P-Support™

TCM herbal formula for enlarged prostate with urinary difficulties — benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): prostate enlargement with urinary frequency, urgency, and nocturia; feeling of incomplete emptying, terminal dribbling, and pain with urination; varicocele with enlarged vein, pain within scrotum, and feeling of heaviness in the testicle(s); prostatitis with dysuria and pain or discomfort of the penis or testicle(s); lin zheng (dysuria syndrome) with urinary urgency, painful urination, and difficult urination with inflammation — clears damp-heat; promotes normal urination; tonifies qi, blood, and jing (essence); reduces prostate size; analgesic; anti-inflammatory; diuretic.

⚠️ Designed to treat mild to moderate prostate enlargement — NOT suitable for the treatment of prostate cancer; additional workup is necessary to confirm or rule out prostate cancer. Not designed for long-term use — discontinue when the desired effects are achieved. If extended maintenance is necessary, use only a reduced dosage. BPH incidence is 40–50% in men aged 51–60 and 80% in men older than 80 — treat as early as possible to prevent deterioration. High cholesterol has been linked to prostate disorders — take steps to reduce blood cholesterol levels if necessary.

TCM pathophysiology: In TCM, BPH in geriatric men is a condition of both excess and deficiency. Excess refers to enlargement of the gland leading to stagnation of qi and blood and accumulation of damp-heat. Deficiency refers to the gradual depletion of qi, blood, and Kidney jing (essence) accompanying aging. Optimal treatment must use herbs that tonify the underlying deficiency, clear damp-heat, and promote normal urination. Western medicine treats BPH with drugs that relax the bladder muscle (Minipress/prazosin — causes hypotension, dizziness, lightheadedness, syncope, rebound hypertension) or shrink the prostate (Proscar/finasteride — requires 3+ months, causes impotence, decreased libido, decreased ejaculate volume). In severe cases, a catheter is inserted or surgical removal of the prostate is performed. Herbal therapy is both safe and effective with short- and long-term benefits.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): prostate enlargement with urinary frequency, urgency, and nocturia; feeling of incomplete emptying, terminal dribbling, and pain with urination

* Varicocele with enlarged vein, pain within scrotum, and feeling of heaviness in the testicle(s)

* Prostatitis with dysuria and pain or discomfort of the penis or testicle(s)

* Lin zheng (dysuria syndrome) with urinary urgency, painful urination, and difficult urination with inflammation

Key herb-level clinical data:

— Huang Bo (Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis / Phellodendron Bark / Amur Cork Tree Bark): one of the most effective herbs to treat BPH — promotes relaxation and inhibits contraction of smooth muscle in the prostate; treats prostatic urethral obstruction; clears damp-heat and toxic heat from the lower jiao; clinical: herbal formula containing Huang Bo, Wang Bu Liu Xing, Chi Shao, Pu Gong Ying, and others — 90% effectiveness for chronic prostatitis in 108 patients

— Huang Qi (Radix Astragali / Astragalus / Milk Vetch Root): tonifies qi; regulates water circulation; clinical: decoction of Huang Qi + Hua Shi + Hu Po — 52 prostatic hyperplasia patients: 38 complete remission, 13 improvement in flow rate and reduction in prostate size, 1 no improvement

— Hua Shi (Talcum): diuretic — promotes normal urination; relieves dampness and swelling; clinical: combined with Huang Qi and Hu Po — 52 BPH patients with very positive results

— Hu Po (Succinum / Amber): breaks up blood stagnation; opens the orifices; marked anti-inflammatory — reduces swelling and enlargement of the prostate gland; clinical: combined with Huang Qi and Hua Shi — 52 BPH patients with very positive results

— Ru Xiang (Gummi Olibanum / Frankincense / Boswellia): activates blood circulation; disperses blood stagnation; excellent analgesic — commonly used to treat various types of pain; disperses masses throughout the entire body

— Mo Yao (Myrrha / Myrrh / Commiphora myrrha): activates blood circulation; disperses blood stagnation; excellent analgesic and anti-inflammatory — anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity confirmed in clinical research; disperses masses throughout the entire body

— Chi Shao (Radix Paeoniae Rubrae / Red Peony Root): enhances blood stagnation dispersion; softens hardness; promotes normal urination

— Tao Ren (Semen Persicae / Peach Kernel / Prunus persica): softens hardness; promotes normal urination; marked anti-inflammatory — reduces swelling and enlargement of the prostate gland

— Tong Cao (Medulla Tetrapanacis / Rice Paper Pith / Tetrapanax): disperses and reduces swelling and inflammation; excellent penetrating qualities — helps restore healthy continuous urinary flow; diuretic — promotes normal urination and increases urinary output; anti-inflammatory

— Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae / Vaccaria Seed / Cowherb Seed): disperses and reduces swelling and inflammation; excellent penetrating qualities — helps restore healthy continuous urinary flow

— Fu Ling (Poria / Poria Cocos / Hoelen): tonifies qi; regulates water circulation; diuretic — promotes normal urination and increases urinary output

— Yi Yi Ren (Semen Coicis / Coix Seed / Job's Tears): diuretic — promotes normal urination; relieves various discomforts associated with dampness and swelling

— Pu Gong Ying (Herba Taraxaci / Dandelion / Taraxacum): clears damp-heat and toxic heat from the lower jiao; diuretic — promotes normal urination and increases urinary output

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Reduces prostate size — Huang Bo (relaxes and inhibits contraction of smooth muscle in prostate; treats prostatic urethral obstruction); Ru Xiang + Mo Yao (activates blood circulation; disperses blood stagnation and masses); Chi Shao + Tao Ren (softens hardness; promotes urination); Hu Po (breaks up blood stagnation; opens orifices); Tong Cao + Wang Bu Liu Xing (disperses and reduces swelling; penetrating qualities; restores urinary flow)

* Analgesic / anti-inflammatory — Ru Xiang + Mo Yao (excellent analgesic; commonly used for various types of pain); Tao Ren + Tong Cao + Hu Po (marked anti-inflammatory; reduces prostate swelling and enlargement); clinical: 90% effectiveness for chronic prostatitis in 108 patients; 93.7% effectiveness in 32 patients (13 recovery, 10 significant improvement, 7 moderate improvement, 2 no effect)

* Diuretic / promotes normal urination — Fu Ling + Tong Cao + Pu Gong Ying (diuretic; promotes normal urination; increases urinary output); Hua Shi + Yi Yi Ren (diuretic; relieves dampness and swelling); clinical: 52 BPH patients with Huang Qi + Hua Shi + Hu Po — 38 complete remission, 13 improvement

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Clears damp-heat and toxic heat from the lower jiao (Huang Bo, Pu Gong Ying)

* Breaks up blood stagnation; disperses masses; softens hardness (Ru Xiang, Mo Yao, Chi Shao, Tao Ren, Hu Po)

* Disperses and reduces swelling and inflammation; restores urinary flow (Tong Cao, Wang Bu Liu Xing)

* Tonifies qi; regulates water circulation (Huang Qi, Fu Ling)

* Diuretic — promotes normal urination; relieves dampness and swelling (Fu Ling, Hua Shi, Tong Cao, Yi Yi Ren, Pu Gong Ying)

DOSAGE

Standard: 3–4 capsules three times daily on an empty stomach with warm water. In acute conditions: increase to 8–10 capsules three times daily until symptoms subside — for no more than 4 days. After relief of symptoms: reduce to 3–4 capsules daily. Prevention or maintenance: 2 capsules twice daily.

Supplementary formulas: Varicocele — add Resolve (Lower) at a 3:1 ratio of P-Support to Resolve (Lower). Damp-heat accumulation with turbid, painful urination — use Gentiana Complex. Bacterial prostatitis or urinary tract infection — use V-Support or Herbal ABX. Kidney stones — add Dissolve (KS). Compromised renal functions — add Kidney DTX. Kidney yang deficiency with coldness or impotence — add Kidney Tonic (Yang). Kidney yin deficiency — add Kidney Tonic (Yin). Edema and water accumulation — add Herbal DRX. Blood stagnation — add Circulation (SJ). Severe inflammation — add Astringent Complex.

Nutrition: Eat foods rich in zinc — raw pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed oil, and sunflower seeds (zinc deficiency linked to prostate disorders). Foods with phytoestrogens such as soy and yams have a beneficial effect for prostate health. Increase consumption of: organic fresh leafy vegetables, whole grains and raw wheat germ, carrots, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and natural enzymes — eat cooked vegetables instead of raw. Avoid fruits that are cold or sour in nature (watermelon, citrus). Avoid tobacco smoking, alcoholic beverages, junk food, and spicy food. Reduce salt intake.

Tao of Nutrition (Dr. Maoshing Ni and Cathy McNease):

— Recommendations: pumpkin seeds, anise, tangerines, cherries, figs, litchis, sunflower seeds, mangos, and seaweeds.

— Roast pumpkin seeds or boil into tea; incorporate into the diet — one large handful twice daily.

— Make tea from rhubarb root, peach kernels, winter melon seeds, pearl barley, azuki beans, and corn silk; drink three times daily.

— Boil fig tea.

— Avoid dairy products, rich foods, fatty foods; all stimulants (alcohol, caffeine, smoking); stress, tension, sex, and eating meat late in the day.

Lifestyle: Take steps to reduce blood cholesterol levels if necessary — high cholesterol linked to prostate disorders. Relaxation exercises help relieve tension and facilitate bladder emptying. Abstain from sexual intercourse as much as possible until the condition is resolved, then observe moderation in sexual activity.

CASE STUDIES

— 61-year-old male: Frequent urination with incomplete sensation — "did not feel completely empty"; enlarged prostate; Kidney yin deficiency and damp-heat. P-Support — 4 caps 3x daily. Result: symptoms improved; "urination is a lot easier and he feels more complete after."

— R.A., 78-year-old male: Frequent urination 3–4 times each night with urgency and difficulty in flow; BPH; Kidney yin deficiency and qi stagnation in the Bladder. P-Support — 12 caps daily. Result: patient only needed to get up once each night. Dosage lowered to 9 pills daily to maintain results. Patient continued to keep them on hand.

Related Reading

Also see: Resolve (Lower) – for varicocele (use at 3:1 ratio with P-Support) | Gentiana Complex – for damp-heat accumulation with turbid, painful urination | V-Support – for bacterial prostatitis or urinary tract infection | Herbal ABX – for bacterial prostatitis or urinary tract infection | Dissolve (KS) – for kidney stones | Kidney DTX – for compromised renal functions | Kidney Tonic (Yang) – for Kidney yang deficiency with coldness or impotence | Kidney Tonic (Yin) – for Kidney yin deficiency | Herbal DRX – for edema and water accumulation | Circulation (SJ) – for blood stagnation | Astringent Complex – for severe inflammation | Men's Health & Vitality Collection.