Abstract: Herbal medicine is an ancient or millennium practice. The World Health Organization has recognized its practice for several decades.
The present study is motivated by the decrease of patients with voiding disorders in the consultation of the hospitals of Goma, apart those with acute urinary retention. Yet, it was noted their presence in number in the traditional practitioner.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, an essential cause of voiding disorders in elderly men, has been the beneficiary of herbal medicine around the world with satisfactory results.
The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of herbal medicine with Plantago major and Solanum aculeastrum, plants used in traditional medicine in Goma, compared to conventional treatment. The sample was made of males aged 60 and over. Two randomly distributed groups of 68 patients each benefited from either herbal medicine or α-blocker treatment (Alfuzosin tablet 10 mg / day) for a period of 27 months.
The results were evaluated according to, in addition to the International prostatic symptoms score, Quality of life, the clinic (digital rectal examination), the Prostatic specific antigen and ultrasound.
After analysis, the results were better after herbal medicine compared to those obtained by the α-blocker molecule.
It is thus possible to suggest to modern practitioners the use of this herbal medicine. Further study on its safety and, where possible, its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics is recommended.
