One of the more interesting natural remedies for the most common form of prostatitis is pollen extract, which has been the topic of numerous studies. A recent endeavor looked at pollen extract for chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) and how it fared against saw palmetto.
Pollen extract for chronic pelvic pain syndrome
Pollen extract, which is also commonly known as flower pollen, rye grass pollen, bee pollen, and cernilton, is a natural remedy that has demonstrated an ability to significantly reduce lower urinary tract symptoms, such as those associated with an enlarged prostate and chronic prostatitis.
The pollen extracts seem to work by mechanisms similar to those associated with prescription medications for these prostate conditions.
In this latest study (November 2018), researchers compared the effectiveness of flower pollen extract and vitamins (Deprox 500®; pollen plus B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, and folic acid) against saw palmetto 320 mg (Permixon) in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). In this randomized, controlled trial, the 63 men were given either Deprox 500 (2 tablets daily for 6 weeks) or saw palmetto (320 mg once daily for 6 weeks).
Here are the findings:
- Scores for the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPPS) and the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptoms Index (CPSI) were improved up to 74.5 percent and 84.5 percent, respectively, in the flower pollen extract group
- Among men who had hypertension, use of the flower pollen extract reduced the mean IPPS scores 82.7 percent
- Overall, men in the pollen extract group had better mean improvement than did those in the saw palmetto group
Another pollen extract and chronic pelvic pain syndrome study
In a 2017 review of the published research on the use of flower pollen extract and chronic pelvic pain syndrome, the authors evaluated 10 studies that involved 590 patients. The authors reported that their meta-analysis showed that “flower pollen extract could significantly improve patients’ quality of life,” and do so without any significant side effects.
Read more in our Prostatitis Health Center.
References
Cai T et al. The role of flower pollen extract in managing patients affected by chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a comprehensive analysis of all published clinical trials. BMC Urology 2017 Apr 21; 17(1): 32
Macchione N et al. Flower pollen extract in association with vitamins (Deprox 500) versus Serenoa repens in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a comparative analysis of two different treatments. Antiinflammatory & Antiallergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2018 Nov 28
