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My 55-year old husband has been diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).  He makes many trips to the toilet during the night but often feels that he has not completely emptied his bladder.  His urinary stream is weak, and sometimes it just dribbles.  Is there a herb he can take?

mandy, gmpie, qld

The symptoms you’re describing are very common in BPH, and occur because enlargement of the prostate gland (which encircles the male urethra) interferes with normal urination, often reducing or interrupting the urinary stream, increasing urinary frequency (especially at night), and causing that uncomfortable feeling that the bladder has not been fully emptied. Pygeum is an effective herb to help relieve the symptoms of BPH, and works by inhibiting an enzyme that contributes to the prostatic enlargement. It has been the subject of many clinical trials that confirm its efficacy in the treatment of BPH.

I’m in my early 70s and my knee is very painful and stiff with arthritis.  A friend suggested I try boswellia. I hadn’t heard of it before - do you think it would help me?

gladys, marsfield, nsw

Boswellia serrata is one of several trees used to produce frankincense, which is most famous as one of the gifts presented to the baby Jesus by the three wise men, and also has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.  It helps reduce the inflammation, swelling and pain of arthritic joints, and increases the range of movement of the affected joint.  The most effective products are those that are standardised to contain 100 mg boswellic acids. They should be taken with three times a day with meals, and most people experience improvement within 7-30 days.