I bought some tarragon and began to drink one or two cups a day of an infusion of 1 heaping teaspoon of tarragon in an 11-oz. cup of hot water steeped for 10 or 15 minutes. I haven't had another blood analysis to see what my bilirubin level is, but I have noticed another effect.

Before beginning the tarragon I was having to get up 3 or four times a night to urinate (I'm 62 years old). I have been taking saw palmetto for this for years, but I find it helps little. Upon beginning to drink the tarragon tea, I found that I did not need to get up as often at night. And most recently, I need to arise only once during the entire night. I am elated with this since it helps me get a better night's sleep so I awake more rested in the morning.

I find no other reference to this effect of tarragon either in books or on the Web. So I am wondering if it is an effect that may be repeatable in others. When I began drinking the tarragon tea, it replaced green tea I used to drink at a rate of about two cups a day. It might be possible that extra caffein from the tea was affecting my prostate. I would be interested to know if others who drink tarragon tea experience a similar alleviation of BPH symptoms.

My Rodale's Encyclopedia of Herbs doesn't explain your result, but it mentions tarragon as having some desensitising and antifungal properties, as well as antioxidants. A green tea regimen ought to have had plenty of the latter, though. Aren't there different types of antioxidants; could that have something to do with it? Sorry, I'm reaching a bit, but your post was interesting.

Because I reduced my caffeine when I began the tarragon tea, I did think, as Eric, that my not having to get up as often at night might be from that reduction. But I also remember that it was on the first or second night I took the tarragon tea that I first noticed the reduction in the urge to get up to urinate. I hope someone who has a similar problem tries tarragon tea, I am really interested to know if this is repeatable.

One thing I wondered about - were you looking for herbs for Gilbert's syndrome in the first place because of obvious jaundice? (Gilbert's is a benign condition that can cause mild jaundice because of elevated bilirubin levels, but doesn't require treatment. Most people who have it find out accidentally when a blood test shows high bilirubin).

My bilirubin levels are not very much elevated --just 1.3 mg/dL with the maximum recommended being 1.2 mg/dL. The alkaline phosphatase is also low at 72 IU/L whereas my test results sheet indicates it should be at least 150. The first time I had a blood test that checked for bilirubin with my present doctor, I was just coming off a 36-hour fast; they called me and seemed concerned. My bilirubin level was really high. But when I told them how long I'd been fasting before they drew my blood, they weren't as concerned and just said I should come in again to have blood drawn after an eight-hour fast. Apparently, fasting intensifies the effect of this syndrome.

"A disorder characterized by decreased force of urination and dysuria, usually resulting from enlargement of the prostate gland."

You're right - in that relief of symptoms doesn't necessarily result from a shrinkage of prostate tissue. There's a number of reasons including inflammation/infection of the prostate that could account for urinary problems, and symptom relief doesn't guarantee a benign cause for the underlying condition.

Example: I just diagnosed carcinoma of the prostate in tissue removed for obstructive symptoms (transurethral resection of the prostate, or TURP). There's no indication a malignancy was suspected before the operation based on PSA or other evaluation.

One of the symptoms I had before beginning the tarragon tea was a decreased, and sometimes interrupted, stream of urine. Since I began the tea the stream has noticeably strengthened with interruption only toward the end of my unrination --practically as it had been before the onset of my symptoms about 7 or 8 years ago.

I'm not an MD, but it seems logical to me that if the tarragon tea were causing me to retain, rather than pass, water, I would have gained weight, which I have not.

About whether my "kidneys like the new 'med'," good luck at getting money for a large-scale study of any herbal medicine. But if you're talking about simply following my progress, I get blood work done about once a year, and I plan to keep using tarragon, so my own kidneys' verdict should be in about February of next year.

Thanks Eric, for being concerned that the symptoms which have been mainly alleviated by the tarragon tea might possibly be due to other causes. On the basis of the long duration of the symptoms without any indication of anything more serious than prostatism I've decided not to seek radical treatments. I usually take my doctor's advice on health matters, but if I disagreed with him I would not hesitate to get a second opinion.

I didn't see anything mentioned regarding tarragon tea and the prostate, so quite possibly there have not been enough anecdotal reports to stimulate interest in a clinical trial.

We are living longer, aren't we, with the concomitant health problems that flesh is heir to. I try to remain hopeful, though, and also try to base my hope on things that transcend this life. Traditional wisdom says we shouldn't put all our eggs into one basket.

tnx
R0ss

I hadn't seen your post until I just now visited the page again. The tarragon I used is the generic kind you can buy in the supermarket (what I bought was of the trademark Badia). I think it is the French variety, although I couldn't guarantee that. I continue to take the tea from time to time whenever I begin to be bothered by nocturia.