@rfherald I knew it was a matter of time before someone would ask. After searching out the few studies that were done and after Googling “What botanicals mimic Finasteride” I have come up with the following. All from high quality US manufacturers with independent ratings. 500 mg Saw Palmetto, Stinging Nettle Root (not the leaf) and Pygeum Bark Extract if you can get it, if not the Pygeum Extract will do.

The Pygeum is what came up as mimicking Finasteride, only it does not shrink the prostate.

I must tell you, between my BPH symptoms and most recently Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome I became a new man after about 2 weeks. CPPS is totally gone. BPH symptoms much reduced where I am now close to normal except for the occasional urgency. I am a former athlete/firefighter and avid cyclist doing 100 miles a week so my prostate does get a bit of a hammering but split seat helps. I don’t sit a lot which I think is helpful, I use a standing desk for my part time job.

I am doing my best to avoid any lasering , steaming, slicing, clipping, or tearing procedures which sound too medieval to me, that’s why I think if I need to do something I may do the PAE.

As a side note, I did the same with my damaged rotator cuffs and avoided operations. I’m a believer in botanicals and therapy, almost 70 and not giving up.

Also, when I asked my Uro about the botanicals he said he knows nothing about them. But he knows all about all the other medieval procedures.

Good luck, let me know how you do.

Bill