The body's normal response to injury or illness is inflammation, but when it persists for an extended period of time, it can cause a variety of health issues. Chronic inflammation can cause discomfort, swelliness, stiffness, and weariness. Serious illnesses including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease can all be influenced by it. While there are numerous conventional anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers available, they can have unwanted side effects and are not always successful in treating chronic inflammation. For people seeking to lessen inflammation and enhance general health, natural medicines like pygeum bark can provide a safer and more effective alternative.
History
The African cherry tree, which grows naturally in Central and Southern Africa, produces pygeum bark. Traditional healers have utilized the bark for ages to cure a range of ailments, such as inflammation, fever, and urinary issues.
How it works
A number of chemicals found in pygeum bark are thought to contribute to decreasing inflammation and enhancing general health. Pygeum bark contains a number of important substances, including phytosterols, a class of steroid derived from plants. By preventing the body from producing certain inflammatory compounds like prostaglandins, phytosterols are thought to lessen inflammation.
Fatty acids, triterpenoids, and pentacyclic triterpenes, which have been found to have anti-inflammatory activities, are also present in pygeum bark. These substances function by preventing some enzymes from functioning, which is an important part of the inflammatory response. Additionally, pygeum bark includes flavonoids, which are known to have antioxidant capabilities. By neutralizing the negative effects of free radicals, which can cause inflammation, flavonoids may aid in lowering inflammation.
It can also be used to shrink an enlarged prostate. By preventing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, the beta-sitosterol found in the bark is believed to reduce inflammation and relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (DHT). DHT is a hormone that can enlarge the prostate and cause symptoms including increased frequency and difficulty peeing. Pygeum bark can aid in shrinking the prostate and easing BPH symptoms by preventing the conversion of testosterone to DHT.
Pygeum bark is also known to have an impact on the urinary system, lowering the signs and symptoms of uTIs and enhancing urine flow. Additionally, it may be used to lessen the signs and symptoms of prostatitis and urethritis.
It's significant to note that additional study is required to properly comprehend how Pygeum bark functions and how its many chemicals interact with the body and one another.
Studies and Results
Pygeum bark's capacity to reduce inflammation and enhance general health has been the subject of various studies.
Pygeum bark has been shown in one trial to be useful in lowering pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis, which was reported in the Journal of Rheumatology. 60 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee participated in the study and received either pygeum bark or a placebo for 12 weeks. According to the findings, pygeum bark significantly reduced pain and stiffness in comparison to the placebo group.
Pygeum bark was found to be beneficial in reducing the size of an enlarged prostate and relieving the signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia in another study that was published in the Journal of Urology (BPH). 120 BPH-afflicted males participated in the study and were administered pygeum bark or a placebo for a period of six months. When compared to the placebo group, the results showed that the group consuming pygeum bark had much smaller prostates and improved urine problems.
Additionally, the efficacy of pygeum bark in treating BPH was examined in a systematic review and meta-analysis that was published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. The study found that pygeum bark greatly reduces prostate size and significantly improves urinary symptoms in males with BPH. It included 11 clinical studies with 1,386 participants.
It's significant to note that not all research have discovered that pygeum bark is efficient in treating certain ailments. Pygeum bark's efficacy must be further investigated in order to establish the ideal dosage and course of treatment.
The studies that have been done suggest that pygeum bark may be effective in reducing pain and stiffness in patients with osteoarthritis, as well as in reducing the size of an enlarged prostate and improving symptoms of BPH. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of pygeum bark. Before beginning to take pygeum bark, like with any supplement, consult your doctor to decide the right dosage for you.
Recommended Dosage
The recommended dosage of pygeum bark varies depending on the condition being treated. For osteoarthritis, a typical dosage is 100-200 mg per day, while for BPH, a typical dosage is 50-100 mg per day. It is important to talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement to determine the appropriate dosage for you.
Conclusion
For generations, people have utilized pygeum bark, a natural treatment, to reduce inflammation and enhance general health. Studies have suggested that it may be beneficial in lowering pain and stiffness in patients with osteoarthritis and in shrinking an enlarged prostate, though further research is required to completely understand its effects. Before beginning to take pygeum bark, like with any supplement, see your doctor to decide the right dosage for you.
References
"Pygeum." University of Maryland Medical Center, www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/pygeum.
"Pygeum Africanum." Natural Medicines, naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=938.