RAW Brassica Pollen and Prostate Health

Prostate Health, Men's Health, and RAW Brassica Pollen

Personally—and a little selfishly—I'm thrilled about our new Kunlun Mountain RAW Brassica Flower Pollen. I believe it's a compelling reason to include it in our product line at RAW Forest Foods. When we first introduced our RAW Pine Pollen, we were in a similar position: we absolutely loved the product and wanted to share it with others. It was clear to me that it was an important natural medicine and should be readily available. Similarly, I absolutely love our RAW Brassica Pollen, and I believe it is a crucial herb for many men. I am pleased to offer our RAW Brassica Pollen, as part of our greater line of RAW Pollen Powders, through RAW Forest Foods.

Brassica Flowers: The Source of our RAW Brassica Pollen

Out of the four RAW Pollen Powders we now carry at RAW Forest Foods ( Forest Manna RAW Pine Pollen Powder, Farmer of Divinity RAW Camellia Flower Pollen Powder, Longmen Mountain RAW Sacred Lotus Flower Pollen and now Kunlun Mountain RAW Brassica Flower Pollen Powder), RAW Brassica Pollen is the only one traditionally used to support prostate health. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 1 in 41 men will die of prostate cancer, making it the second leading cause of cancer death in men. While prostate cancer is a significant concern, the high rates of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are also notable. BPH is commonly diagnosed in men over 40, and by age 60, 50% of men will experience it; by their 80s, 90% of men will have an enlarged prostate.

Prostate enlargement is a silent affliction affecting many men, including those under the age of 40. Understanding and promoting prostate health should be a daily consideration.

Nettle Root Extracts and Prostate Health

Nettle root extracts have been consistently shown (see this placebo-controlled double-blind study for more information) to relieve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which may include:

• Weak urine stream
• Difficulty starting urination
• Stopping and starting while urinating
• Dribbling at the end of urination
• Frequent or urgent need to urinate
• Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia)
• Straining while urinating
• Inability to completely empty the bladder
• Urinary tract infection
• Formation of stones in the bladder
• Reduced kidney function

Furthermore, prostate enlargement and sexual dysfunction are increasingly linked. In a study of 2,115 men aged 40 to 79, symptoms of prostate enlargement correlated with sexual dysfunction. Researchers wrote, "As the men's urinary symptoms increased, their level of sexual function decreased." The relationship between BPH and sexual dysfunction was most pronounced in younger men.

According to the study, urinary tract symptoms resulting from an enlarged prostate that were most strongly associated with sexual dysfunction were:

• A feeling of urgency
• Needing to get up multiple times at night to urinate
• A weak urine stream
• Straining to start urinating

These symptoms were associated with:

• Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
• Problems with sexual drive, erection, and ejaculation
• Sexual satisfaction issues

Sedentary Lifestyles and Prostate Health

In my experience, more and more men are experiencing some degree of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) at earlier ages. Sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary choices, as well as genetics, seem to cause or exacerbate prostate issues. Holistic doctors are increasingly connecting sedentary lifestyles, particularly too much sitting, to prostate problems, and establishing links between our hyper-sexualized culture and rising prostate issues in men.

The Androgen/Testosterone Loop

Current research now connects estrogen, rather than testosterone or other androgens, as the primary hormonal factor in prostate cancer. According to a study from the  National Institutes of Health, "estrogens have been implicated as potential agents in the development and progression of prostate cancer," and there is "epidemiological, laboratory, and clinical evidence that estrogen may play a causative role in human prostate cancer." While testosterone was previously implicated in prostate cancer, research now shows estrogen to be the offender.

Promoting Prostate Health with Kunlun Mountain RAW Brassica Flower Pollen

At RAW Forest Foods, we have long recognized the connection between estrogen and prostate issues. We offer several products to promote prostate health, including our Nettle Root Extracts (both our powdered 50:1 extract and our standardized Beta-Sitosterol Capsules), Pine Pollen, and our Estrogen Detox. However, we lacked a product that directly supports prostate health rather than merely treating symptoms.

I have a family history of prostate cancer, and when I had my genome mapped, I discovered an increased risk of prostate cancer compared to the general population. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I am personally and selfishly excited about our new RAW Brassica Pollen because of its unique use in promoting prostate health rather than just treating symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Managing prostate health is a concern for every man, and with my predisposition towards prostate cancer, it is of particular importance to me. I've been using our RAW Brassica Pollen daily and love it.

The Benefits of RAW Brassica Pollen

RAW Brassica Pollen seems to nourish the prostate with the amino acids, vitamins, and minerals it needs to promote wellness. It has been shown to be exceptionally anti-inflammatory, benefiting an enlarged prostate. While much research has established that Brassica Pollen supports prostate health, the exact mechanism remains unknown. As with many herbs, while the benefits are clear, the precise pathways may remain mysterious—and that's OK with me.