The month of may is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This is a time to celebrate the achievements of the Asian community as well as promote more inclusivity and diversity that openly welcomes the participation of people with Asian descent in the workplace, in our media, in our healthcare, and more. The experiences, insight, and work contributed by the Asian community has strengthened and expanded the multicultural fabric of many countries around the world. One area we want to explore in particular is the reception of traditional Chinese medicine. Many people have sought natural alternatives or complementary solutions to the management of health ailments. In Asia, herbal remedies and plant based therapies have been well received for generations to help with a variety of conditions. This includes a condition we passionately write about in our blogs, BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). This is a condition that commonly occurs in older men where the prostate gland increases in size, which may create issues within the urinary tract, including frequent urination, slow or poor urinary flow, sensation of residual urine, urges, trouble starting and stopping urination, pushing or forcing urine, etc.
It also just so happens that Asian Men have been found to have a Lower Incidence Rate of BPH. Some have suggested diet has a role because of soy, which is somewhat of a staple in Asian cuisine, as well as a balanced diet more inclusive of plant based nutrition. It could be that the prostate is growing at a slower rate in Asian men, or that they feel the symptoms less intensely due to an effective lifestyle management. Herbs such as astragalus, which support immune function, may also help. This was found in a clinical trial for the plant based supplement UMOOZE with astragalus and soy extracts in a study for men with BPH.
All in all, if you have been interested in exploring natural solutions to mild BPH that can be safely implemented alongside a healthy lifestyle you may look to the Asian men's health community for potential support!
