Saturday, May 23, 2009

Prostate Cancer Risk Drops with Herbal Preparation

A promising herbal preparation has been shown to reduce risk of prostate cancer in phase 1 clinical trials. Men with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), between age 40 and 75 dropped their risk of developing prostate cancer by taking the herbal preparation Zyflamend.

The study comes from the Center for Holistic Urology at Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia. The herbal preparation was not shown to produce toxicity or side effects among twenty-three men studied with HGPIN, a condition known to precede prostate cancer.

Aaron E. Katz, M.D., senior author of the study says "Since we know that men with HGPIN have an increased risk for developing prostate cancer, new strategies formulated to decrease cancer risk, prevent or delay surgery, and improve quality of life, will be greatly beneficial for these men.” The herbal preparation was found to reduce spread of abnormal prostate cells that can be precursors to cancer, perhaps because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

The men reduced their risk of prostate cancer by taking Zyflamend for eighteen months, three times a day. The herbal preparation consists of holy basil leaf, curcumin rhizome, (Turmeric), ginger rhizome, green tea leaf, rosemary leaf and essential oil, Hu Zhang root, Chinese goldthread root, barberry root, oregano leaf, and skullcap root. Previous studies showing the anti-inflammatory effects of Zyflamend have also been performed, dating back to 2005.

Prostate cancer risk drops with the herbal preparation, according to the study, though the number of participants was small. According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2009 there will be 192,280 men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Finding ways to reduce risk of prostate cancer using a safe herbal preparation may be worth discussion with your doctor.

Columbia University Medical Center


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