Your Prostate Introduction

by John Appleton

This website is designed to create awareness of prostate issues and contains information about protocols that may assist in promoting prostate health

I first became really aware of my own prostate when at a medical check up at the age of 53, I was told by my doctor that my prostate was enlarged. A pharmaceutical medication prescribed for the condition caused considerable alarm, for me, and my wife, when it lowered my blood pressure so much that I nearly collapsed when getting out of bed.

This experience caused me to think deeply about what I had been given. Subsequent research that I undertook revealed that the medication would at best only relax the muscle tissue of the urethra. It was not a cure for the condition which is known as Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (which simply means non malignant enlargement of the Prostate).

Thereafter I was only interested in finding a non invasive and natural way to resolve the problem and restore my prostate to a more healthy state. Interestingly I discovered that a protocol I was following for cardiovascular health was in fact a similar protocol that I would be advised to follow for a healthy prostate. Futhermore, I learned that the same nutritional therapy was in fact a one stop shop for all manner of health issues. See “Looking After Your Prostate”.

I was fortunate to meet and become friendly with a skilled compounding biochemist from Takapuna in Auckland, Bruno Loos, who had researched prostate problems for many years and had developed a very special prostate supplement for use in conjunction with dietary measures. This formulation is based on a plant alcohol known as Beta Sitosterol, which is found in tiny amounts in vegetables. Please read the article that Bruno has written and his reasons for inclusion of ingredients in his formulation. Beta Sitosterol is also discussed in depth in Roger Mason’s superb book ‘The Natural Prostate Cure’ details of which are in the book section.

Please take the opportunity to learn as much as you can about your prostate. It’s important that you do.

Don’t wait for symptoms of prostate problems to manifest. The old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure” is very appropriate. I urge you to consult your doctor on a regular basis and thus ensure that you become aware of any problem at the earliest possible stage.

In 1995 a British survey reported in ‘TheTimes’ found that 89% of men who took part in the survey didn’t know where their prostate is located.

In January, (2005), I celebrated my 74th birthday. For the human male, statistics in New Zealand (which are practically identical to the USA and most northern European developed countries) indicate an 80% probability of BPH (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia) or Prostate enlargement symptoms. In my case, this equates with the nightly ritual of at least one trip to the toilet during sleeping hours.

Additionally there is a one-in-three chance, of having prostate cancer at this age. With every passing year, the risk factor for this condition increases inexorably
In fact, for men with our lifestyle and diet, it is not a question of whether you will, but when, you will suffer from this scourge of aging manhood.

Did you know that, by age 50, three out of four men already have enlarged prostates and one out of three has cancer cells in his prostate gland? If a man lives long enough, he will eventually die from prostate cancer.

It has taken a long time for this awareness to penetrate the average male psyche.

We do not talk about it as much, or as publicly, as women do, about their breast cancer (which is closely related to prostate cancer). Perhaps, if we had a Ministry and Minister of Men’s Affairs in Wellington, we might get some of our tax dollars back, to help us treat this awful condition.

The underlying problem with any mainstream, medicine treatment protocol, is, that very little progress has been made by the medical establishment, in learning of and adapting to the results of recent scientific studies. This is true in a general sense and it is most poignant with regard to the prevention and treatment of Prostate disease and Prostate Cancer in particular.

In fact, most of today’s medical evaluation of the Etiology and Prognosis of the disease is steeped in Pseudo science, harking back to dogma, attributed, inter alia, to the notorious Dr.Huggins, half a century ago!

The pharmacological/pharmaceutical industry has come up with only one drug, “Proscar” (Finasteride). It is designed to inhibit the 5-Alpha reductase Enzyme, which is indicated in the transformation of Testosterone to “Dihydrotestosterone” (DHT). It is very slow acting, on average about six months before any reduction of symptoms becomes noticeable.
Unlike women’s hormone and other related therapies, it is not in any way subsidized by our government. Probably, because of it’s exaggeratedly high price. Needless to say, even the men who do give it a try, seldom persist in using it long enough to experience meaningful results.

DHT binds to Sex Hormone Binding Globulins (SHBG) which are peptides with particular affinity for our so called sex hormones, which include both Androgenic (male) and Estrogenic (female) hormones in our blood. In essence, this means that most of these hormones are ‘bound’; as high as 98% of all steroid hormones in our bloodstream.

The older you become the more chance you have of your Testosterone being converted to DHT or even worse, to Estrogens, particularly Estradiol.

The latter scenario is called ‘Aromatisation’ and involves the enzyme ‘Aromatase’. Both 5-Alpha reductase and Aromatase become more plentiful and active with the passing years. Ironically these pejorative enzymes are manufactured in some of our fat cells, thus contributing to increased risk of Prostate problems in obese men.

Scientists believe these are part of our inbuilt accelerated aging/genetic transcription, to sabotage the life and youth promoting hormones, once our effective reproductive capacity comes to an end.

There are a number of other sabotaging enzymatic processes that help speed us on our way out, after we attain the age of 40. For instance, the conversion of the enzyme Mono Amine Oxidase “A” (MAOA) to MAO”B”, which causes Parkinson’s disease and leads to Senile Dementia (SD) or Alzheimer’s, as it is known today.

However, the sabotage affected on the prostate, is the most insidious, since it attacks the male where it hurts most, both physically and psychologically.

As more and more prostate cells become receptor hosts for both the DHT and Estradiol SHGB in the core of the prostate (the Stroma), the prostate will experience growth stimuli, resulting in pressure, not only on the urine emptying vessel (Urethra) but also on a number of small vessels which carry the seminal fluid (Semen) produced by the prostate and released with the Gonadal sperm at the time of Ejaculation.

Ejaculation is the prime mover and duration limiter of the Male Orgasm.

As the prostate becomes more and more enlarged and possibly cancerous, the supply of semen gradually dries up altogether. Feed back loops reduce the production and quality of sperm. In the absence of Ejaculation, there is no Orgasm and Libido declines.

Reduced and eventually minimal production of Nitric Oxide affects the hydraulics of the Erectile process in the penis with a steep decline of Erectile function. As a result of these cumulative calamities, we could say that sex life, and certainly sexual satisfaction, is now at an end.

In the NZ Herald of 4th September 2004, a report on the devastating effect of prostate surgery, was dismissed by the spokesman for the New Zealand College of Urology, saying: “There has always been some whining by prostatectomy patients complaining about the loss of their sex life”. Their concerns were sniffily dismissed with a gruesomely arcane reference to: “Having a choice between ending up in a coffin with an erection, and being alive without sex”. He forgot to mention that prostatecomy patients almost always die within 5 years after undergoing surgery.

But wait, all is not lost. “Knowledge is Power”

The Internet has made it possible for you to find out and learn about your prostate first hand, thanks in no small part to the 33 years of dedicated research on this subject by the (now world famous) research chemist, Roger Mason. His findings have been published in his book, “The Prostate Cure”, which can be ordered on the net for a small charge ($6.95). A condensed version is available as a free download. If you want to access all the reference material you will probably want to buy the book. It is available on this Website!

I have also made a comprehensive study of prostate disease since 1981, the year of the birth of the NZ Longevity Foundation, of which I am a founding director. My past background is in Pharmacy and Biochemistry, which I studied when attending the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, during 1949, 1950 and 1951.

During my student years, I also gained practical experience at my uncle’s pharmacy in The Hague. At that time, pharmacies in Holland still did a considerable amount of herbal compounding, based on sound botanical knowledge, which constituted an important part of my curriculum.

My uncle was one of the first pharmacists to embrace the therapeutic qualities of vitamin supplements and commenced manufacturing these commercially in the late 1930’s. This has always impressed me greatly, as it introduced me to the importance of nutritional supplements at an early age. Indeed, I believe that in 1982 I was responsible for the formulation of the first comprehensive prostate support formula in New Zealand, based on various Herbal extracts and Amino acids, Vitamins, Anti-oxidants and Minerals.

Over the past 23 years, the formula has been continually upgraded. At first there was almost complete reliance on the berry extract of Saw Palmetto (Serenoa/Repens). Then, over the years, we added Pygeum Africanum and the Lignans of Nettle Root (Urtica Doiica) to address not only the inhibition of 5-alpha reductase but also for preventative inhibitory effect on the Aromatisation of Testosterone and the blocking of SHBG receptor sites in the Prostate. Apart from constantly monitoring overseas studies and development I had plenty of motivation from the ongoing BHP of my own Prostate. I was able to observe the steadily improving effect of our formula, as new and more potent ingredients were included as additions or replacements.

Certainly, I can vouch for the efficacy of testosterone taken first by injection (the only one available in New Zealand on official subsidy) and the one most readily prescribed by New Zealand doctors. The monthly 250mg of slow dispersal intra-muscular injection “Sustanon” is the one of doctors’ choice. Regardless of the terrible side effects, if taken over a prolonged period of time, there was no denying the positive effect on my prostate. I would say, it significantly enhanced the dietary supplement involvement with the prostate. In fact, immediately following the injection, BHP symptoms would practically disappear for two to three weeks, only to return again gradually, when the supply of testosterone diminished.

After having firmly established the benefits of testosterone, I managed to switch from the injectable salt form, e.g. Acetates-cipionatis, etc, to natural bio-identical pure testosterone in a trans dermal cream or gel, available from specialized pharmacies or the N.Z.L.F. upon presentation of a New Zealand doctor’s prescription.

For those of you visiting the U.S., you can buy; over the counter (OTC), a supply of Androstenedione, 20mg or 50mg. (Buy the highest potency of 50mg+, if you can.)
You can always take one every second or third day, or split the dose in half. This works out more economically. While you are at it, you should also purchase some of the Trans dermal creams or gels, carrying pure testosterone and pure bio identical progesterone and DHEA (DiHydroEpiAndrosterone), each in a separate jar, of course. DHEA is also available in capsule form, 50 or 100 mg. Again, buy the highest available dose.

Androstenedione is the immediate biological precursor of testosterone; it is readily converted in our body.

If you read Roger Mason’s instructions and recommendations both for lifestyle, diet and supplements, you will appreciate that not everything can be put into a tablet or capsule. Nevertheless, we strive to make our capsule as comprehensive as is humanly possible. For you to appreciate this, we have listed all the ingredients in our fourth generation formula with a short explanation of the reasons for inclusion.