Phytotherapy in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: an update

It has been almost 3 years since the previous review of phytotherapeutic agents for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by Lowe appeared in Urology.1 During this period, there has been a rapid increase in the use of these products in the United States as well as substantial widespread use in Europe. It has been estimated that total sales of medicinal botanicals in the United States has risen from more than $500,000 to approximately $1 billion during this time.1–3