Men's Health

There are many serious health issues facing the modern man. Stress, alcohol abuse, obesity, heart disease, blood pressure, infertility, erectile dysfunction, enlargement of the prostate (BPH), prostatitis and cancers of the bowel, testes and prostate. Lung cancer is decreasing in men due to less men smoking. However prostate cancer is at virtually epidemic proportions. Let us use this as an example of how naturopathy can be of use to men.

In the United States, prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, representing about 25% of all tumours. Prostate cancer rates vary widely between different countries, even more than breast cancer. High rates are found primarily in societies with western diets and lifestyles. Dairy consumption, in particular, is one of the most consistent dietary predictors for prostate cancer in the published scientific literature.

Prevention is obviously the best strategy. Naturopaths can provide men with dietary and lifestyle advice which takes into account all the main risk factors for prostate and other common cancers. Indeed a recently published study by a famous American researcher, Dr. Dean Ornish, has shown that the PSA levels (a marker for prostate cancer) of recently diagnosed men can be reduced using dietary and lifestyle adjustments only with no medication or surgery whatsoever. It is early days yet but this is a promising and exciting area of research.

The naturopath can provide men with strategies to prevent and treat most of the major illnesses confronting them. By making some key lifestyle adjustments, and the use of specific diets, supplements and herbs, the quality of life of most men can be restored or greatly improved.

John’s knowledge of pharmaceutical drugs allows for the safe use of certain supplements and herbs whilst the client continues with their standard medication.