Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate)
Prostatitis is a collective name for complaints involving the prostate and surrounding pelvic area. The symptoms may occur suddenly, but may last for months or longer. Common symptoms are pain or burning sensations when passing urine, need to urinate more often and pain around the prostate, perineum, abdomen or lower back. Also pain with or after ejaculation and sexual complaints can occur.
There are several forms of prostatitis. An acute bacterial prostatitis has an infection, while chronic prostate complaints are not always the case with a bacteria. Chronic prostate and pelvic pain can be significantly more complex.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used in addition. Within Chinese medicine, the full picture of complaints and the underlying TCM-pattern is examined.
Common symptoms
The symptoms vary by type of prostatitis. Possible symptoms are:
- pain or burning sensation during or after urination;
- need to urinate more frequently or suddenly;
- difficulty peeing or weaker urinary stream;
- after drops or feeling that the bladder is not completely empty;
- pain or aches and pains in the perineum, around the prostate, penis, ball bag, abdomen or lower back;
- pain during or after ejaculation;
- erectile or other sexual complaints;
- sometimes discharge from the puddle tube;
- if you have an acute infection fever, chills and a general feeling sick.
In chronic prostatitis, the symptoms may change. Periods with relatively few symptoms can be alternated with periods in which pain and puddle symptoms are more apparent.
Possible causes
An acute prostatitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection. In chronic prostatitis the cause is less unambiguous. Sometimes there is a recurrent bacterial infection, but chronic prostate symptoms can also occur without detectable infection.
Other factors that may play a role include chronic irritation or inflammation, tension and pain in the pelvic floor, disturbance of local nerve function and problems with pelvic blood flow. Also prostate stones can contribute to persistent irritation.
Stress can affect chronic symptoms. Especially when the pelvic floor is constantly tense, pain and problems with urination can be maintained or enhanced.
In case of acute symptoms with fever, chills, severe pain, inability to pass urine or feeling sick, medical assessment is important. An acute bacterial prostatitis may require treatment with antibiotics.
What can acupuncture do?
Acupuncture can be used in addition to prostatitis, especially if symptoms are present for a long time. The treatment is tailored to the nature of the pain, possible puddle problems, additional symptoms and the underlying TCM pattern.
In one person inflammatory symptoms and irritation are at the forefront, while in another person chronic pain, stress, fatigue or cold is an important part of the picture.
Depending on the pattern, treatment may be directed at:
- Reduce Dampness-Heat when burning, irritation and inflammatory symptoms are at the forefront;
- improve the flow of Qi and Blood in the pelvic area in case of pain and stress;
- reducing tension in the pelvic area;
- Support the function of Bladder and Kidneys;
- Nursing kidney-yin in chronic symptoms with dryness and heat phenomena;
- Kidney-Yang strengthen in case of symptoms associated with cold and fatigue.
In chronic pelvic pain, local tense or sensitive areas in the pelvic floor muscle may also be part of the grievance.
What can Chinese herbal medicine do?
Chinese herbs can be used daily between the treatments and, like acupuncture, tailored to the underlying pattern. In prostatitis this is important because an acute inflammatory presentation requires a different approach than chronic complaints that have existed for a long time.
Depending on the grievance picture, Chinese herbal medicine can focus on:
- Reduce Dampness-Heat and support the urinary tract;
- reduce chronic Dampness and Remaining Heat;
- Qi and Blood move in case of pain and stagnation;
- Kinney-Yin feeding when long-term complaints are associated with signs of Yin deficiency;
- Kidney-Yang heat and strengthen when cold and weakness prevail.
Multiple patterns can be present at the same time. For example, chronic Dampness-Heat may combine with Blood stasis or contribute to a weakening of Kidney-Yin over time.
How does Chinese medicine view prostatitis?
Among other things, Western medicine distinguishes between acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis and chronic prostate or pelvic pain where no bacterial infection is found. Chinese medicine also looks at the underlying imbalance that causes or maintains the individual grievance image.
In prostatitis, the TCM organ systems Kidney, Bladder, Liver and Spleen and the circulation of Qi and Blood play a role in the lower part of the abdomen and pelvis.
Within TCM, the Kidneys are involved in the urinary tract, reproduction and functions of the pelvic area. The Bladder is involved in the storage and excretion of urine. The Liver plays an important role in the free flow of Qi. If this flow is disturbed, according to TCM, tension and stagnation can occur in the pelvis. The Spleen plays a role in the processing and distribution of body fluids. If this function becomes weakened, Dampness can be more easily created.
Dampness can be seen as an accumulation of moisture and heaviness in the body. When this goes together with Heat, one speaks of Dampness-Heat. In the pelvic area, for example, this pattern can manifest itself in burning urine, irritation, a heavy feeling or secretion.
If the circulation of Qi and Blood is obstructed for a long time, Blood stasis can occur. Often more local, persistent pain is at the forefront.
A recognizable combination of such complaints and characteristics is called a TCM pattern within Chinese medicine.
A TCM organ system describes a group of related body functions and is wider than just the anatomical organ with the same name. Read more at TCM basics .
A TCM pattern is a recognizable combination of complaints and physical characteristics that indicates which imbalance is likely to contribute to the complaints. Read more at TCM basics .
Below are only some common patterns for prostatitis. Other patterns are possible and multiple patterns can be present at the same time. This allows you to recognize yourself in more than one pattern. Also, not everyone with the same pattern has all the symptoms mentioned. The pattern is determined based on the overall picture of complaints.
Most common TCM patterns
Damp-Heat
Brief explanation
Dampness-Heat is an important pattern in prostatitis. Within TCM, a combination of fluid and heat accumulation in the lower part of the abdomen and pelvis can be seen. The pattern can occur in both acute and chronic complaints.
In an acute presentation, heat symptoms are usually clearer. In chronic prostatitis the symptoms can be much milder and longer-term and Dampness can come to the fore.
Common symptoms
- burning or painful urination;
- frequent or urgent urination;
- pain or feeling heavy in the perineum, ball bag, abdomen or lower back;
- turbid urine or discharge from the urethra;
- ejaculation pain;
- acute Dampness-Heat may cause fever and chills;
- in chronic Dampness-Heat rather persistent mild to moderate pain and irritation;
- sometimes nausea, loss of appetite or varying stool.
Examples of Western disorders: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis and some forms of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Qi- and Blood stasis
Brief explanation
In Qi- and Blood stasis, local circulation is impaired according to TCM. This pattern occurs especially in chronic prostate and pelvic pain. It can occur after prolonged Dampness-Heat, but also due to prolonged stress or other factors that interfere with local flow.
The pain in this pattern is often clearer and more local than in an deficiency pattern.
Common symptoms
- chronic pain in the perineum, abdomen, ball bag or lower back;
- local, stabbing or persistent pain;
- sensitivity and tension in the pelvic area;
- pain on or after urination;
- pain during or after ejaculation;
- difficulty in passing urine or after drops;
- sometimes blood in the urine or sperm.
Examples of Western disorders: chronic prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome and prostatodynia.
Kidney-Yin-deficiency
Brief explanation
Within TCM, Yin stands for the nourishing, cooling and moistening functions of the body. In case of long-term prostate problems, this base may weaken. Kidney-Yin deficiency is mainly seen in chronic complaints and can occur after prolonged Heat of Dampness-Heat has strained the body fluids.
Common symptoms
- chronic mild pain or irritation around the perineum, penis or lower back;
- light or varying water problems;
- drips;
- warmth in hands and feet;
- night sweats;
- dry mouth or throat;
- restlessness or poor sleep;
- dizziness or ringing in the ears;
- weak or painful lower back and knees;
- a tendency to dry stools.
Examples of Western diseases: chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Kidney-Yang-deficiency
Brief explanation
Yang represents, among other things, heat and functional activity within TCM. At Kidney-Yang deficiency, this heating and activating function is weakened. The pattern is seen especially in the case of long-term complaints where cold, fatigue and decreased urine function are at the forefront.
Common symptoms
- nagging pain or discomfort in the perineum, abdomen or lower back;
- frequent urination;
- drips;
- weak urinary stream;
- cold lower back, knees, hands or feet;
- being rapidly cold;
- fatigue and low energy;
- erectile dysfunction;
- sometimes cloudy or milky urine.
Examples of Western diseases: chronic prostatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome and chronic puddle symptoms in which no active infection is found.
Outlook
The course of treatment in prostatitis strongly depends on the form and duration of the complaints. Acute bacterial prostatitis initially requires regular medical treatment. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used further.
For chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain, the course is usually more gradual. Complaints that have been in existence for months or years usually require more time than recent symptoms. For example, at the beginning of treatment can be treated once a week; for more serious complaints a higher frequency can be chosen temporarily. If the complaints improve, the frequency can be reduced.
In case of chronic complaints it is not only useful to look at the prostate itself. Pelvic stress, stress, prolonged sitting and other factors that provoke or maintain the symptoms may also need attention. Pelvic physiotherapy can therefore be a useful addition in some forms of chronic pelvic pain.
Contact
Do you suffer from prostatitis or long-term prostate and pelvic complaints and want to know if acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine can mean anything to you? During an intake, we will discuss your symptoms, health and possible underlying patterns. On this basis, we will examine what treatment suits your situation.