How Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Prostatitis Caused by Prolonged Sitting
Prolonged sitting, a common habit in modern life, is a hidden trigger for prostatitis. The constant pressure on the prostate leads to blood stagnation and damp-heat accumulation, resulting in symptoms like frequent urination, urgency, and pelvic pain.
Fortunately, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a holistic approach to relieve chronic prostatitis caused by prolonged sitting and reduce recurrence through clearing heat, promoting circulation, and strengthening the body.
Some effective TCM methods to restore prostate health
1. Herbal Remedies: Targeting the Root Cause
TCM uses herbal formulas tailored to the individual's condition to address damp-heat, blood stasis, and other underlying causes of prostatitis. Below are key herbal treatments recommended for prostatitis:
(1) Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill: Comprehensive Healing
Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill is an innovative TCM formula designed for chronic prostatitis, combining over 50 herbal ingredients, including plantain seed, dianthus, polygonum aviculare, honeysuckle, peach kernel, angelica root, and vaccaria seed. It excels in clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, relieving pain, and reducing swelling, while also combating hyperplasia, calcification, and fibrosis [1].
Mechanism of Action: Plantain seed and dianthus promote urination to ease frequency and urgency; peach kernel and angelica root invigorate blood flow to relieve pelvic pain; honeysuckle and houttuynia cordata eliminate bacteria and inflammation; vaccaria seed clears glandular blockages. This multi-targeted approach allows Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill to act like broad-spectrum antibiotics while also reducing swelling, preventing hyperplasia, and addressing chronic prostatitis effectively.
Advantages: Unlike Western medications, this formula has no risk of drug resistance, is gentle, and supports long-term use to prevent recurrence.
(2) Bazheng San: Clearing Heat and Promoting Urination
Bazheng San is ideal for prostatitis caused by damp-heat accumulation, with ingredients like plantain seed, dianthus, talc, gardenia, rhubarb, and licorice. It clears heat, reduces inflammation, and improves urination [2]. Modern studies show Bazheng San inhibits inflammatory cytokines, reduces prostate congestion, and alleviates incomplete urination.
Usage: Decoct one dose daily, taken in two servings; for mild cases, it can be steeped as tea.
Caution: Avoid in cases of weak digestion to prevent diarrhea.
(3) Longdan Xiegan Tang: Clearing Liver and Gallbladder Heat
For patients with severe damp-heat, Longdan Xiegan Tang clears heat in the liver and gallbladder, using ingredients like gentian, scutellaria, gardenia, and alisma.
Usage: Decoct one dose daily, taken in two servings.
Caution: Use with caution in those with weak digestion or hypertension, and only under medical supervision.
(4) Xialiqi Capsule: Rapid Relief and Long-Term Care
Developed based on TCM network pharmacology, Xialiqi Capsule quickly relieves urinary urgency and pain while reducing prostate size and slowing disease progression. Studies suggest it inhibits pyroptosis pathways, reduces inflammation, and enhances prostate cell vitality [3].
2. Acupuncture and Massage: Restoring Energy Flow
Acupuncture and massage stimulate key acupoints to regulate qi and blood, improve pelvic circulation, and alleviate congestion caused by prolonged sitting.
Acupuncture: Target acupoints like Guanyuan (3 inches below the navel), Zhongji (4 inches below the navel), and Sanyinjiao (3 inches above the inner ankle). For damp-heat, add Yinlingquan; for blood stasis, include Xuehai and Taichong. Sessions of 20-30 minutes, 2-3 times weekly, can reduce prostate swelling [4].
Moxibustion: Apply moxibustion to Guanyuan, Shenshu, and Baliao acupoints for 15-20 minutes per session, creating a warm sensation. This is ideal for cold-damp prostatitis, as it warms yang and relieves pain.
Massage: At home, gently rub Guanyuan and Qihai acupoints for 5 minutes, twice daily. Professional massage, focusing on the lower back and perineum, should be performed by a practitioner to enhance circulation.
3. Dietary Adjustments: Eating for Prostate Health
Diet plays a vital role in TCM’s approach to prostatitis, supporting recovery through targeted food choices.
Recommended Foods:
Clear Heat and Dampness: Mung beans, winter melon, bitter gourd, adzuki beans; corn silk tea is also effective.
Strengthen Spleen and Kidneys: Yam, lotus seeds, goji berries, black sesame.
Zinc-Rich Foods: Pumpkin seeds, walnuts, oysters, which boost prostate immunity.
Foods to Avoid:
Spicy foods (e.g., chili, pepper) that aggravate damp-heat.
Alcohol, which causes prostate congestion.
Cold or greasy foods (e.g., ice cream, fried foods) that burden digestion.
4. Exercise and Movement: Boosting Vitality
Physical activity improves pelvic circulation and strengthens pelvic floor muscles, counteracting the effects of prolonged sitting.
Tai Chi and Baduanjin: These gentle exercises, practiced for 30 minutes daily, regulate breathing and enhance pelvic blood flow.
Kegel Exercises: Contract the anus for 3-5 seconds, relax, and repeat for 3 sets of 20 daily to improve urination and pelvic strength.
Break from Sitting: Stand, stretch, or walk for 5-10 minutes every hour to relieve prostate pressure.
5. Lifestyle Changes: Building a Healthy Foundation
A balanced lifestyle is essential for managing prostatitis and preventing recurrence:
Regular Sleep: Sleep 7-8 hours nightly, ideally by 11 PM, to avoid taxing the body.
Quit Smoking and Limit Alcohol: Both worsen prostate congestion.
Stay Warm: Keep the lower abdomen warm, especially in winter, and avoid sitting on cold surfaces.
Manage Stress: Practice meditation or listen to music to maintain emotional balance.
Conclusion: TCM for Prostate Wellness
Prostatitis caused by prolonged sitting reflects a conflict between modern lifestyles and physical health. TCM, through remedies like Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill, acupuncture, diet, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments, clears heat, resolves stasis, and strengthens the body to alleviate symptoms and prevent recurrence. However, treatment must be tailored to the individual. We recommend:
Seek prompt medical evaluation for symptoms like frequent urination or pelvic pain at a TCM or urology clinic.
Adhere to prescribed treatments, continuing even after symptoms improve to avoid relapse.
Break the habit of prolonged sitting, stay active, and adopt a prostate-friendly diet.
Choose Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill and the wisdom of TCM to free yourself from prostatitis. Visit https://www.drleetcmclinic.com/ for more insights or contact us for personalized guidance!
References
[1] World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). WHO Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241515436
[2] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). (2021). Herbal Medicine: What You Need to Know. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/herbal-medicine
[3] Journal of Ethnopharmacology. (2018). Therapeutic Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Chronic Prostatitis. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.03.021
[4] National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). (2020). Prostatitis: Inflammation of the Prostate. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/prostatitis
