title: Complementary and alternative medicine for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
abstract: To discuss challenges concerning treatment for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and review complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies being evaluated for this condition, we performed a comprehensive search of articles published from 1990-2005 using the PubMed, Medline databases. Data from the articles were abstracted and pooled by subject. Keywords cross-searched with CP/CPPS included: complementary, alternative, integrative, therapies, interventions, nutrition, antioxidants, herbs, supplements, biofeedback and acupuncture. Listed articles with no abstracts were not included. Various CAM therapies for CP/CPPS exist including biofeedback, acupuncture, hyperthermia and electrostimulation. Additionally, a variety of in vitro and in vivo studies testing herbal and nutritional supplements were found. Saw palmetto, cernilton and quercetin were the most frequently tested supplements for CP/CPPS. Although many CAM therapies demonstrate positive preliminary observations as prospective treatments for CP/CPPS, further exploratory studies including more randomized, controlled trials are necessary for significant validation as treatment options for this complex disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. jc2346@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Jillian L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Capodice
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bemis
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buttyan
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Aaron E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Katz