Early detection of prostate cancer can be a life and death situation for many unsuspecting men over 50 years old. The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, a manual prostate exam, and prostate biopsy have been the mainstay for screening tests for the prostate cancer. During my US Army Reserve military service, I have performed thousands of prostate rectal exams for men 40 years and older during their physical exams. It was a quick cursory exam and I never enjoyed doing them. Is there a better way to detect the prostate-related problems? Is there a role for acupuncture meridian assessment (AMA)?
The Bladder meridian, one of the main acupuncture meridians, is the longest meridian in the body and performs important functions far more complex than urinary water metabolism, as the name implies. Through the Bladder meridian, Chi flows, circulates, interacts and regulates from head to toe, including the eyes, brain, and the entire body. The Bladder and Kidney meridians are paired meridians, part of the four main circuitries in the body, along with the Small Intestine and Heart meridians. A disturbance of the Bladder meridian has been associated with deep back pain, neck pain, headache, urinary tract disorders from kidney infections, kidney stones, bladder infection, ovary and uterine disease for women, and prostate problems for men.
Prostate enlargement and frequent urination, the older man’s nemesis, can progress to prostate cancer – the most common type of cancer for men as they grow old. The prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm, begins to enlarge, but may cause no signs or symptoms for many years. Some of the common early signs include: trouble urinating, decreased force in the stream of urine, and blood in the urine or semen; and it may progress to bone pain, weight loss, and erectile dysfunction.
Treatment recommendations for prostate cancer have been gradually changing, with less emphasis on aggressive prostate biopsy, total prostatectomy, and more options including localized prostate operation, chemo and hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy based on genetic tests. Some of the progression and complications of prostate cancer and treatment include bone metastasis, incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and change in hormone-related problems in physical appearance and personality.
I have a limited experience treating prostate cancer patients. I do not focus on cancer but evaluate cancer patients’ acupuncture meridian system, almost like inspecting a fine musical instrument like a violin. I detect, tune and correct the underlying problems that most oncologists overlook: dental and unrecognized parasite and fungal infections, and checking for environmental toxin exposure.
About 25 years ago, a 60-year-old lawyer came to see me with stage 4 prostate cancer. He had a PSA of 35 (the normal range is up to 4.0), and he had refused prostatectomy and chemo/hormone therapy. He decided to quit his stressful job as a lawyer and retire to a Caribbean Island for the rest of his life. He requested a picture of a healthy prostate so he could meditate with a visual image of healing to restore a normal healthy prostate. Regrettably, I couldn’t provide him one; a picture was not available at the time.
I lost track of him, but most likely he died of old age with prostate cancer, not necessarily from the cancer. You can find pictures of healthy vs. cancerous prostates easily now on the internet.
Six years ago, I saw a 73-year-old man from out of town with extensive, multiple joint pain with a diagnosis of Polymyalgia Rheumatica; he was initially prescribed steroids. Acupuncture meridian assessment (AMA) showed that his dominant problems were coming from dental infections. A root-canalled tooth was extracted, and two areas of infected dental jaw cavitation were cleaned out by an oral surgeon. He experienced a dramatic improvement in his joint pain. About two years later, his PSA marker for prostate cancer cell activity began rising rapidly on routine blood tests, from 2.0 to 10.0 to 32.6. He came back to see me again for evaluation and treatment.
This time, he also presented with blood clots, leg swelling, a swollen scrotum, and pelvic pain. Based on a new AMA, I started him on parasite and fungal meds, and advised more dental work and teeth extractions. He also had high aluminum, cadmium and lead; and he started EDTA chelation therapy. His PSA rose above 100 which is extremely high and saw an oncologist but again refused any therapy. Finally, his PSA reached 995 and then rose to 1,448. He started hormone therapy with his oncologist, began Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT) at my practice, and was able to bring his PSA below 100. One time, he PSA dropped to below 10.0, and he was almost feeling normal.
After his dramatic response, both hormone therapy and IPT were stopped to give him a break from weekly travelling. Soon, there was again a rapid rise in PSA and all the markers for advancing cancer: bone metastases and increased bone pain. At the time of this writing, his PSA is around 1,200 and he is experiencing increased general weakness and bone pain. He is still alive – a miracle with that high a PSA level – but time is not in his side. He said he will be ready to die this spring, after taking care to get his house, finances, and affairs in order for his wife.
You may not think of the prostate-dental connection, but the acupuncture point for the prostate is represented within both the Bladder meridian and Dental meridian, according to acupuncture meridian assessment (AMA). His prostate cancer may have started with dental infections many years ago when he was told he had Polymyalgia Rheumatica with multiple joint pain. The breast cancer and dental connection is another common medical and dental (MAD) disconnection, crying out to be told.
