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Rye Grass

Other Name(s):

Ballico, Cernilton, Cernitin, Extrait de Pollen d'Ivraie, Extrait de Pollen de Plante Herbacée, Grass Pollen, Grass Pollen Extract, Ivraie, Pollen d'Ivraie, Pollen de Plante Herbacée, Raygrás, Ray-Grass, Rye, Rye Grass Pollen, Rye Grass Pollen Extract, Secale cereale.

Overview

Rye grass is a plant. The rye grass pollen is used to make medicine. Rye grass pollen extract (Cernilton) is a registered pharmaceutical product in Western Europe, Japan, Korea, and Argentina.

Rye grass is used for prostate conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate pain, and ongoing inflammation of the prostate.

How does it work?

Rye grass decreases swelling (inflammation) by interfering with certain chemicals. It might also slow down prostate cancer cell growth.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for...

  • Symptoms of an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH) including increased urinary frequency, increased nighttime urination, constant feeling of needing to urinate, dribbling, painful urination, and decreased urine flow rate. While taking rye grass extract seems to improve symptoms of an enlarged prostate, there are mixed research findings about whether or not it actually affects the size of the prostate. It is not known if rye grass pollen extract works as well as prescription drugs such as finasteride (Proscar) or alpha-blockers. However, rye grass does seem to work about as well as Pygeum and Paraprost, a Japanese prostate remedy containing L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, and aminoacetic acid.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

  • Shrinking an enlarged prostate, prostate swelling, and pain. Developing evidence suggests that rye grass pollen extract might help these conditions.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of rye grass for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Side Effects

Rye grass seems safe for most people. It can cause side effects such as stomach swelling (distention), heartburn, and nausea.

Special Precautions & Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of rye grass during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

  • For benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): 126 mg of a specific rye grass pollen extract, three times daily.