Both conditions can result in proneness to urinary tract and prostate infections, which in turn can worsen the swelling of the prostate. In traditional herbal medicine, pygeum is used for a variety of urinary problems. Traditional healers and physicians of past centuries had no understanding of the prostate, of prostate infections, or of benign prostate hypertrophy. The materia medica just recommended pygeum for urinary tract problems of men, and as a matter of fact, pygeum seems to be helpful for both benign prostate hypertrophy and prostatitis. As a healthy prostate is important for a satisfying sex life, and as the prostate of all men will weaken as they age, it makes good sense to treat this organ gently, even during times when no major prostate problems yet occur.
Sensible nutrition is one strategy to keep one's prostate healthy.
Tobacco, coffee, and alcohol all are poison for the prostate. A diet rich in meat and fat is also not conducive to prostate health. Zinc and selenium are two minerals that contribute to prostate health, with selenium having a protective effect against prostate cancer. It has been recommended that healthy men supplement their diets with saw palmetto and pygeum in order to prevent benign prostate hypertrophy. However, one has to be aware of the fact that both herbals will also interfere with erectile response, as does the pharmaceutical Proscar.