The Prostating Prostate…

Abstract: The author underscores the importance of the prostate gland in terms of its structure and function, se-men and sexuality, masculinity and identity and masculinity and its crisis in the modern civilized human species. The author  also discusses the prostate gland with reference to materia medica, repertory and sample cases. The relationship between Hahnemann’s concept of Totality and the Biopsychosocial model of Engel are explored.

The word ‘prostate’ is from the Greek meaning “one who stands before,” which describes the position of the prostate gland. Viewed from below, where the urethra leaves the gland, the prostate “stands before” the bladder.

The prostate gland is found only in the male, having no female counterpart. The prostate gland reflects the masculinity.

Fertilization is possible due to the prostate gland. The prostate gland plays a vital role in continuing the human species.

The sperm is a person’s passport, his identity.

Complete Dynamics: Repertory rubrics

• Male; general (838 remedies)
• Boger’s General Analysis 7; male organs: agn arg-n AUR cann-s canth cinnb CLEM con GRAPH LYC MERC NIT-AC NUX-V plat PULS rhod RHUS-T spong staph SULPH THUJ
• Complete Dynamics: Male; prostate gland (241)

It is an accessory gland of the male reproductive system found only in some mammals. Only mammals have prostates. By definition, only mammals have breasts, as well. Breasts and prostates seem to have evolved on parallel tracks. The prostate first appeared in males when females developed breasts and fed their children with breast milk.

Today, breast cancer and prostate cancer seem to be two sides of the same coin. Countries with high rates of breast cancer tend to have high rates of prostate cancer. And countries with low rates of prostate cancer have relatively few cases of breast cancer. The saga of human evolution is the story of two male glands, both of which produce fluid that makes up semen. One gland, the prostate, is prone to cancer. The other, the seminal vesicle, rarely gets afflicted with cancer.

• Male; cancer; prostate gland: absin aesc agn alum am-c am-m apis arn ars aur-m b-ray bar-c bar-i benz-ac cadm cadm-f cadm-p cadm-s calc-i caust cham chim CON cop crot-h cycl dig euph ferr-pic graph ham hydrang iod ion-rad kali-cy lyc med pall phyt plb polytr psor puls ruth sabal sars sel senec SEP sil staph sulfonam sulph thuj thymol

Is the emergence of “masculinity in crisis” responsible for increase in prostrate related diseases especially cancer of the prostate? Is the feminist movement responsible for females to be masculine, given growing industrialization and  replacement of labour by technology and hence there are more breast cancer cases?

Is physical strength of men being reduced and more entry of females in the workforce responsible for the incompatibility between male and female?

Does the transitional experience of males with cancer of the prostrate to castrate the testicles, to cut off the supply of testosterone to the prostate gland and to make the gland defunct, and thus drastically reduce the masculinity reflect the incompatibility. Doe this further shift the male to the female side through injecting female hormones, for the sake of survival, lead to the gender identity crisis.

• Mind; effeminate: bar-c bar-i calc fl-ac herin hoch iod lyc petr PLAT PLUT-N PULS sil STAPH syph
• Mind; consciousness expanded; female consciousness: argo calop-s
• Mind; confusion of mind; identity, as to his; sexual: agl-u bar-s biti-a chlam-t frax graphi-a hoch hydrog irid medus musc-d oplo-h peg-h posit
• Mind; dress, dresses; boyish, in girls: nat-m plat staph
• Mind; dress, dresses; cross dressing: crypt-n graphi-a ind nat-m plat staph

A triangular body in male, the size and shape of a chestnut, that lies immediately in front of the bladder with its apex directed down and forward. The prostatic portion of the urethra extends through it, passing from the bladder to the penis.

This prostate contains 15–20 branched, tubular glands which form lobules. The gland ducts open into the urethra. Between the gland clusters, or alveoli, there is a dense, fibrous connecting tissue, the stroma, which also forms a tough capsule around the gland, continuous with the bladder wall. Penetrating the prostate to empty into the urethra are the ejaculatory ducts from the seminal vesicles which are located above and behind the organ. The prostatic gland secretes a viscid, alkaline fluid which aids in sperm motility and in neutralizing the acidity of the vagina, thus enhancing fertilization.

In gross anatomy, the prostate gland is described as consisting of lobes and in microanatomy by zones. It is surrounded by a fibromuscular capsule and contains glandular tissue as well as connective tissue.

• Generalities; connective tissue: aids alum anthr APIS ars BAR-C BAR-M bell calc calc-br calc-f caps CARB-AN carb-v clem CON cyrt-p digox echi-a euph-pe ferr-i fl-ac graph hep holm iod kali-c KALI-I LAP-A LIL-T lyc mag-c mag-m merc-i-r merc-v MYRIS NAT-HCHLS nit-ac phos phyt puls RHUS-T sec seneg sep SIL spong staph strept sul-i sulph SYPH
• Boger’s General Analysis 7; fibrous tissue: BRY CALC calc-f colch FL-AC GRAPH GUAI KALI-M LYC phyt rhod rhus-t ruta sabin SEC SIL

The prostate gland is dependent on the hormonal secretions of the testes for growth and development. When production of the male hormone (androgen) decreases, the prostate begins to degenerate.

Normally changes occur in the prostate as a man ages. Between the fourth and sixth decades there is atrophy of the smooth muscles and an increase in fibrous scar tissue, collagen fibres (protein strands), and numbers of lymph cells. When a man passes the age of 60 years, the organ is largely replaced by fibrous tissue.

The prostate gland produces most of the fluid in semen, the substance that is emitted during ejaculation as part of the male sexual response. This prostatic fluid is slightly alkaline, milky or white in appearance.

The alkalinity of se-men helps neutralize the acidity of the vaginal tract, prolonging the lifespan of sperm. The prostatic fluid is expelled in the first part of ejaculate, together with most of the sperm, because of the action of smooth muscle tissue within the prostate.

In comparison with the few spermatozoa expelled together with mainly seminal vesicular fluid, those in prostatic fluid have better motility, longer survival, and better protection of genetic material. The prostatic fluid prepares and maintains the healthy environment for the sperms. Functions of the prostate gland are unique.

When sperm is emitted, it is transmitted from the vas deferens into the male urethra via the ejaculatory ducts, which lie within the prostate gland.  Ejaculation is the expulsion of se-men from the urethra as a result of org-asm and the final stage and natural objective of male sexual stimulation and an essential component of natural conception.

Semen is moved into the urethra following contractions of the smooth muscle of the vas deferens and seminal vesicles, following stimulation, primarily of the glans penis.

Stimulation sends nerve signals via the internal pudendal nerves to the upper lumbar spine; the nerve signals causing contraction act via the hypogastric nerves. After traveling into the urethra, the seminal fluid is ejaculated by contraction of the bulbocavernosus muscle.

The secretions of the prostate include  proteolytic enzymes,  prostatic acid phosphatase, fibrinolysin, zinc and prostate-specific antigen. Together with the secretions from the seminal vesicles, these form the major fluid part of semen.

It is possible for some men to achieve orgasm solely through stimulation of the prostate gland, such as prostate massage or anal intercourse. The penis is not the exclusive organ to give the orgasm.

Many symptoms such as embarrassment, anxiety, guilt, frustration, decreased libido etc. are developed due to diseases like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), chronic prostatitis, neurogenic bladder etc.

Urinary urgency triggers a frantic hunt for a bathroom and embarrasses even the most placid gent, and frequent urination at night which interrupts sleep can only add to mental distress.

Men who reported high levels of recent stress had more difficulty emptying their bladders than men who did not experience recent stress. The post-voiding residual urine was observed more in patients who had chronic stress.

A rich network of nerves surrounds the prostate and may explain the link between the mind and the prostate, between stress and symptoms. Treatment of prostate disorders, hence, involves the psycho-neuro-endocrine system.

The hypothalamus controls the endocrine system’s “master gland,” the pituitary. In turn, the pituitary regulates the production of many hormones, including the male hormone testosterone. Enlargement of the prostate depends on testosterone. Long-term changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular connection affect the growth of the prostate.

The other possibility involves the sympathetic nervous system. Stress triggers the release of adrenaline. The prostate and the bladder neck contain alpha-receptors that respond to adrenaline by stimulating smooth muscle cells in the prostate and bladder.

When the muscle cells contract, they narrow the urethra, making it harder for a man to empty his bladder. By activating the sympathetic nervous system, stress may slow the flow of urine in men with BPH and prevent the bladder from emptying completely.

The sympathetic nervous system may also play a role in the link between hypertension and symptoms of BPH. Since hypertension may indicate increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, high blood pressure and stress could share a common mechanism for increasing the severity of BPH symptoms.

In addition to stress, the factors such as age, testosterone, various growth factors, genetics, smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and diet play a role in prostate diseases.

Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis [chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS0)] is an all-too-common G-U condition in men. It’s characterized by episodes of pain and discomfort that come and go unpredictably, trouble urinating and sexual dysfunction. Although not life-threatening, it can certainly degrade a man’s quality of life and lead to depression.

Researchers found that poor emotional health, high levels of stress and a lack of social support were associated with a history of prostatitis. The findings were consistent with those of a 2002 Harvard study which observed that men who reported severe stress at work or home were 1.2 and 1.5 times more likely to report prostatitis, respectively, than those whose lives were relatively stress-free.

Stress also seems to heighten prostatitis pain, according to researchers in Seattle.

The common forms of prostate disease are inflammation, BPH and prostate cancer. Prostatitis can affect men of any age, but it is more common in younger men, between 30 and 50 years and the main types are bacterial and non-bacterial.

Possible causes of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS0) include: past bacterial prostatitis infection, irritation from some chemicals, problem with the nerves connecting the lower urinary tract, problem with pelvic floor muscles, spinal cord injury, sexual abuse and chronic anxiety problems.

The presence of prostatic disease in itself can be a significant cause of sexual problems by the very nature of the distressful ‘waterworks’ symptoms which are associated with BPE or prostate cancer.

Ejaculation is a synchronized cascade of events that has the ultimate goal of activating sperm and enabling them to reach an egg for fertilization. The seminal plasma contains a complex mixture of fluids that is secreted from the testes, epididymis and male accessory glands. The prostate gland has a pivotal role in this process, as prostatic fluid enriched in Zn²⁺, citrate and kallikreins is crucial for the molecular synchronization of the functional cascade triggered by ejaculatory stimuli.

• Male; emission of prostatic fluid, prostatorrhea; orgasm, before: Cact
• Male; emission of prostatic fluid, prostatorrhea; ejaculation, seminal emission, with: Aesc Agn Merc

The researchers found that men who did ej-aculation the most (at least 21 times a month) had about a 20% lower chance of prostate cancer, compared with those who did it less (4 to 7 times a month). That was true in several age groups.

• Mind; cheerfulness; emissions, pollutions, after seminal: lach pip-m
• Mind; comfort, sensation of; emissions, pollutions, seminal, after: lach sang
• Generalities; emissions, pollutions, seminal; amel.: agn calc CALC-P elaps LACH naja phos sil sulph ZINC
• Male; coition; amel.: ambr CAMPH fl-ac GRAPH m-aust merc nux-v PH-AC
• Generalities; coition; amel. after: ambr arist-cl bamb-a CAMPH CON fl-ac GRAPH haliae-lc herin iod lac-h lac-m lach lsd m-aust MERC mosch nuph nux-v PH-AC STAPH sul-ac tarent ZINC

Stimulating the prostate can have more benefits than just better orgasms. The stimulation can help flush out the prostate and increase blood flow to the pelvic area. It can help impotence and provide cancer prevention too. Prostate play is also a great option for those with erectile disfunction or persons who don’t want to engage their penis during sex.

Not everyone orgasms from just prostate stimulation. Stimulating the penis at the same time can add to the pleasure. However, it isn’t common to experience ‘dry orgasms’, allowing for multiple orgasms without ejaculation. Ejaculation orgasms require a waiting period between each one, while dry or prostate orgasms do not.

• Generalities; rubbing, massage, friction; amel. (300)

Erection is a matter of synchronous body function, which fills the penile tissue with blood, allowing it to swell and stand erect.  This process requires an orchestrated mechanism, led by blood vessels, endocrine, nervous and psychic system and obviously, any interference can affect the quality of an erection.

• Male; erections; wanting, impotency (262)
• Male; emissions, pollutions, seminal; erection; with; painful: cann-i CANTH GRAT ign KALI-C merc mosch NIT-AC nux-v pic-ac puls sabal thuj
• Male; erections; wanting, impotency; old people, in: abr agn arg-n dig LYC mosch trib yohim
• Male; sexual, libido; desire; diminished; inflammation of prostate, in: sabal STAPH
• Male; inflammation; prostate gland, prostatitis; atony of sexual organs, with: sel
• Male; sexual, libido; desire; increased; old men, in: AGN arn cann-i FL-AC ign lyc MOSCH sel staph sulph

Prostatic diseases can affect spermatozoa functioning and, therefore, male fertility. Consideration of prostate physiology emphasizes a number of points: the central role of Zn²⁺ and citrate in the regulation of prostate epithelium homeostasis and in ejaculation; the influence of bacteria-related prostatic inflammation on male fertility; and the potential role of prostatic inflammation in promoting the development of prostatic hyperplastic growth and carcinogenesis.

Prominent rubrics and related remedies for handling prostate cases (Complete Dynamics)

• Male; enlarged; prostate gland (143)
• Male; enlarged; prostate gland; old men, in: all-s ALOE asaf BAR-C BAR-M BENZ-AC CALC CANN-I carb-ac chim CIC CON DIG FERR-PIC hydrang ichth IOD kali-p lyc mur-ac nat-c nux-v pareir PULS SABAL sec SEL sil STAPH sulph terebe THUJ tritic-r zinc
• Male; enlarged; chronic, prostate gland: BAR-C CALC CON iod NAT-C phos SPONG SULPH THUJ uva
• Bladder; retention of urine; enlarged prostate, with: APIS bell benz-ac CACT canth CHIM coff CON DIG ferr HEP hyos KALI-C kali-i LYC merc-d morph NAT-S neod-c PAREIR polytr PULS SABAL sep SOLID STAPH stigm stram sulph THUJ TRITIC-R zinc
• Urine; dribbling by drops; enlarged prostate, with: ALOE arn bar-c bell BENZ-AC CON COP DIG ferr-pic HEP LYC mur-ac NUX-V pareir petr PULS sabal sel SEP STAPH stigm
• Bladder; involuntary urination; old people, in; men with enlarged prostate: ALL-S ALOE apoc CIC dig equis hydrang IOD kali-p nux-v PAREIR SEC THUJ
• Bladder; urination; frequent; prostate complaints, in: APIS FERR-PIC SABAL STAPH THUJ
• Bladder; urination; difficult, dysuria; prostate gland complaints, in: APIS CHIM HYDRANG MED PAREIR PETROS staph tritic-r
• Male; inflammation; chronic; prostate gland: alum anac arg AUR bar-c brach calad calc-p carbn-s caust cic clem CON fab FERR-PIC graph hep hydrc iod KALI-BI kali-c LYC MERC MERC-C NIT-AC NUX-V PETR phyt pitu-a PULS pyrog sabad SABAL SEL senec SEP sil solid STAPH sulph THUJ TRIB
• Bladder; urination; feeble stream, slow, weak (119)
• Male; cancer; prostate gland: absin aesc agn alum am-c am-m apis arn ars aur-m b-ray bar-c bar-i benz-ac cadm cadm-f cadm-p cadm-s calc-i caust cham chim CON cop crot-h cycl dig euph ferr-pic graph ham hydrang iod ion-rad kali-cy lyc med pall phyt plb polytr psor puls ruth sabal sars sel senec SEP sil staph sulfonam sulph thuj thymol

In view of the above discussion, it is possible to know why remedies like Agnus cast, Bar-mur, Cann-ind, Calc-carb, Conium, Ferrum-pic, Iod, Kali-phos, Lycopodium, Medorrhinum, Selenium, Staphysagria, Thuja, Zinc-met, etc. fall prominently amongst the group which caters to the prostate complaints.

It is no wonder that AGNUS CASTUS, mainly a male remedy, finds a place in many rubrics related to prostate complaints especially cancer of prostate. Sexual melancholy is the center around which revolves the life of the Agnus patient from young to old age.

Early exposure to sex, addiction to po-rn and frequent history of gonorrhoeas and syphilis prepare the platform for sexual melancholy. Pornography addiction trains the brain to require more and more dopamine to feel the effect of pleasure and the dopamine level required to feel excitement is so heightened that the person can no longer feel pleasure at only things that used to make him happy.

It is a well-researched conclusion that porn can lead to sexual dysfunction. Agnus  experiences difficulty in getting and maintaining an erection, needing pornographic images to ejaculate, and difficulty even having an org-asm and in the long run, develops impotence (penis so relaxed that voluptuous fancies excite no erection).

Materia medica lists, ‘self-contempt from sexual abuse’ and this can be related to the drastic consequence of porn addiction. Porn usage can easily and quickly spiral out of control and hijack a person’s self-image and self-esteem. The incongruity between values and beliefs and actions results in intense stress and he can feel hypocritical and demoralized.

“In old men, who having spent their youth and early manhood in the practice of excessive venery, are just as excitable in their sexual passion at sixty as at eighteen or twenty, and yet they are physically impotent, Agn. is a good remedy: (Vermeulene, Concordant MM).

Prostate cancer based on multiple gonorrhoeas and syphilis, dwindling sex and self-depreciation is covered by Agnus castus.

The therapeutics of prostate disorders can’t be written without CONIUM MACULATUM.

Prostate: Inflamed, enlarged, with intermittent flow. Forcible retention causes renal pain. Urine flows in a full stream at first. Urination easier standing. Easy prostatic discharge.

Forced abstinence causes sexual incompetence or/and excessive desire (satyriasis, nymphomania). Erection failing. Cutting pain in urethra as urine or se-men passes. Discharge; nocturnal; after onanism; after slightest provocation.

The main pathology in Conium is related to suppressed sexual energy. Conium is for hardness and induration and when the prostate gland is hard, think of Conium.

Stubborn chronicity; symptoms develop insidiously, slowly, steadily, even painlessly. This behavioural pattern of Conium matches with cancer of the prostate. Conium is also for neurogenic bladder, being a paralytic remedy.

STAPHYSAGRIA and ‘manhood’ go together. A masculine, a macho, a hero, a performer with high self-image but with morbidly sensitive and vulnerable pride.  Materia medica lists ‘maladjustment’ as a cause of pathologies in Staph. The main maladjustment of Staphysagria is in the sexual sphere and interpersonal relations.

Staphysagria holds sex and love as inseparable. He doesn’t recognize that sex isn’t the only way to have intimacy with the partner. If a partner says no to sex, Staph takes it as an insult of his identity, of his masculinity and of his sexuality. He feels very offended and develops a strong sense of injustice and he is wounded. Evoked is the response of anger and resentment which creates a wall between him and his partner.

A very important aetiological factor for the Staph individual is “self-respecting husbands smothering under dominating wives”. No one denies the importance of sexual compatibility. Over the years, Staph loses it and this leads to suppressed libido (Mind; continence; ailments from, agg.). A sexually minded Staph develops anguish, peevishness and indignation leading to the result that life is a bad deal. The prostate gland has to bear the brunt of it.

I remember a young man in the Indian army from a village who married with a semi-urban girl. On the first night itself, his wife refused the sex and told him to refrain from sex as she wanted to go back to her boyfriend.

It was a big shock for the guy and he developed resentment, rage and a feeling of being humiliated. The pent-up and subdued wrath was followed by an attack of prostatitis. He had to join the army but whenever he returned home, he had to confront the same situation. No sex, no divorce, chronic anger and the young patient became indifferent, sad and diffident. The prostatitis became chronic and was diagnosed as non-bacterial prostatitis.

Staphysagria helped him in many ways. First, he was unable to take the decision of separation from his wife due to societal and familial pressure. But after Staph, he took the decision of separation. The tormenting symptoms of prostatitis such as burning, smarting, stabbing disappeared. He remarried then and is now enjoying his life.

Another case is that of a businessman, age 66 years. Mr. A. N. He sustained a big loss in the shares market. His materialistic wife took the divorce and the only son with whom the patient had an attachment was taken by the wife.

His wife had to be given a huge amount of money when he was bankrupt. He had to sell his bungalow and live in a small apartment. His wife and son flew to another country and refused to respect his calls. He became sad, and developed anxiety of the future. Self-reproach became common and he developed ED. He approached some girls for sexual gratification but found himself defunct.

Over the years, he developed hypertension, suffered from an attack of myocardial infarction and developed BPH. The use of diuretics and frequent urging to urinate 10-12 times during daytime and 5-6 times at night exhausted him very much. PSA was normal.

He consulted homeopathy as he wanted to avoid surgery. The patient gave the following symptoms:

• Chronic depression. Doesn’t want to meet the people.
• Post-void urine every time in USG.
• Dribbling urination.
• Involuntary urination.

From Complete repertory

• Male; enlarged; prostate gland; old men, in; heart complaints, in: dig

Selection of remedy

The choice was between Conium and Digitalis. Suppression of sex was a pointer to Conium. But the patient became indifferent to sex long back and now was not concerned with the issue of sex deprivation. The blend of cardiac pathology (center of emotions in upper part of the body) and prostate pathology (lower region of reproductive system) pointed to Digitalis. Dribbling urination with BPH is covered by Digitalis as well.

DIGITALIS INDICATIONS (FROM ABSOLUTE HOMEOPATHIC MM)

• Old age: Weak heart, cold extremities (gradual decline of natural heat of body), enlarged prostate, penis cold and flaccid, pneumonia, residual urine. Lecherous old men.
• Psychoneurosis: Sad, depressed and low spirited. Neurasthenia; wants to be alone, great anxiety like from troubled conscience; anxiety with great fear of future; troubles after disappointed love. Melancholia. High living.
• Grief: Shock; palpitation, pain in left chest and arm, enlarged heart (or dilated, hypertrophied). Unhappy love (anguish).

Follow-up

The patient was followed up for more than two years. He was put on Digitalis 30c two times every day for a couple of months. The symptoms such as increased frequency, incontinence, dribbling urination were considerably reduced. The patient improved also at the mental level.

LESSONS

‘I can’t stand before the female counterpart’ is the message the prostate gland sufferers render to a homeopath.

The Biopsychosocial model, conceptualised by George Engel in 1977, suggest that to understand a person’s medical condition, the biological factors should not only be considered, but also the psychological and social factors.

The diseases of the prostate gland amply demonstrate that the concept of “Totality” of Hahnemann and the Biopsychosocial model of Engel touch the very fundamental dynamic entity which suffers as the vital bioenergy gets deranged due to multiple factors.