3 Natural Herbs for Supporting Men's Health

As you surpass the 40-year mark, you’ve probably heard jokes from friends and family that “you’re over the hill” as you move into your middle-aged years. You can work hard to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and keep other health-conscious habits, but you may need a little boost from herbs to ease some of the effects of aging.

Stick with us to learn more about the health challenges you may face as you age and the best herbs for men’s health that can help you feel more youthful for longer.

WHAT HEALTH PROBLEMS DO AGING MEN FACE?

While the sudden changes and symptoms that women experience in their 40s and 50s can be tied to menopause, men also experience their own form of changes as they age. The signs of aging for men may not be as sudden as those of menopause due to how testosterone levels gradually decline. However, they do occur and can be difficult to notice at first.

Instead of hot flashes and mood swings, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Hair Loss - If you’ve reached 40 and noticed significant hair loss, you’re not alone. Male pattern baldness happens to most men in the United States. One survey found that by age 35, two-thirds of American men experience hair loss. Then, by age 50, approximately 85% of men have significantly thinning hair.
• Enlarged Prostate - The prostate gland swells as men age due to a loss of testosterone. This swelling can cause various symptoms, notably an increased urge to urinate. Yale Medicine found that 50% of men aged 51-60 experienced prostate swelling, rising to 80% for men over 70.
• High Blood Pressure - The fibers in your arteries begin to lose flexibility, causing your arteries to stiffen. This loss of elasticity can put you at risk for higher blood pressure or hypertension.
• Erectile Dysfunction - As you age, your sexual function can diminish. According to one study, approximately 40% of men at age 40 were affected by ED.
• Declining Cognitive Function - Once you pass your middle-aged years, you may notice yourself becoming more forgetful or confused. While occasional forgetfulness happens to everyone, frequent confusion and memory loss are not necessarily part of the normal aging process. These may be signs of Alzheimer’s Disease or other related dementias.
• Heart Disease - Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States, causing 1 in 4 male deaths. Like high blood pressure, heart disease can come from changes to your arteries as you age.

These common changes can be alarming, but there are a variety of herbs that can help you combat the effects of aging. Below, we have a list of five essential herbs for men that may help prevent or reduce symptoms you experience.

SAW PALMETTO BENEFITS FOR MEN (SERENOA REPENS)

ENLARGED PROSTATE

This dwarf palm is native to the Atlantic coastline of North America, where Native Americans commonly used these berries in medicine. They are available in whole berries and powder form.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) also triggers inflammation and cell proliferation in the prostate. While this growth is usually benign, it can cause discomfort and begin to obstruct your urine flow. Saw palmetto can counter these events by inhibiting DHT and the inflammatory enzymes COX-2 and 5-lipoxygenase.

HAIR LOSS

Saw palmetto can help reduce hair loss in men by blocking 5-alpha-reductase. What is 5-alpha-reductase? It’s an enzyme that converts dwindling levels of available testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). While DHT plays a significant role in the sexual development of men, the androgen can signal hair follicles to enter into a state of permanent rest as men age.

Studies have shown that saw palmetto extracts prevent the uptake of DHT in receptor cells by as much as 40 percent and can compare to the prescription hair-loss medication finasteride (Propecia) in effectiveness.

How to Take:

• Extract: 5 ml liquid extract per day
• Capsules: 160 mg, two times per day

Cautions:

• Do not take if you are taking blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin), Plavix or aspirin.Supplementation should be monitored if you are undergoing treatment for a hormone-related type of cancer.
• Do not combine with other medications used to treat hair loss, enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as finasteride.
• This herb may interfere with the absorption of iron.

OLIVE LEAF (OLEA EUROPAEA)

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

About one in three adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure. In 2017, the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and other heart health organizations lowered the healthy measurement for blood pressure to 130/80 mm Hg for all adults. After this change, an estimated 70-79% of men ages 55 and older were determined to have hypertension. As a man, you are at a greater risk of high blood pressure and heart disease as you age.

Thankfully, the Mediterranean olive tree with its medicinal olive leaves has an antioxidant known as oleuropein that can help you mitigate these risks. This chemical compound is known for its vasodilation (ability to dilate blood vessels). Research also indicates that oleuropein relaxes arterial walls to improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure. As a bonus, oleuropein also lowers cholesterol levels in the blood.

How to Take:

• Tea: 1 tsp of olive leaves steeped for 10–20 minutes in 8 oz of water. Add honey or other herbs like peppermint or orange peel to add flavor.
• Capsule or tablet of the Standardized Extract: 250 to 500 mg, one to three times daily.

Cautions:

• Do not combine with conventional hypertension medications.
• Do not take if you have diabetes without consulting your physician first because this herb also lowers serum glucose levels.

GINKGO BILOBA

DECLINING COGNITIVE FUNCTION

While Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias are reserved for individuals who have passed the 65-year threshold, it’s never too early to address potential cognitive decline. This is especially true if your family has a history of Alzheimer’s disease or other related dementias. One way to help support cognitive function is through the use of our next herb, ginkgo biloba.

Ginkgo biloba is valued for many properties, including its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. This herb is also considered a mild vasodilator, neurotransmitter regulator and anti-platelet agent.

Studies involving Alzheimer’s disease patients consistently showed an improvement in cognitive function with the supplementation of ginkgo extracts. Researchers believe this effect is due to the ability of certain chemical compounds in the herb to reduce brain cholesterol levels and amyloid-beta production and release. The latter, in particular, is critical to preventing Alzheimer’s disease, as amyloid-betas deposit plaques in the brain that can inhibit normal function.

How to Take:

• Tea: 1 tsp of ginkgo leaves steeped for 10 minutes in 8 oz of water. Drink 1–2 cups daily. You can add peppermint or lemon grass to add a nice flavor.
• Capsules: Standardized to contain 24 - 32% flavone glycosides, 120 to 240 mg daily in two to three divided doses.

Cautions:

• Do not take in conjunction with blood thinners or blood pressure-lowering medications due to an increased risk of bleeding. Do not take with diabetes medications or diuretics without consulting your doctor.
• Gingko will negate the effects of immune system depressant drug treatments, such as cyclosporine. This herb may also interfere with antidepressants and anti-seizure medications.

Don’t let your age define how you feel. These three excellent herbs for men can help you feel your best longer and make your golden years truly golden. Want to learn more about these herbs? Visit our contact page to get in touch with a knowledgeable member of the HerbCo.com team today.

Note: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, prevent or treat any disease. If you have a chronic condition, are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications or are pregnant or nursing, do not add herbal medicines to your treatment regimen without consulting a qualified health care practitioner. The University of Maryland Medical Center and the Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines (Thomas Brendler et al., 2007) provide the dosage information for this article.

Visit our contact page to get in touch with a knowledgeable member of the HerbCo.com team today.