By Setareh Kiumarsi
Are you experiencing swelling or inflammation in the prostate gland? Do you feel burning or pain while urinating? Is your urine flow interrupted? Do you wake up several times during the night to urinate? Do you feel pain in the pelvic area, lower abdomen, back, or thighs?
In Ayurveda, these symptoms arise when “bad phlegm” accumulates around the prostate gland. This leads to swelling and inflammation in the gland. In Ayurvedic terms, these issues are due to a simultaneous imbalance in the Kapha and Pitta doshas. In simpler terms, the area around the prostate becomes filled with warmth and moisture — think of it as a sticky, hot kind of phlegm.
What should we do?
The first step is to avoid foods that are excessively moist or considered overly heating during flare-ups:
Alcohol, marijuana, caffeine, cheese, yogurt (digestive lassi is fine), curd, bananas, pineapple, melon, cantaloupe, peaches, nectarines, oranges, very sour fruits (like sour cherries, unripe plums, green plums, fruit rolls, etc.), vinegar, verjuice, seafood (fish, shrimp, etc.), beef and veal, fast food, sausages, processed meats, ketchup, mayonnaise, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, eggplant, garlic, shallots, spicy seasonings, walnuts, peanuts, and cashews.
So, what should we eat?
Follow a monthly cleansing regimen focused on reproductive organ health.
Incorporate phlegm-reducing foods into your daily diet—fiber-rich vegetables like fenugreek, parsley, basil, watercress, savory, carrots, spinach, beets, and more. The dry quality of these vegetables acts like a porous sponge, absorbing excess moisture from your digestive tract. Along with lunch and dinner, be sure to include a digestive salad or fresh herbs (like parsley, basil, savory, spinach, etc.).
Starting two hours after each meal, drink a cup of the following herbal tea every hour. Regular use of this tea helps reduce inflammation and swelling in the prostate gland. Combine the following whole herbs (not powdered) in the specified ratios:
Fenugreek seed (1) + milk thistle (1) + nettle (2) + cumin (1) + valerian (1) + hibiscus (1)
Steep one teaspoon of this blend in a cup of boiling water. Before drinking, add a few drops of lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and a teaspoon of honey.
Note: this tea lowers blood pressure. If you suffer from low blood pressure, add 1/4 cup lemon balm distillate to each serving.
What else can we do to support the prostate?
- Avoid holding in your urine; don’t suppress the urge to urinate.
- Don’t urinate while standing. The best posture is squatting—like when using a squat toilet. If using a Western toilet, place a small stool under your feet.
- Avoid wearing tight underwear.
- Avoid sitting for long periods on cold surfaces.
Self-care and massage
3–4 times a week, gently massage your lower back, sides, around the navel, and the lower abdomen (between the navel and genitals) using the following oil blend in equal parts:
Castor oil + black seed or sesame oil + bitter almond oil
Massage in a circular motion, clockwise, for 5–10 minutes.
If you’re outside Iran and don’t have access to these oils, you can use Kapha massage oil from Banyan Botanicals.
After the massage, soak in a warm bath for 10–15 minutes. If you don’t have a bathtub, fill a basin with warm water and sit in it under the shower.
Sitting in warm water can be very helpful. It’s beneficial to add a little rock salt or sea salt and a small amount of apple cider vinegar to the water.
Constipation can worsen prostate inflammation.
Each night before bed, mix 2 teaspoons of teffseeds 1 teaspoon of fleawort seeds, and 1 teaspoon of psyllium into half a glass of hot water, along with 1–2 dried apricots. In the morning, add half a glass of hot water, a few drops of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of honey, and a pinch of salt. Drink this on an empty stomach.
Along with this, mix 1/2 teaspoon of triphala or black haritaki powder with 1 teaspoon of honey to form a paste and swallow it.
Supplemental zinc
Regular intake of zinc supplements can help reduce inflammation and swelling in the prostate gland. Try to take zinc supplements 2–3 times a week.
If you’re outside Iran, you can order the Ayurvedic formula Triphala Guggulu from Amazon and take 1–2 tablets daily.
Please be sure to credit the author, Setareh Kiumarsi, when sharing or republishing this article, which was written with love and the hope of well-being for all.
