Grass pollen extract's therapeutic uses
Grass pollen extract is a natural plant product primarily used to address prostate enlargement, medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The extract is derived from a combination of rye, timothy, and corn grass and has been shown in double-blind, placebo-controlled studies to significantly reduce symptoms associated with BPH, such as frequent nighttime urination and overall bladder emptying. Beyond BPH, grass pollen extract has been investigated for its potential benefits in treating prostatitis, prostate cancer, menopausal symptoms, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and high cholesterol.
Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help to protect against chronic health issues. In the context of allergies, grass pollen is also utilized in immunotherapy, where exposure to the pollen over time can help build tolerance and alleviate symptoms. The recommended dosage for grass pollen extract is typically between 80 and 120 milligrams per day, and it is available in pharmacies and online. While no serious side effects have been reported, individuals with known allergies to grass pollen should consult with a healthcare provider before use. Overall, while evidence supporting its efficacy varies, grass pollen extract remains a subject of interest for its therapeutic applications.
Grass pollen extract's therapeutic uses
- DEFINITION: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.
- PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Prostate enlargement
- OTHER PROPOSED USES: Allergies, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, high cholesterol, menopausal symptoms, premenstrual syndrome, prostate cancer, prostatitis
Overview
Like the more famous saw palmetto, extracts of grass pollen are used to treat prostate enlargement. The grass mixture utilized to make this preparation consists of 92 percent rye, 5 percent timothy, and 3 percent corn. Grass pollen has also been investigated for its potential to treat prostatitis, prostate cancer, and symptoms of menopause and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), as well as to reduce cholesterol.
Related grass pollen extracts are used for allergy immunotherapy. In this process, immune systems are gradually exposed to increasing amounts of grass pollen to build up a tolerance and reduce allergy symptoms over time. However, it is important to note that for other health conditions, the mechanism that causes allergic reaction has been removed.
Requirements and Sources
Grass pollen extract tablets for prostate disease are available in pharmacies and health food stores, or can be ordered online.
Therapeutic Dosages
The recommended dosage for grass pollen extract tablets is between 80 and 120 milligrams (mg) per day.
Therapeutic Uses
Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have found that grass pollen extract can help reduce symptoms of benign prostate enlargement (technically called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH). One small double-blind study found evidence that a product containing grass pollen, the pistils (seed-bearing parts) of grass, and royal jelly (a product made by bees) may be helpful for PMS. Another small double-blind study found benefits with the same combination for treating menopausal symptoms.
Grass pollen has additionally been investigated for its usefulness in treating prostate inflammation or infection, prostate cancer, and high cholesterol. Animal studies also suggest that it may protect the liver from damage caused by some poisons. Grass pollen has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that could protect against free radicals that cause chronic health conditions. However, the scientific evidence for all of these remains very weak.
Finally, exposing the immune system to grass pollen is used in allergy immunotherapy. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies show that over a long period of time, this treatment was effective in reducing symptoms and decreasing the need for medications.
Scientific Evidence
Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have found that grass pollen extract can improve symptoms of BPH. In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 103 people with BPH were assigned to take either a placebo or two capsules of a standardized grass pollen extract three times daily for a period of twelve weeks. At the end of the study, 69 percent of the participants who had been taking the grass pollen had reduced the number of trips they had to make to the bathroom at night. In the placebo group, only 37 percent reported improvement in this symptom. The amount of urine remaining in the bladder following urination was reduced in the treatment group by 24 milliliters (ml) and in the placebo group by 4 ml. Both were statistically significant improvements for those taking grass pollen.
A second double-blind, placebo-controlled study lasted longer but enrolled fewer participants. Fifty-seven men with prostate enlargement were enrolled in the study, with thirty-one taking 92 mg of the grass pollen extract daily for six months and the remaining twenty-six taking a placebo. As with the previous study, statistically significant improvements in the nighttime frequency of urination and emptying of the bladder were found with the use of grass pollen extract. Additionally, 69 percent of the participants receiving treatment reported overall improvement, while only 29 percent of the group taking the placebo felt they had improved, another statistically significant difference.
An important finding in this study was that, according to ultrasound measurements, prostate size decreased in men taking grass pollen. Not all treatments for BPH can reduce prostate size. It may be that treatments that shrink the prostate can reduce the need for surgery; such is the case, at least with the prescription drug finasteride. Whether grass pollen offers this same potential benefit is not known.
Two additional studies compared grass pollen to other alternative treatments for prostate enlargement rather than to a placebo. An open study pitted grass pollen against pygeum. Although pygeum is considered a more established treatment for prostate enlargement, grass pollen appeared to work better. The pollen extract was found to be significantly more effective in improving the flow of urine, emptying of the bladder, and the participants’ perceptions of relief. Those in the grass pollen group also significantly reduced prostate size, while there was no size reduction in the pygeum group. Grass pollen appears to be a more effective treatment than pygeum, but since the study was not blinded, the results are somewhat questionable.
A double-blind comparative study pitted grass pollen against an amino acid preparation and found no significant difference between the two. Because it is not known how well the amino acid medication works, the result has little significance.
No one is certain how the grass pollen extract might cause the beneficial results seen in the studies. One theory is that it inhibits the body’s manufacturing of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which might relieve congestion and act as an anti-inflammatory. This, however, probably would not explain the reduction in prostate size, meaning that there may be more than one mechanism at work. Regardless of how grass pollen extract may work, as studies continued in the twenty-first century, the benefits of grass pollen for prostate and menopausal issues remained exceedingly evident.
Safety Issues
No serious side effects have been reported with using grass pollen extract. No adverse reactions were observed in any clinical trials discussed above, although one review author mentioned rare reports of stomach upset and skin rash.
Although many people are allergic to grass pollen, the grass pollen products discussed in this article, when not referring to immunotherapy, are processed to remove allergenic proteins. For this reason, it is unlikely that grass-allergic individuals will have an allergic reaction. Patients undergoing immunotherapy treatment with grass pollen should be under the care of an allergy specialist. Maximum safe doses for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with liver or kidney disease are unknown.
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