The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Swollen prostate can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like swollen prostate here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here swollen prostate is often associated with dark urine, constipation and fever in the pattern “Toxic-Heat”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause swollen prostate.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of swollen prostate we’ve identified three herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat swollen prostate.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause swollen prostate
In Chinese Medicine swollen prostate is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua) is the king ingredient for Yin Qiao San, a formula used for Toxic-Heat
Toxic-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
In addition to swollen prostate, other symptoms associated with Toxic-Heat include dark urine, constipation and fever.
Toxic-Heat is often treated with Yin Qiao San, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Honeysuckle Flowers - Jin Yin Hua - as a key herb). Yin Qiao San belongs to the category of "external formulas for external disorders", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Disperses Wind Heat".
Goldthread Rhizomes (Huang Lian) is the king ingredient for Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, a formula used for Toxic-Heat Stagnation
Toxic-Heat Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
In addition to swollen prostate, other symptoms associated with Toxic-Heat Stagnation include dark urine, constipation and fever.
Toxic-Heat Stagnation is often treated with Huang Lian Jie Du Tang, a herbal formula made of 4 herbs (including Goldthread Rhizomes - Huang Lian - as a key herb). Huang Lian Jie Du Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and resolve toxicity", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Drains Fire".
Three herbal formulas that might help with swollen prostate
Bai Hu Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Clears Qi-level Heat. Drains Stomach Fire. Generates fluids. Alleviates thirst.
Why might Bai Hu Tang help with swollen prostate?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which swollen prostate is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Toxic-Heat include dark urine, constipation and fever.
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
Why might Huang Lian Jie Du Tang help with swollen prostate?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat Stagnation' of which swollen prostate is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Toxic-Heat Stagnation include dark urine, constipation and fever.
Sang Ju Yin
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind. Stops coughing by invigorating Lung Qi. Clears Heat.
Why might Sang Ju Yin help with swollen prostate?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which swollen prostate is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Toxic-Heat include dark urine, constipation and fever.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat swollen prostate
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with swollen prostate?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat swollen prostate as a symptom, like Bai Hu Tang or Sang Ju Yin for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) help with swollen prostate?
Because Unprepared Rehmannia is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat swollen prostate as a symptom, like Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang or Qing Ying Tang for instance.
Unprepared Rehmannia is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes.
Why might Forsythia Fruit (Lian Qiao) help with swollen prostate?
Because Forsythia Fruit is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat swollen prostate as a symptom, like Yin Qiao San or Sang Ju Yin for instance.
Forsythia Fruits is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Small intestine.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat and toxicity from the Blood. Dispels External Wind-Heat. Reduces lumps, swollen lymph nodes and sores of a Heated nature.
Why might Water Buffalo Horn (Shui Niu Jiao) help with swollen prostate?
Because Water Buffalo Horn is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat swollen prostate as a symptom, like Qing Ying Tang or Xi Jiao Di Huang Tang for instance.
Water Buffalo Horns is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter and Salty. It targets the Stomach, the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Cools the Blood, drains Fire and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears Heat and Fire and stops tremors and convulsions. Cools Fire and expels toxins.
Why might Cape Jasmine Fruit (Zhi Zi) help with swollen prostate?
Because Cape Jasmine Fruit is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat swollen prostate as a symptom, like Long Dan Xie Gan Tang or Huang Lian Jie Du Tang for instance.
Cape Jasmine Fruits is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Heart, the Lung and the Sanjiao.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and calms spirit. Drains Damp-Heat affecting the Liver and Gallbladder. Clears Heat in the Blood and stops bleeding. Anti-inflammatory.
Other symptoms often associated with swollen prostate
Dark Urine Constipation Fever Carbuncles Pustule Red skin eruptions Sore throat Eczema Mouth ulcers Swollen tonsils