Prostatitis is a common, inflammatory condition of the male genital tract. Acute attacks require urgent treatment, often in hospital. The chronic form of the condition tends to be relapsing or recurrent. It requires medical/urological supervision and treatment to avoid prolonged illness or complications.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), prostatitis belongs to the categories of kidney deficiency. For acute prostatitis caused by dampness and heat in rushing downward, major symptoms are intermittent fevers and chills, frequent micturation, urinary urgency with inhibited voiding, burning sensation and stinging pains in the urethra, or visible bloody urine, falling-like distension or pains of the perineum, dry mouth, a bitter taste in the sticky mouth, constipation, distension and pains in the lower abdomen, red tongue, yellow and slimy tongue coating, soggy and rapid pulse.

If the condition is caused by intense heat and exuberant toxin, major symptoms are sudden onset, persistent high fever, vexation, unrest, thirst, liking drinks, reddening, swelling, heat and pains of the perineum, scanty urine, obstructed urination, or urine with visible pus and blood, burning sensation and pains in the urethra, constipation, red tongue, yellowish tongue coating, rapid and string-like pulse.

Incomplete treatment of acute prostatitis may result in chronic prostatitis. However, most patients have no obviously acute stage. The etiology is clinically complex. In clinical practice, the following factors may bring on the occurrence of chronic prostatitis, including dysfunction of the immune system, frequent sexual activities, frequent masturbation, indulgence in drinking much wine, influence caused by inflammation of the upper-respiratory tract, urethra, seminal vesicle, rectum, epididymis, perineum, and so forth.

For prostatitis caused by deficiency of the kidney-Yin, major symptoms are The diseases lasts quite a long term without recovering. The patient is enfeebled due to the chronic course, or he has once indulged in excessive sexual activities or masturbation. White or sticky excretion from the mouth of the urethra usually or at the end of the urination. Post-voiding dribble, aching pains of the loins, soft legs, feverish sensation in the soles and palms in the afternoon, dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia, profuse dreaming, seminal emission, premature ejaculation, hypofunction of the sexual ability, red tongue with few coating, thready and rapid pulse.

After diagnosed the exact cause of the condition, a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine may use herbal medicine and/or acupuncture as specially designed for a particular patient.