Background: In order to assess the efficacy of phytotherapeutic agents for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a review of recently published double-blind placebo-controlled trials was undertaken.
Methods: Only those studies reviewed by the Other Medical Therapies Committee of the Fourth International Consultation on BPH were included.
Results: These studies suggest a possible benefit for the use of phytotherapeutic preparations in the treatment of BPH.
Conclusions: These studies need to be confirmed in larger long-term placebo-controlled studies in order to ascertain the true efficacy of these agents.