Natural Products

Pygeum

African plum tree, Pygeum africanum

Efficacy

• Indications with proven efficacy:
  Benign prostatic hyperplasia

Safety

• Risk of Drug Interaction: Low
• Adverse effects: Not frequent

Description

Pygeum is a large evergreen tree found in the higher elevations of central and southern Africa. Its bark has been used to treat urinary problems for thousands of years.

Today, pygeum is found in a standardized extract form of 14% triterpenes and 0.5% n-docosanol.

Warning

In 2004, Canada adopted new regulations that control the manufacturing, packaging, labeling and importing of natural health products. The new regulations also include an adverse reaction reporting system. Products that conform to the regulation's criteria are identified with a natural product number (NPN) or homeopathic medicine number (DIN-HM) and can be legally sold in Canada. This number indicates that the product meets specific criteria for safety and purity, not that it is effective for any indication.

Medicinal plants content varies naturally from plant to plant – just as fruits from the same package may vary in taste and texture. There is no standard to measure the active content of each plant. Thus, efficacy of natural products should be expected to vary from brand to brand as well as from bottle to bottle of the same brand.

For more information about the Natural Health Products Regulations, or to check if a product has been assessed, visit the Health Canada website at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodnatur/index-eng.php.

Does it work?

Pygeum bark appears to improve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia:
  It reduces the need to urinate at night, decreases the volume of residual urine and increases urine flow. The recommended daily dosage is 75 to 200 mg of standardized extract to alleviate the symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Is it safe?

• Pygeum is well tolerated. Nausea and mild intestinal disorders have, on occasion, been reported.
• Given the absence of available data (and the only product indication), pygeum is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing.

Clinical Notes

• The use of pygeum is widespread in certain European countries and, as a result, has been intensively harvested. It is now considered a threatened species and its scarcity has driven up the price.
• To properly establish diagnosis, it is recommended that men consult a physician before beginning treatment.

References

1. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Therapeutic Research Faculty, 2007
2. Passeportsanté.net. Pygeum. http://www.passeportsante.net
3. Medline Plus, Pygeum, medlineplus.gov, January 2007
4. Rotblatt M. et Ziment I. Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine, Hanley & Belfus, 2002