Cured by Self Drainage
Received July 19, 2000
First of all I would like to deeply thank you for maintaining this website. After five years of suffering, I have been cured of prostatitis thanks to information I found on your website.
About five years ago, I was diagnosed with prostatitis and went through the usual Cipro treatment for six weeks. It helped for a while, but when symptoms returned, I went back to the doc. He gave me more Cipro and told me that some men are just plagued by this problem and are on and off antibiotics their whole life. That’s when I stopped consulting my doctor and decided to do my own research. I discovered saw palmetto, and have been taking it ever since. It made me feel 90% better, but there was always a mild tingle in my crotch. I knew that something wasn’t quite right, but I learned to live with it. I had no interest in wasting my time with doctors. If I forgot to take the saw palmetto for a few days, the tingle would turn to discomfort. I always seemed to be able to control it with the saw palmetto.
About five months ago, I woke up with a dull ache in my right testicle. The ache slowly turned into a feeling of built up pressure, and after about three days, I developed a fever. I had no choice but to seek medical attention. I was diagnosed with epiditymitis, and was told I had a severely inflamed prostate. (This didn’t surprise me.) Thirty day sentance of Cipro. Three weeks into my Cipro, I still had mild symptoms of epiditymitis. I started to get depressed. I felt very alone, and believed that there was no one out there who could help me. I began to feel that I was doomed. I was 27 and my body was failing me.
I started doing research on the web, and came across your website. I became very intrigued when I read the information about draining the prostate and Dr. Feliciano’s method. It was like someone just turned on the light. Doctors had described the anatomy of the prostate to me in the past, and told me how difficult it was for antibiotics to penetrate the gland completely, but that was the end of the story – if the drugs couldn’t get in, they didn’t know what else to do.
Well, the drainage technique made perfect sense to me. I remember reading somewhere else about how important drainage is for infections. Dead white blood cells need to be flushed out to make room for new ones. I started doing drainages on myself evrey morning in the shower using the info on this website as a guide. It was uncomfortable as hell at first, but it slowly got easier, and the symptoms slowly got better. I went to see a uro about a week later to get refill on the cipro, and ask him about the drainage theory. He basically laughed at me and told me that an ejaculation did the same thing. What a jackass! How could someone who studied the urinary tract for that long, removed, disected, and inspected that many prostate glands be so naive. I knew from performing drainages on myself that after a drainage, my prostate gland was completely deflated – to the point where I couldn’t feel it anymore. I occasionally did drainages after an ejaculation, and the prostate would be as enlarged as ever, even immediately after .
I saw progress after a week of drainages. I have been off antibiotics for two months now, and still do drainages every other day. I feel better now than I have in five years. My prostate has gone from being the size of a plum to the size of a walnut. I would recommend that anyone who has been in the same boat as me try the drainage techniques explained on your website. As with all non-chemical medicine, you have to be patient and persistent. I don’t belive that there are really any permanent cures that can be found in dietary supplements. They may alleviate symptoms, but they can’t cure the problem.
I believe that the reason so many men have this problem is because somewhere in our evolution the prostate gland lost its ability to naturally drain itself. As modern men, we have to be aware of how to help our bodies perform the natural functions they need to stay healthy.
Thank you again, and feel free to post this message anywhere you like!
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The mission of the Prostatitis Foundation is to educate the public about the prevalence of prostatitis
and encourage and support research to find the cause and a cure for prostatitis.
We’re sorry you are having to learn about prostatitis, but we’re glad you came here, because we think we can help. Please be advised that the Prostatitis Foundation does
not warrant, support, sponsor, endorse, recommend or accept responsibility for any health care provider or any treatment or protocol performed by any heath care provider.
The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that wraps around the urethra, the tube that urine flows out of. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. One of its main jobs, along with other organs, is to add fluid to semen. This is the fluid that carries sperm.
The prostate gland starts out small and has two main phases of growth. It doubles in size during the teenage years, then continues to grow again after age 25 throughout the rest of a man’s life.
An excessively enlarged prostate results in a disease known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Eventually, an enlarged prostate can clamp down on the urethra and restrict the flow of urine from the bladder. This leads to problems such as:
Read about natural remedies that may improve some BPH symptoms.
There are several treatment options for an enlarged prostate. You can take alpha-blockers such as terazosin (Hytrin) or tamsulosin (Flomax) to help relax the prostate and bladder muscles.
You can also take dutasteride (Avodart) or finasteride (Proscar), a different kind of medication for reducing BPH symptoms. These block the hormones that cause the prostate to grow.
Combinations of these two different types of medications may also be recommended. Your doctor might also recommend surgery to remove the extra prostate tissue. One common surgical procedure for BPH is known as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).
There are also natural remedies that may work to combat enlarged prostate symptoms. However, the evidence is debatable on whether these treatments actually work. The American Urological Association currently doesn’t recommend any herbal therapy for managing BPH.
If you do want to try any of these natural remedies, talk to your doctor first. Some herbal treatments can interact with prescription medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate the quality or purity of herbal supplements. This means there can be a lack of consistent ingredients.
Saw palmetto is an herbal remedy that comes from the fruit of a type of palm tree. It’s been used in alternative medicine for centuries to relieve urinary symptoms, including those caused by an enlarged prostate. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a few small-scale studies have suggested that saw palmetto might be effective for relieving BPH symptoms.
However, the NIH reports that when larger studies were conducted, they didn’t find saw palmetto any more effective than a placebo. Research continues to look into the anti-inflammatory and hormone-blocking properties that saw palmetto may have and its possible use in combination with other medications. Saw palmetto is safe to use, but minor side effects can be upset stomach and headache.
This herbal medication is a mixture taken from different plants that contain cholesterol-like substances called sitosterols or phytosterols (plant-based fats). Several studies have suggested that beta-sitosterol can relieve urinary symptoms of BPH, including the strength of urine flow. Some scientists have also suggested that it’s these fatty substances — like beta-sitosterol, which is also found in saw palmetto — that are actually doing the work.
There haven’t been any major side effects reported with the use of beta-sitosterol. However, doctors still don’t know all the long-term effects of this natural therapy.
Pygeum comes from the bark of the African plum tree and has been used in traditional medicine to treat urinary problems since ancient times. It’s often used to treat BPH symptoms, especially in Europe. Because studies on it haven’t been well-designed, it’s hard to know for sure whether it’s effective.
According to the Canadian Journal of Urology, some small studies have suggested the supplement can help with bladder emptying and urine flow. However, the studies reviewed were inconsistent. Pygeum does appear safe to use, but it can cause upset stomach and headache in some people who take it. There are no studies on long-term safety.
Rye grass pollen extract is made from three types of grass pollen: rye, timothy, and corn. A review of herbal studies published in BJU International found that in one study, men who were taking rye grass pollen extract reported an improvement in their nighttime symptoms of getting up to urinate, compared to those who were taking a placebo. However, this study lasted only six months. It didn’t look at how well the supplement worked compared to prescription medications.
You’ll know if you’ve accidently touched the common European stinging nettle: The hairs on its leaves can cause a sharp jolt of intense pain. But stinging nettle may have some benefits when used as a medicine.
Nettle root is thought to improve some BPH symptoms, and is commonly used in Europe. However, a 2007 review concluded that more studies were needed. Currently, there’s no strong scientific evidence to suggest that it’s more effective than no treatment at all.
Sometimes nettle is used in combination with other natural BPH treatments, such as pygeum or saw palmetto. Side effects from nettle are usually mild, including upset stomach and skin rash.
The role of diet in the prevention of BPH and in treating its symptoms continues to be explored.
A recent four-year study in China looked at the effects of diet on BPH symptoms. Researchers found that men with diets high in fruits and vegetables — especially leafy, dark vegetables and tomatoes — had less BPH, less symptoms of BPH, and were less likely to have worsening of their BPH. Researchers believe it’s not just one nutrient, but rather the combinations found in a healthful diet and lifestyle, that are beneficial.
It’s important to remember that just because a supplement is labeled “natural” doesn’t always mean it’s safe, healthy, or effective. Remember that the FDA doesn’t regulate herbal remedies like it does prescription and over-the-counter drugs. That means you can’t be totally sure that what’s listed on the label is inside the bottle.
Herbal remedies can also cause side effects and interact with other medications you take. Check with your doctor before trying any natural supplement.
When you try to find the right supplements to treat a health condition, it can feel like a shot in the dark. You often have to count on word of mouth. But some men with BPH have found success with supplements. And there’s at least some scientific research to back them up.
When you have BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), your prostate is larger than normal. It can cause problems such as a weak urine stream or you need to pee a lot throughout the day. Your doctor might suggest a prescription drug to treat your symptoms, but you might find that the side effects are too much to take. Or, you’d just rather not have to take medicine so often.
Supplements aren’t as closely regulated as medicines your doctor prescribes.
That means their quality, safety, and effects can vary. It’s best to talk to your doctor before you start any supplement. They may cause problems with prescription medicines, treatments, or tests you might need.
The best-studied, most commonly used supplements to treat BPH are:
Beta-sitosterol: This is a substance found in many plants. It doesn’t affect the size of the prostate, but it may help your bladder empty and give you a stronger urine flow. It may improve other BPH symptoms as well.
Studies with Harzol and Azuprostat, two supplements that contain beta-sitosterol from South African stargrass, have shown particular promise.
Pygeum: This comes from the bark of the African plum tree. It seems to help some men with BPH wake up less at night to pee, go fewer times during the day, have a stronger urine stream, and empty their bladders better.
Rye pollen extract: This substance may improve a number of BPH symptoms, such as:
Some research shows that it may also shrink the prostate, give you a better flow, and help you empty your bladder.
Saw palmetto: This is a short tree that grows in North America. Some small studies have shown a benefit. However, several large studies do not show that saw palmetto reduces the size of the prostate or eases urinary symptoms. Men may try it hoping to relieve common BPH symptoms such as:
It may also help with waking up at night to go to the bathroom and feeling like you still have to pee after you just went.
For men who’ve had success with saw palmetto, it takes about 4 to 6 weeks to see results.
Other supplements show hopeful signs of helping in studies so far, but there’s less research on these than the more common options.
Pumpkin seeds: These and pumpkin seed oil extract seem to help with BPH symptoms and may shrink the size of the prostate. It may also be helpful when used along with other supplements such as saw palmetto.
Stinging nettle: This is a type of herb, and its root may help with urine flow and waking a lot at night to pee. It’s sometimes used along with other supplements to treat BPH symptoms.
Then there are the supplements where it’s just too early to know whether they’re useful. Early studies look good, but doctors need much more data on them.
Some of these include:
Winchester Hospital: “Beta-Sitosterol.” “Pygeum.” “Saw Palmetto.” “Nettle.”
Mayo Clinic: “Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).”
UCLA Health: “Conditions Treated.”
PubMed: “Nutraceuticals in Prostate Disease: The Urologist’s Role.”