Prostatitis is a common condition among adult males, and its clinical manifestations show significant individual variability. Chronic prostatitis has a prolonged and recurrent course and is difficult to treat; it not only imposes a dual burden of physical discomfort and psychological distress on patients but also seriously impacts normal life and work routines. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, how should this "nagging" disease be understood and managed?

Prolonged sitting increases the risk of prostatitis

Prostatitis shows a particular predilection for certain groups of men such as drivers, white-collar workers, teachers, and stock traders; they share a prominent commonality — long periods of sitting.

Traditional Chinese medicine has long stated that "prolonged sitting harms the body." When a person sits on a sofa or soft chair with the buttocks sinking deeply, the cushioning material can envelop and compress the scrotum, obstructing venous return and impairing microcirculation throughout the reproductive system. Metabolism slows, and harmful metabolic byproducts cannot be expelled smoothly, accumulating in the prostate. This not only predisposes to aseptic prostatitis but can also exacerbate various bacterial prostatitis.

Chronic prostatitis is protracted and difficult to cure

In traditional Chinese medicine, prostate disorders are classified under the category of kidney-system diseases. The Ming-dynasty physician Wu Kun noted in Yifang Kao: “Diseases of the lower burner are attributable to damp-heat.” Since the kidney is located in the lower burner, analyzing the etiology and pathomechanism of chronic prostatitis from the perspective of damp-heat may reveal ways to resolve it.

Damp-heat refers to a pathogenic factor that combines both damp and heat characteristics, exhibiting a dual nature; it can affect a wide range of conditions. In the course of prostatitis, damp-heat plays a key role, running through the entire process of disease onset and progression; it is closely related to the main symptoms and also influences disease advancement. Dampness is a yin pathogen, heavy, turbid, and viscous; heat is a yang pathogen, inflammatory and burning. Because of the particular nature of damp-heat pathogenesis, in the development of prostatitis it tends to combine with other pathogenic factors, diffuse through the sanjiao (three burners), easily lead to blood stasis, consume qi and injure yin, and be difficult to disperse—characteristics that contribute to the lingering and refractory nature of the condition. Therefore, preventing the occurrence of prostatitis is especially important.

How to prevent prostatitis

"Control Your Mouth, Move Your Legs"

The onset of prostatitis is often closely related to personal bad habits, and prolonged sitting is one of the bad habits common among high-risk groups for prostatitis. In daily life, one should try to avoid long periods of sitting and it is recommended to get up and move around about every hour. At the same time, never hold urine—ensure urination as needed.

Anti-sedentary workplace exercises

Leg stretching exercise: Sit on a chair, extend both legs straight forward, lean the body forward, and reach with both hands to touch the toes as far as possible. Hold for 5 seconds, relax for 10 seconds as one set, perform 5–6 sets as one cycle, and do 3 cycles daily. This exercise helps stretch the lumbar and back muscle groups.

Squat up-and-down exercise: Stand with feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and toes slightly turned outward. Keep the body upright, slowly squat down to a half-squat position, hold for 5 seconds, then slowly stand and relax for 10 seconds as one set, perform 5–6 sets as one cycle, and do 3 cycles daily. This exercise effectively trains the muscles of the legs and hip joints.

Forward bending stretch: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, bend forward, chest close to the knees, wrap both hands around the legs, hold for 5 seconds, slowly rise and relax for 10 seconds as one set, 5–6 sets as one cycle, perform 3 cycles daily. This exercise can strengthen the lumbar and back muscles.

Dietary Conditioning

Poria and Coix Seed Cakes

[Ingredients] 30 g poria, 30 g coix seed, 30 g wheat flour, appropriate amount of white sugar.

[Method] Grind the poria and coix seed into powder, add an appropriate amount of white sugar and flour, mix with water until even, knead into several small cakes, place in a steamer and steam until cooked.

[Effects] Strengthens the spleen and dispels dampness; can be used as a staple food or as a post-meal snack.

Mutton and Radish Porridge

[Ingredients] 100 g mutton, 100 g japonica rice, appropriate amounts of radish, sliced ginger, and white parts of scallion.

[Method] Cook the above ingredients with water to make a porridge.

[Effect] Tonifies the kidney and warms yang; suitable for people with deficiency and susceptibility to illness, especially appropriate to consume during autumn and winter.

Goji Eight-Treasure Congee

[Ingredients] 30 g goji berries; appropriate amounts of rice, peanuts, walnut kernels, raisins, red dates, longan, and lotus seeds.

[Method] Mix all ingredients and cook into a congee to eat.

[Effects] Tonifies the kidney and strengthens the spleen, activates blood circulation and resolves stasis; suitable for daily consumption.