Natural Treatment for Men’s Health
As a naturopathic doctor, I treat men’s health issues. Natural medicine offers numerous safe and effective solutions to men’s specific health issues. I treat men for many health concerns that are also not specific to them. For example, I treat acne, hair loss, psoriasis, diabetes, back pain, eczema, hypertension, and so on. In addition, there are many diseases that men may be more prone to that I also treat.
Heart Disease in Men
Men are at greater risk than women for cardiovascular diseases, like heart attacks and high blood pressure. A man is 2 times more likely to experience a heart attack in his lifetime than a woman is. My treatments reduce cholesterol, manage blood pressure and prevent heart attacks naturally. As a naturopathic doctor, I will guide you to make the necessary diet changes.
Prostate Enlargement or BPH
Enlargement of the prostate is a common concern as men age. The symptoms of BPH include:
- Frequent urination
- Urgent urination
- Difficulty starting to urinate
- Straining to urinate
- Weak urine stream
Naturopathic medicine relieves these symptoms by addressing the root cause. Hormone imbalance enlarges the prostate. Prostate tissue responds to high levels of DHT or dihydrotestosterone. Naturally balancing hormones can be done through diet, vitamins, herbs, and minerals.
Accidents and Injury
Car accidents, sports injuries, or other athletic injuries heal better through naturopathic treatment. I use acupuncture, and naturopathic medicine to reduce the symptoms of the injury (pain, swelling, inflammation) and speed healing.
Diabetes
Diabetes increases your risk of cancer and heart disease. To manage it naturally improve your diet, lose weight, exercise, and take the right nutritional supplements. As a naturopathic doctor, I will provide guidance and support to make the necessary lifestyle changes to manage your diabetes.
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression can affect anyone. Men are not immune to mood disorders. But, they may be more reluctant to admit that they are suffering. Psychotherapy, self-care through diet, exercise, hormone balancing, vitamins, minerals, and herbs will ease anxiety and depression in men.
I recommend against self-prescribing for any of these. Because the correct dose/timing/product makes all the difference. As a naturopathic doctor, I will put together a regimen that is best for you.
Male Factor Infertility
I frequently treat sexual health issues like erectile dysfunction, low libido, prostate enlargement (BPH), prostate cancer, and male factor infertility.
- Increase testosterone levels
- Improve circulation for erectile dysfunction
- Improve libido
- Relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
- Improve all aspects of male factor infertility
- Increase the success rate of fertility treatments
By Dr. Pamela Frank, Naturopathic Doctor, updated Feb. 23, 2022
Not convinced that natural medicine can help you? Check out the copious research on natural treatment for men’s health.
Natural Treatment for Men’s Health Research
Gingko Biloba:
Gingko Biloba is effective in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)-related erectile dysfunction. Source: Complementary Prescriptions Journal, Vol.26, Issue 12, Dec. 2012
Pine Bark Extract:
A combination of pine bark extract and l-arginine increases mean total plasma testosterone levels and is effective at improving erectile function. Source: BJU Int, 2010 Feb 22.
Hormones and Men’s Health:
A significant drop in testosterone levels in older men can trigger sexual dysfunction.
Source: Complementary Prescriptions Journal, Vol.26, Issue 12, Dec. 2012
DHA:
Martinez-Soto JC, Domingo JC, Cordobilla B, Nicolas M, Fernandez L, Albero P, Gadea J, Landeras J. Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improves seminal antioxidant status and decreases sperm DNA fragmentation. Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2016; 62(6):387-395.
● Supplementation with 1500 mg DHA per day for 10 weeks is associated with no difference in traditional sperm parameters (semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and vitality) however there was an increase in DHA and omega-3 fatty acid content in seminal plasma, a reduction in % of spermatozoa with DNA damage, and an improvement in antioxidant status.
Fenugreek Seed Extract:
Rao A, Steels E, Inder W, Abraham S, Vitetta L. Testofen, a specialized Trigonella foenum-graecum seed extract reduces age-related symptoms of androgen decrease, increases testosterone levels, and improves sexual function in healthy aging males in a double-blind randomized clinical study. Source: Aging Male. 2016; 19(2);134-42.
Ketogenic Diet & Men’s Health:
Wilson JM, Lowery RP, Roberts MD, Sharp MH, Joy JM, Shields KA, Partl J, Volek JS, D’Agostino D. The effects of ketogenic dieting on body composition, strength, power, and hormonal profiles in resistance training males. J Strength Con Res. 2017; DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001935.
● This study compares a ketogenic diet (high fat, low carbohydrate) versus a traditional western diet in resistance-trained athletes (25 college-aged men). Increases in lean body mass happen in both KD and WD. Only KD showed increased lean body mass between weeks 10/11. Fat mass decreased to the same extent in KD and WD. Strength and power increased to the same extent in KD and WD. No change in serum lipid measures. Rapid reintroduction of carbs from weeks 10-11 increased plasma TG levels in KD compared to WD. Total testosterone increased significantly in the KD diet compared to WD. No change in insulin.
Peyronie’s Disease & CoQ10:
Supplementation with coenzyme Q10 in patients with chronic early Peyronie’s disease was found to reduce plaque size and erectile dysfunction. Source: Int J Impot Res, 2010 Aug 19
Natural Treatment for Libido Research
Tribulus Terrestris, Eurycoma Longifolia, and DHEA all stimulate libido. Source: Complementary Prescriptions Journal, Vol.26, Issue 12, Dec. 2012
Men’s Health: Natural Treatment for Prostate Enlargement, Prostate Health, BPH Research
Testosterone:
There is increasing medical evidence that suggests low total testosterone levels are related to poor prostate health. Source: Complementary Prescriptions Journal, Vol.26, Issue 12, Dec. 2012
Lifestyle:
Environmental toxins, certain viral infections, insulin resistance, and a sedentary lifestyle are all factors that affect the health of the prostate gland. Source: Complementary Prescriptions Journal, Vol.26, Issue 12, Dec. 2012
Herbal Medicine:
Saw palmetto boosts prostate health by decreasing smooth muscle contraction, epidermal growth factor and inhibits androgen-receptor binding. Source: Complementary Prescriptions Journal, Vol. 27 Issue 8, August 2013
Prostate health can be improved by detoxification, a diet low in white starches and sugars, exercise, taking beta-sitosterol, Urtica dioica, Pygeum africanum, cranberries, and vitamin D. Source: Complementary Prescriptions Journal, Vol.26, Issue 12, Dec. 2012
Patients with benign prostate hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms who were given isoflavones daily found significant improvements in their conditions in 12 months.
Source: J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Jan; 18(1):54-60.
Medications:
Some over-the-counter medications such as cold medicines, diuretics, and pain medications can worsen benign prostatic hyperplasia or cause urinary tract problems. Source: Complementary Prescriptions Journal, Vol.26, Issue 12, Dec. 2012
Men’s Health: Natural Treatment to Reduce PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Levels Research
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s):
Daily supplementation with 1•12 g of EPA and 0•72 g of DHA reduces serum PSA level by 30•0 from baseline. Source: Br J Nutr. 2012 Nov 30:1-8.
Daily supplementation with 600 mg γ-linolenic acid (GLA) increases serum PSA concentration by 15•0. Source: Br J Nutr. 2012 Nov 30:1-8.
CoQ10:
Coenzyme Q10 therapy of 100mg per day was found to significantly reduce serum prostate-specific antigen levels. Source: Br J Nutr. 2012 Nov 30:1-8.
Natural Treatment for Hypogonadism Research
Soy:
Long-term consumption of soy products leads to a decrease in free testosterone, which has been tied with the development of hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction. Source: Nutrition, Volume 27, Issue 7-8, pages 859-862, Jul-Aug 2011.
Diet & Exercise:
Prediabetic, overweight men with hypogonadism show improvement in testosterone levels after reducing calorie and fat intake and increasing exercise. Source: ENDO 2012.
Natural Treatment for Male Infertility & Fertility Research
Omega 3’s:
Omega-3 fatty acids were found to have a positive effect on sperm development and motility, whereas high levels of other types of fats resulted in lower sperm counts. Source: Human Reproduction, Volume 27, Issue 5, pages 1466-1474, March 2012.
Zinc, D-aspartate, CoQ10:
Treatment with zinc, D-aspartate, and coenzyme Q10 is associated with an increase in DNA fragmentation and lipid peroxidation in the spermatozoa, preventing a decrease in motility. Source: Reprod Biol Endocrinol, 2013 Aug 16; 11(1): 81.
Treatment with zinc, D-aspartate, and coenzyme Q10 is associated with total and progressive sperm motility maintenance in both normospermic and oligospermic samples. Source: Reprod Biol Endocrinol, 2013 Aug 16; 11(1): 81; [Epub ahead of print].
Vitamin E:
Supplementation with vitamin E improves sperm concentration, mobility, and rate of pregnancy. Source: Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue, 2012 May; 18(5):428-31.
Daily supplementation with vitamin E decreases sperm DNA damage in older men. Source: Fertil Steril. 2012 Aug 23.
CoQ10:
In men with idiopathic infertility ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10) improves fertility. Source: J Urol, 2012 Jun 13.
Oxidative stress assessment, CoQ10-TOTAL, and alpha-tocopherol concentrations in seminal fluid and plasma play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. Source: Bratisl Lek Listv, 2013; 114(11): 607-9.
Supplementation with coenzyme Q10 for 3 months improves semen parameters and antioxidant status in the seminal plasma of infertile men with varicocele. Source: Festa R, Giacchi E, et al, Andrologia, 2013 Aug 22.
Diet:
Ingestion of walnuts improves sperm vitality, motility, and morphology in men. Source: Biol Reprod. 2012 Aug 15.
Vitamin C, E, Zinc & Folate:
Daily intake of micronutrients vitamin C, E, zinc, and folate decreases sperm DNA damage in older men. Source: Fertil Steril. 2012 Aug 23.
Daily intake of folate decreases sperm DNA damage in older men. Source: Fertil Steril. 2012 Aug 23.
Daily intake of zinc decreases sperm DNA damage in older men. Source: Fertil Steril. 2012 Aug 23.
Daily supplementation with vitamin C decreases sperm DNA damage in older men. Source: Fertil Steril. 2012 Aug 23.
L-carnitine:
Sperm cryopreserved with l-carnitine significantly improves sperm motility and vitality, compared to no l-carnitine. Source: Banihani S, Agarwal A, et al, Andrologia, 2013 July 3; [Epub ahead of print].
Men taking L-carnitine supplements have a significantly higher rate of pregnancy (31.1%), as compared to those taking vitamin E alone (3.8%). Source: Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue, 2010 May; 16(5): 420-2.
Treatment with L-carnitine in addition to vitamin E increases the percentage of forward-moving sperm (45.4% from 28.6% pre-treatment). Source: Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue, 2010 May; 16(5): 420-2.