Men's urinary comfort

Getting up often at night, a weak stream, the feeling that the bladder is not empty — folk herbals described this in older men before the word prostate existed. The answer was a 'diuretic tea' and warmth: stinging nettle, field horsetail, dandelion, with raspberry leaf and plantain.

The catalogue lists eight species under this topic — exactly that Central European set plus lingonberry, lemon balm and South African buchu, which reached Europe in the 19th century as a 'urinary' herb. It is a description of a habit of drinking more and drinking warm, not a claim about the gland.

An enlarged prostate is a common condition of ageing, and the complaints it causes can be measured by questionnaire and examination; for them there are medicines with a documented effect, and surgery. Among plant products, extracts of saw palmetto fruit and nettle root have clinical data — standardised pharmacy products, not a home infusion.

The other species in the set rest on tradition. Lingonberry and cranberry have data in urinary infections in women, not in the prostate; horsetail and dandelion increase urine output, which with night-time urination is a drawback rather than a help. An evening herbal tea can therefore make the night worse, not better.

Blood in the urine, even once and without pain, always belongs with a doctor. Being unable to pass urine, with pain in the lower belly, is an acute condition — emergency care, not tea. Fever with shivering and pain in the flank or perineum may be an infection of the prostate or kidney and belongs with a doctor the same day.

Urinary complaints that worsen over months, getting up more than twice a night, a weak stream or pain on ejaculation belong with urology; from fifty onwards, prostate checks are discussed with your GP even without complaints. A herb is not an examination, and delay is costly with the prostate.