PROSTATE REDUCTION using the Prostatherm

Prostate Shrinker for Non-invasive Treatment of the Prostate gland.

Far Infrared (FIR) Hyperthermia Treatment for Prostate Enlargement. Prostatherm is a procedure where the temperature inside the prostate is raised to 55° Celsius (130° Fahrenheit) using a focused ultrasonic, infrasonic and electro-magnetic beam from an applicator upon which the user sits.

Unlike microwave, cryotherapy, radiation, Brachytherapy, Ablatherm or HIFU treatments which are relatively invasive, painful and require anaesthetic, Prostatherm slowly raises the temperature, which shrinks and ultimately may destroy targeted tumour cells.

The treatment is done daily through clothing, non-invasively at home or while driving. In this way the total therapeutic energy over many weeks exceeds that of any other treatment modality.

More references are at our prostate page.

Prostate Shrinker Control Box and Prostate Shrinker Emitter with 7' (over  2 metres) long cable.

The Biophysica Prostatherm prostate shrinker emits five different kinds of energy. 1) Far infrared, 2) visible red, 3) magnetic fields, 4) vibrational infrasonic frequencies 5) Subtle Energy fields:

• Non-invasive:  no probes, catheters or needles to be inserted. FIR energy passes through clothing while the user sits on the applicator.

• Convenient: Small treatment unit is comfortable to sit on for many hours.

• Portable: Self-treatment while sitting at work or driving.  Powered by 12 volt adapter or automobile lighter outlet.

• Safe: No electrical connection to the human body. No diathermy, lasers, microwaves or radio waves.

• 3 Simultaneous Energy Forms: Emits a wide range of Far infra-red energy (FIR) from 980 nanometers down to several microns in wavelength.  Mechanical vibration aids in lymphatic drainage. Ultrasonic electro-magnetic field adds to the efficacy.

History of FIR: In the last forty years, scientific evidence has found that deep heat can enhance and synergise with the beneficial effects of other healing therapies. Scientists have looked at different thermal treatment ways such as microwaves, ultrasound, diathermy, to develop more effective forms that target specific areas and enable deep heat penetration. Far Infrared Hyperthermia Treatment has become an effective, safe, natural, hygienic, and efficient approach to the treatment of many organs, skin, muscles, tendons and joints in the body. Today there are multiple health and medical professionals internationally who use heat therapy to rehabilitate and treat a multitude of physical problems by. Relief of sports injuries and cancer and tumour reduction via thermal therapy are just a few examples.

Far Infrared Ray are waves of energy, similar to microwaves, totally invisible to the naked eye, capable of penetrating deep into the human body, where they gently elevate the body's surface temperature and activate major bodily functions:

1. Far Infrared expands capillaries which stimulates increased blood flow, regeneration, circulation and oxygenation.

2. Far Infrared is excellent for detox. Scientists in Japan report that in the FIR treatment of clogged capillary vessels, heat expands the capillaries and then initiates the start of a process to dissolve hidden toxins. Far Infrared thereby promotes elimination of fats, chemicals and toxins from the blood: Poisons, carcinogenic heavy metals - toxic substances from food processing - lactic acid, free fatty acids, and subcutaneous fat associated with aging and fatigue - excess sodium associated with hypertension - and uric acid which causes pain. Furthermore, if sebaceous glands are activated, accumulated cosmetics in pores can be eliminated through the skin (sweat and oil glands) rather than by the kidneys.

3. Far Infrared stimulates enzyme activity and metabolism. FIR heat also breaks down cellulite, trapped water, fat and waste.

4. Far Infrared promotes the killing of many pathogenic (disease causing) bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

5. Far Infrared promotes rebuilding of injured tissue by having a positive effect on the fibroblasts (connective tissue cells necessary for the repair of injury). Furthermore, it increases growth of cells, DNA syntheses, and protein synthesis all necessary during tissue repair and regeneration. Excellent for healing burns, scar tissue and skin problems.

6. Far Infrared relieves nervous tension and relax autonomic muscles thereby helping the body make the most of its intended healing abilities.

7. FIR reduces soreness on nerve endings and muscle spasms, as muscle fibers are heated.

8. Far Infrared strengthens the Immune System by stimulating increased production of white blood cells (leukocytes) by the bone marrow and killer T-cells by the thymus.

9. Far Infrared strengthens the Cardiovascular System by causing heart rate and cardiac output increase, and diastolic blood pressure decrease Extensive research by NASA in the early 1980's led to the conclusion that far infrared stimulation of cardiovascular function would be the ideal way to maintain cardiovascular conditioning in American astronauts during long space flight.

Anatomy:  The prostate gland sits just below the bladder and in front of the rectum, partially surrounding the urethra which carries urine from the bladder out of the body. Forming part of the male reproductive system, the prostate is responsible for the production of a clear liquid which makes up about one third of the seminal fluid used to carry and protect the male sperm during intercourse.

Prostate Development:

Throughout early childhood the prostate gland is very small (about the size of a pea) but grows rapidly during puberty in response to the production of the male hormone testosterone.  In adults the prostate is about the size of a walnut and weighs around one ounce.

Prostate Problems:

There are a number of problems associated with the prostate gland and the most common of these is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This condition, which is a growth of non-cancerous cells within the transition section of the prostate, causes an enlargement of the gland and exerts pressure on the urethra which, in turn, leads to difficulties in urinating.

Another common problem is prostatitis, which is an inflammation or infection of the prostate gland.

About half of all men will suffer enlargement of the prostate by the time they reach the age of 60 and, by the age of 80, about ninety percent of the male population will experience an enlarged prostate.

Prostate cancer will also affect a significant percentage of the male population. In 2006 some 237,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and there were some 27,000 deaths from the disease in the United States alone.

The prostate is situated between the bladder and the rectum and partially surrounds the urethra – the tube which carries urine from the bladder. As the prostate gland grows, the tissue surrounding it restricts its expansion and causes the prostate to close around the urethra, thereby restricting the flow through the urethra. The bladder wall thickens at the same time and the bladder starts contracting even when it contains quite small quantities of urine. Finally, the bladder becomes weak, loses its ability to contract and thus to empty itself, so that urine remains trapped in the bladder.

The precise symptoms experienced as a result of an enlarged prostate (hypertrophy) will vary from one person to the next but, normally, the first signs will be a difficulty in urinating or a change in the pattern of urination.

For example, you may find that you begin to experience a weak flow of urine or that the flow appears hesitant, tending to stop and start. You may also find that calls to the bathroom become urgent as well as more frequent, especially during the night. You may also notice a tendency to leak or dribble urine.

Prostate Treatments:

Hyperthermia

Heat and Far Infra Red (FIR) therapy such as from our Prostate Shrinker could improve existing benign hypertrophy and cancer treatments.

By simply raising a tumor's temperature a few degrees, scientists are boosting the power of radiation, chemotherapy, and cancer vaccines. Armed with a better understanding of how heat amplifies those treatments' effects and with new tools to heat tumors, researchers may someday give every cancer patient the bright prognosis.  Johns Hopkins scientists believe, the temperature boost may weaken protein scaffolding within the cancer cell's nucleus, making the nuclear DNA more vulnerable to chemotherapy and radiation.  "Heat is at the center of many cellular changes," according to Donald Coffey, Ph.D., who is the Catherine Iola & J. Smith Michael Distinguished Professor of Urology, Oncology, Pathology, and Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at Johns Hopkins. "It drives everything from reproduction to fighting infection, and now we'd like to harness its power to fight cancer." Scientists in the past have observed that fevers accompanying infections sometimes improved the outcome for some cancer patients, but until now, Coffey said, "scientists haven't connected precisely how heat affects the scaffolding and might be one of the reasons heat treatment can cure tumors such as Lance Armstrong's."

Support for the theory came from an unrelated study by researchers at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School of men with undescended testes, a fairly common birth defect in which the genitals remain stuck in the pelvis after birth instead of descending into the scrotum.  Without treatment, infertility is common and further examination of the men's sperm showed that the sperm cells' nuclear protein scaffolding, known technically as the nuclear matrix, was also wrecked. The nuclear matrix, found in the nucleus of all cells, was first discovered in the early 1980s by a team of Johns Hopkins scientists led by Coffey, and shown to be heat-sensitive by researchers at the Washington University in St. Louis.

"The warmer region of the pelvis made the nuclear matrix in the cells that make sperm unstable and prone to death," says Theodore DeWeese, M.D., professor and director of the Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, "and cancer cells already have unstable nuclear matrices."  He and his colleagues say it is logical to think that "if we give a cancer cell more heat to completely disrupt its matrix, and then add toxic drugs and radiation, the cancer cell may be so disabled that it won't be able to replicate and will die."

Heat therapy is already used in a handful of cancer centers around the country, and has been applied for thousands of years as an ancient cure-all for ailments ranging from back pain to arthritis. Although people flock to hot baths and springs to immerse their entire body, the Hopkins trio believes that selectively heating cancer cells may not only be more effective, but also prevent matrix damage in normal tissues.

"Once we've devised the best way to deliver heat to cancer cells, we will test the technique in animal models to help define the right temperature and doses of chemo and radiation therapy," says DeWeese.  At http://www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org/news/index.cfm?documentid=801&newstype=news releases&action=showthisitem

Microwaves:  Transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT) is done at the Mayo Clinic.  TUMT uses microwave heat to shrink excess prostate tissue. Doctors insert a small microwave antenna attached to a flexible tube (catheter) through the penis into the part of the urethra surrounded by the prostate gland. The antenna emits a dose of microwave energy that heats overgrown prostate cells and destroys them without damaging nearby normal tissue. Water circulates around the tip and sides of the antenna during the procedure to protect the urethra from heat. A balloon with a heat sensor is inserted into the rectum to monitor temperature. At  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/transurethral-microwave-therapy/BP00012

Prostate massage has long been used as a means of maintaining prostate health and to promote increased sexual health.

Prostate milking can be extremely helpful as a form of preventative medicine and relieve the build-up of seminal fluid in the prostate gland.  The prostate gland is divided into the three sections known as the peripheral, central and transition sections.  The peripheral section is situated to the rear of the prostate and is the section in which prostatitis and prostate cancer are most likely to develop. The transition section, which lies in the middle of the prostate gland and surrounds the urethra, is the area in which benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is seen.

Botox: HOUSTON -- (November 30, 2007) -- Botox® injections may reduce benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate, said a Baylor College of Medicine report.

Laser Surgery:  Selective Light Vaporization (SLV) is the process of eliminating unwanted soft tissue using a specialized laser system and fiber optic probe. Selective Light Vaporization of soft tissue is less invasive than traditional surgery resulting in less pain, discomfort and quicker recovery times. Selective Light Vaporization of soft tissue with Urological 980nm Laser System is a minimally invasive procedure, and one of the most advanced surgical options available.

Chemotherapy: The only chemo-therapy available to treat prostate cancer right now is hormone injections that stop testosterone production.

Radioactive Therapy:  This uses radio-active isotopes which damage tissues preferentially

Ultrasound: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, or HIFU, is a therapy that destroys tissue with rapid heat elevation, which essentially "cooks" the tissue. Ultrasound energy, or sound waves, is focused at a specific location and at that "focal point" the temperature raises to 90 degrees Celsius in a matter of seconds.

Electro-magnetic:  In Russia, a few models of Electro Magnetic Heat Therapy devices are popular, and widely used by doctors for Urology and Gynecology treatments. These Two Modalities (Heating and Magnetic Therapy) maximize the treatment benefit of each form of energy. Special anal Magnetic Probe is inserted into Anus and reaches the Prostate Gland. The emitting of Pulsating Magnetism and Heating (43C.- 47C.) from the probe gives effect such as "Thermo Massage" and kills the abnormal cells in the Prostate Gland.

This heated probe (called an anal probe) has the shape of an elongated suppository which is inserted into the anal canal where the combined Heating and Magnetic Therapy provides direct warmth to internal hemorrhoids.

Benefits:

The Biophysica Prostatherm prostate shrinker emits four different kinds of energy:

1. Increases endorphin levels: Increases levels in human tissue and normalizes the action potential of the nervous system.

2. Speeds Injury Recovery: Stimulates tissue granulation and connective tissue projections, which are part of the healing process of wounds or inflamed tissue.

3. Reduces Inflammation: Stimulates the lymphatic system to remove waste products and cellular debris from the treated area.
   Increases Cellular Energy: Accelerates energy production at the cellular level by activating the cell’s power plants [mitochondria] to increase production of ATP.  Certain light wavelengths (red and infrared) on the low level of the color spectrum are absorbed by the human body and stimulate the mitochondrion membrane to produce ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) energy. ATP is the fuel that all cells utilize to perform cellular activities, including DNA and RNA synthesis, cellular repair (called Mitosis) and collagen production.

4. Increases Tissue Strength: Stimulates collagen synthesis and fibroblast activity for increased tissue strength. Studies show that injured tissues treated with IR light are markedly stronger after recovery than with natural healing alone.

5. Increases circulation by 1) increasing the formation of new capillaries, which are additional blood vessels that replaced damaged ones. New capillaries speed up the healing process by carrying more oxygen as well as more nutrients needed for healing and they can also carry more waste products away.  2) Causes increased production of nitric oxide (NO) which creates a non-thermal vasodilatation of capillaries in the treatment area.

6. Stimulates the production of collagen. Collagen is the most common protein found in the body. Collagen is the essential protein used to repair damaged tissue and to replace old tissue. It is this substance that holds cells together and has a high degree of elasticity. By increasing collagen production less scar tissue is formed at the damaged site.

7. Increases RNA and DNA synthesis. This helps damaged cells to be replaced more promptly.

8. Stimulates fibroblastic activity, which aids in the repair process. Fibroblasts are present in connective tissue and are capable of forming collagen fibers.

9. Stimulates tissue granulation and connective tissue projections, which are part of the healing process of wounds, ulcers or inflamed tissue.
   Stimulates the release of adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP). ATP is the major carrier of energy to all cells. Increases in ATP allow cells to accept nutrients faster and get rid waste products faster by increasing the energy level in the cell. All food turns into ATP before the cells utilize it. ATP provides the chemical energy that drives the chemical reactions of the cell.

10. Increases lymphatic system activity. Edema, which is the swelling or natural splinting process of the body, has two basic components. The first is a liquid part, which can be evacuated by the blood system and the second is comprised of the proteins, which have to be evacuated by the lymphatic system. Research has shown that the lymph vessel diameter and the flow of the lymph system can be doubled with the use of light therapy. The venous diameter and the arterial diameters can also be increased. This means that both parts of edema (liquid and protein) can be evacuated at a much faster rate to relieve swelling.

11. Relieves pain. The photons of light energy enter the body as negative ions. This calls upon the body to send positive ions like magnesium and calcium to go to the area being treated. These ions assist in firing the nerves, thereby relieving pain. Light therapy is successfully used in pain therapy, dermatology and rheumatology with excellent therapeutic effects in the treatment of shoulder humerus periarthritis, tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

12. Stimulates acetylcholine release and other parasympathetic effects.

13. Increases phagocytosis, which is the process of scavenging for and ingesting dead or degenerated cells by phagocyte cells for the purpose of clean up. This is an important part of the infection fighting process. Destruction of the infection and clean up must occur before the healing process can take place.

14. Induces a thermal-like effect in the tissue.  The IR light raises the temperature of the tissue treated, which can kill or disable temperature-sensitive bacteria and viruses.

References and Links on Prostate gland enlargement (often incorrectly called Prostrate): More prostate references are listed at prostate.html

1. Prostate Health News: 10 powerful nutrients that work together for ultimate prostate protection from Al Sears, MD

2. Prostate biopsy complications soar, causing hospitalizations and death (12 times greater risk of dying compared to men who did not have biopsies), September 23, 2011 at http://www.naturalnews.com/033660_prostate_biopsy.html

3. Hyperthermia treatments at http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061014/bob10.asp

4. Prostate treatments Comprehensive study Special to CNN.com at  http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00027.html

5. FDA APPROVES NEW DEVICE TO TREAT ENLARGED PROSTATE.  Microwaves to heat and destroy excess prostate tissue at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00534.html

This device is not available for sale in Canada except for personal use or as an investigational or custom device for the sole use of a particular professional. 

 Price:   Retail $1800 USD (or $1500 to licensed MDs) Phone or e-mail us to order. No prescription needed for personal use.