr. Martin before me. This particular condition, which is a functional problem, is remarkably accessible to NVD. In most cases, I also use herbal preparations to limit the recurrence of BPH. It is a fallacy to assume that saw palmetto will work for everyone. In some cases, saw palmetto can be combined with another herb to maximize its effect. Other men need a different herb entirely. I recommend you have your prostate examined at the RFHC and obtain a personalized herbal program if you are over 45 years of age. [see Treatments/NVD]

 Does this apply to you? If so, see our information on Consultations.

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Erectile Dysfunction

I would like to share some information on a fairly sensitive topic. It seems that ads about erectile dysfunction (aka impotence) are everywhere in the media these days. The latest ad features a racecar bursting through barriers and the slogan "Tune Up For Life," which goes by so fast it's almost subliminal. Although erectile dysfunction is a common experience of men in over 50, it was the unmentionable topic until a pharmaceutical became available to "treat" the condition. Once Viagra(tm) was approved for use by the FDA, the unmentionable became table conversation.

However, before you or someone you loves begins taking Viagra(tm), I think you should be aware of the warnings and dangers associated with its use and the fact that there are natural alternatives. The first is, yohimbine, the first substance approved by the FDA for erectile dysfunction. And the second alternative is muira puama (or potency wood, sometimes termed "herbal Viagra"). I hope to delineate the pros and cons of each.

First, Viagra(tm): A careful reading of the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR) is enlightening. Although Pfizer (the manufacturer) has tried to couch their warnings in the most positive terms, there is much about Viagra(tm) to cause concern. The post-marketing experience has been sobering; to quote: "Serious cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, ventricular arrhythmia, cerebrovascular hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack and hypertension, have been reported post-marketing in temporal association with the use of Viagra(tm). Most, but not all, of these patients had preexisting cardiovascular risk factors. Many of these events were reported to occur during or shortly after sexual activity, and a few were reported to occur shortly after the use of Viagra(tm) without sexual activity...." (emphasis added) PDR, 55th Edition, 2001, pg. 2537.

In the PDR, the side effects are listed in decreasing order of frequency. So, the most common adverse effect is a heart attack, followed by sudden death, life-threatening arrythmias and strokes. Furthermore, the effects are unpredictable, as noted in the phrases I've emphasized. In addition, the PDR points out that men with impaired liver or kidney function are at risk from Viagra(tm). Yet, who are the very men who might be the target consumers? Older men, or men with diabetes, two groups at high risk for liver and/or kidney insufficiency. I certainly wouldn't want anyone I loved taking such risks with his health. Maybe the slogan should be "Play Russian Roulette With Your Life." It certainly would be more accurate.

Yohimbine (aka yohimbe or Rauwolfia serpentina) was actually the first substance approved by the FDA for the treatment of impotence. It has fallen out of favor due to its serious adverse effects, which can be life threatening. One of my sources states that the FDA now lists Yohimbe bark as an "unsafe herb." Traditionally, yohimbine bark has been used as an aphrodisiac, used to treat angina and hypertension, and smoked as an hallucinogen.

While the proposed physiologic mechanism of yohimbine would lead one to expect an anti-hypertensive action, clinical use has proven otherwise. An oral dose of 5 mg (which is far less than the recommended dose, 6 mg three times a day, for aphrodisiac effects) causes a significant increase in blood pressure in men with orthostatic hypotension (adrenal insufficiency). The response is associated with an increased heart rate and increased plasma noradrenaline levels (thereby stressing the heart).

Other reported side effects include anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations, dizziness and headache. In susceptible individuals, it may result in psychosis. It can also cause severe hypotension, abdominal distress and weakness. Since it readily crosses the blood brain barrier, it may result in CNS overstimulation and paralysis. Again, men with kidney problems should not take this substance; nor should those taking anti-depressants. There have been no large scale studies on this product due to lack of funding, but what information is available is troubling. (Sources: PDR, 55th Ed, 2001 pg. 3164; The Review of Natural Products, 1st Ed, 2001 by Facts and Comparisons, a Wolters Kluwer Company, pp. 647 & 648; and Botanical Influences on Illness, by Melvyn R. Werbach, M.D. and Michael T. Murray, N.D. pp. 200 & 201)

Lastly, I would like to bring you up to speed on muira puama (potency wood, scientific name Ptychopetalum guyanna). Muira puama is a bush or small tree and is native to the Brazilian Amazon. Traditionally, it has been used internally as a tea for treating sexual debility and impotence, neuromuscular problems, rheumatism, grippe, cardiac weakness, gastrointestinal weakness and to prevent baldness. It is also used externally in baths and massages for treating paralysis and beri-beri. In 1925, a pharmacological study was published which indicated its effectiveness in treating disorders of the nervous system and sexual impotence which indicated that "permanent effect is produced in locomotor ataxia, neuralgias of long standing, chronic rheumatism and partial paralysis." (Dias Da Silva, Rodolpho, 1925. "Medicinal plants of Brazil. Botanical and pharmacognostic studies. Muira puama," Rev. Bras. Med. Pharm. 1(1):37-41, 1925) In 1930, a French study confirmed the efficacy of the plant for gastrointestinal and circulatory weakness and sexual impotence. It has been listed in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, where it is recommended for the treatment of dysentery and impotence. It has been in the Brazilian Pharmacopeia since the 1950s. Interestingly, in Europe, muira puama is also used for menstrual disturbances; and American herbalists and health care practitioners are using it for menstrual cramps and PMS, as well.

Recently, a study was conducted in Paris, France, with 262 men experiencing lack of sexual desire and the inability to attain or maintain an erection. The results indicated that muira puama is effective in improving libido and treating erectile dysfunction. 62% of the men with loss of libido reported that the extract of muira puama "had a dynamic effect." 51% of the men with erectile dysfunction felt that muira puama was beneficial. (Waynberg, J., "Aphrodisiacs: Contribuiton to the clinical validation of the traditional use of Ptychopetalum guyanna." Presented at The First International Congress on Ethnopharmacology, Strasbourg, France, June 5-9, 1990) The second study conducted by Waynberg in France evaluated the positive psychological benefits of Muira puama in 100 men with male sexual asthenia. (Waynberg, J., 1995, "Male Sexual Asthenia - Interest in Traditional Plant-Derived Medication. Ethnopharmacology, Mar 1995)

There are no reports of adverse side effects from muira puama in any of the sources I researched. There are, however, one or two cautions when utilizing potency wood. If you are arthritic and are taking nitric oxide quenchers (niacinamide, n-aceytlcysteine found in our product Arthrogen(R), you may not have a satisfactory effect from potency wood. Also, I wouldn't recommend taking muira puama in the presence of prostate cancer -- primarily because there is no data on how it may or may not affect tumor growth.

I found this information compelling enough, that at the RFHC, we now have begun to carry a product (Androplex(tm) which contains muira puama, gingko biloba leaf extract and panax ginseng (Korean red ginseng). The herbal extracts are standardized; and 2 capsules daily provide the amount of each substance demonstrated in clinical studies to have a positive effect on male sexual dysfunction. Korean red ginseng has a mild effect on erectile dysfunction and has been demonstrated to increase circulating testosterone in rats. Ginkgo biloba has only been studied in the test tube, using tissue samples. It is included in the formula because of its proven effect on peripheral blood flow and the assumption is made that it will, therefore, aid penile blood flow.

For women who have had a total hysterectomy (including removal of the ovaries) and who suffer from loss of libido, Androplex(tm) may prove beneficial (private communication Dr. Frank Strehl). However, if a woman wants to use Androplex(tm), I would have to assess adrenal function, as well, since women's sexual response is more complex than men's.

If you, or someone you love, would like a safe, natural alternative therapy for erectile dysfunction or loss of libido, call us and order a bottle. A month's supply is $28. Within the month, you should be able to determine whether it is working well for you.

Does this apply to you? If so, see our information on Consultations.

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Peyronie's Syndrome

This condition is very disfiguring and causes a great deal of emotional pain and anxiety for men who are affected by it. The condition is one of scarring of the penis (the corpus cavernosum, to be exact) and replacement of the normal erectile tissue with scar tissue. There is also contracture of the supporting fascia, resulting in retraction of the genitalia.

While there is no known way to reverse any degeneration which may have already occurred, there are natural methods of treatment which have been successful in arresting the condition and halting the retraction of the genitals.

The treatment protocol consists of manually releasing the contractures and scar tissue, combined with NVD and diathermy treatments to aid in the formation of normal tissue. In addition to the physical, in-office treatment, there are supportive nutrients that will be prescribed so that, after therapy, the healing produces healthier tissue, not further scarring.

The physical treatment protocol has the following limitations:

1. You cannot expect to see a reversal of any degeneration of the corpus cavernosum which has already occurred. Any tissue which has already been destroyed will not regain normal architecture.

2. Therefore, after the course of therapy is complete, there will still be some erectile deficit. The degree of deficit varies from patient to patient and is dependent upon the severity of the condition which treatment is initiated.

3. The aftermaths of treatment are short-term innervation and fatigue (toxic release). You should schedule your treatments at intervals that allow recovery from each episode, yet close enough together to get ahead of the scar formation.

You can expect to see a halt to the advance of the scarification, a reduction in pain and a halt to further loss of sexual function, which is much better than any medical treatment.

 Does this apply to you? If so, see our information on Consultations.

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Case Profile

Case Profile (Men's Health, NVD)
"In April, 1991, 1 had a general physical by my family doctor (MD) who discovered an enlarged prostate with a possible nodule. He referred me to a urologist who arranged the first PSA test in June. This test revealed an elevated PSA the urologist recommended a biopsy to determine possible malignancy. After consulting with Dr. Richards, I had the biopsy which was negative. My urologist recommended follow-up visits to monitor my condition, but offered no treatment for the enlarged prostate.

"In late June, I started a series of treatments with Dr. Richards and took an herbal medication as prescribed by her. The reduced PSA (now below the normal range) appears to be strong evidence of improved health which I credit to Dr. Richards' care.

"I'm pleased to have found a source of quality health care at the Richards Family Health Center, one that is non-invasive and not drug oriented. I find the doctor and staff very helpful, caring and competent." --WT

And his prostate has returned to normal size too! NVD is the only technique I know that can accomplish this. --Dr. Richards

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