Does Purslane help prostatitis?

Does Purslane help prostatitis?

Purslane is considered a rich vegetable source of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, including tocopherol, ascorbic acid, beta carotene, and glutathione. The alpha-linolenic acid content varies with cultivar, geography, and environmental factors, with leaves having a greater percentage than seeds and stems. Purslane also contains carbohydrates, lipids, glycosides, alkaloids (including oleraceins), sterols, coumarins, triterpenes, and flavonoids. Phenolic constituents of the plant include scopoletin, bergapten, isopimpinellin, lonchocarpic acid, robustin, genistein, and others. Amino acids in the leaves of the Portulaca species include phenylalanine, alanine, tyrosine, and aspartate. Plant acids include citric, malic, ascorbic, succinic, fumaric, and acetic acids. The volatile oil of P. oleracea has also been studied and contains mainly linalool and 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol.

Purslane is a rich source of vitamins A, B, C, and E and is high in carotenoid content, including beta-carotene. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, folate, lithium, and melatonin are also present.

In ancient times, purslane was used to protect against evil spirits. Purslane's medicinal use dates back at least 2,000 years, but it was used as food well before this period. Traditional medicinal uses for purslane are broad. Ancient Romans used purslane to treat dysentery, intestinal worms, headache, and stomachache. It has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is referred to as the "vegetable for long life." Aerial parts are dried and used for fever, diarrhea, carbuncle, eczema, and hematochezia.

Nowadays Purslane is a widely-recognized treatment for the Prostatitis.

This was proven during a study which measured changes in men’s prostate tissues after six months of taking 320mg of Purslane every day.

It was shown that purslane reduced swelling in the inner lining of the prostate gland which surrounds the urethra.

SD male rats were assigned randomly by control, model and treatment groups (6/group). The model and treatment groups were injected 25% Xiaozhiling (0.2mL, a kind of hemorrhoid injection made from Chinese herbs, which is used to induce prostatitis) on the, and the control group were injected by normal saline. The product termed purslane (0.3g/kg) was administered in the treatment group continuously for 10 days, while the same amount of volume of saline was given in the control and model groups.

The prostate tissues of animals were examined by Microscopy from different groups after 30 days treatment, then it revealed that:

In the control group, a small number of neutrophils but no granuloma were recognized.

In the model group, granulomas and numerous inflammation cells were revealed.  

In the group treated with the purslane, it was found that inflammation cells and granulomas reduced significantly compared with that of the model group.

Some research suggests that it could help to relieve symptoms associated with prostatitis.

A small study published in the Swiss journal Urologia Internationalis in 2010, reviewed 102 patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

The patients were split into two groups: the first group received a combination of purslane, gardenia, honeysuckle , dandelion, corn silk and other 9 Traditional Chinese Medicine; the second group received saw palmetto alone. After eight weeks of treatment, both groups showed a significant improvement in symptoms.

Years of research has never revealed any significant side effects caused by purslane supplements. Therefore it seems like a good option for men who want to reduce their symptoms of prostatitis. However, let us not delude ourselves.

One plant, or vitamin, or nutrient, is not a cure. o have the fastest and most effective natural treatments, herbs must be combined.

Compared to prostate drugs, the side effects of taking purslane are mild. A 2009 review explored the effects of purslane when used for lower urinary tract infections and prostatitis.

Many trials show that its side effects are far less dangerous than most prostate drugs. The most common side effects are rare and mild.