“Just after leaving the restroom, the urge to urinate comes back again. Even when going out, checking the location of the restroom becomes a habit before the actual destination, and long-distance bus trips or watching a movie feel so unsettling that they are virtually impossible. When finally standing in front of the toilet, it takes a long time before any urine comes out, and even after struggling to finish, there is no sense of relief, only a heavy, unpleasant feeling that remains.”

This is a distressing reality that the majority of Korean men in their 60s and 70s experience in everyday life. Urination disorders that appear with age are not merely inconveniences in a physiological process to be endured and dismissed as “just getting old.” They are serious conditions that can completely undermine male self-esteem, restrict outings and social activities, and in severe cases even lead to depression in later life.

The main cause of male urination disorders is clearly benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The prostate, which was the size of a walnut in youth, enlarges abnormally with age. As it grows, it exerts circumferential pressure on the urethra passing through the prostate, narrowing the urinary passage and triggering a cascade of problems. Symptoms include delayed urination, in which the urge to urinate is present but urine is difficult to pass or only dribbles out; a persistent feeling of incomplete emptying even after urination; and increased frequency of urination.

The greater problem lies in the aftermath when this condition is neglected. Leaving BPH-induced urination disorders untreated can increase bladder pressure and inflict severe adverse effects on kidney function. It also raises the risk of serious complications such as urinary tract infections, hematuria (blood in the urine), acute urinary retention requiring emergency treatment when the urinary passage becomes completely blocked, and bladder stones. Until recently, the domestic health functional food market for prostate care had been dominated by imported saw palmetto, which has been the subject of controversy over issues such as origin-related quality variations and questions regarding efficacy.

Against this backdrop, a new solution has recently emerged: a next-generation novel ingredient, the “Chamdanggui Hwanggi Extract Complex (SHPro),” developed through a joint effort by the Rural Development Administration, a national institution, and leading domestic researchers using medicinal herbs cultivated in Korea.

Developed through a national R&D project… patented new ingredient

The Chamdanggui Hwanggi Extract Complex is a health functional ingredient jointly developed by the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science under the Rural Development Administration and domestic research teams.

It combines chamdanggui (Korean angelica) and hwanggi (Astragalus), traditional medicinal herbs favored by Korean ancestors for restoring vitality and improving blood circulation, in an optimal ratio to maximize efficacy. In particular, this ingredient has been granted a patent as a “composition for prevention, treatment, or improvement of prostate diseases or alopecia containing hwanggi and chamdanggui as active ingredients,” further enhancing confidence in its effectiveness.

Unlike imported ingredients of unclear origin that have sparked debates over quality degradation and inconsistency in the distribution process, this new ingredient is produced exclusively from 100% domestically grown raw materials certified under the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) system.

In accordance with the government’s agricultural technology manuals, every stage from sowing and harvesting to drying and storage is strictly controlled within a national management system. This ensures not only safety from harmful substances but also uniform and precisely standardized levels of key marker compounds (such as decursin) that determine efficacy.

Chamdanggui Hwanggi Extract Complex shown to inhibit prostate enlargement

According to preclinical study results published in the internationally renowned journal Phytotherapy Research, the scientific mechanism by which the Chamdanggui Hwanggi Extract Complex suppresses prostate enlargement has been clearly identified. The research team confirmed the detailed mechanism for inhibiting BPH through three stages of cell-based experiments.

First is its effect in inhibiting the activity of 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme that facilitates the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the core cause of BPH and male pattern hair loss. DHT is a substance formed when testosterone is converted via binding with 5-alpha-reductase.

When DHT binds to prostate cells, it induces excessive tissue proliferation; when it reaches hair matrix cells, it disrupts protein synthesis and reduces blood circulation to hair follicles, thereby accelerating male pattern hair loss.

The Chamdanggui Hwanggi Extract Complex inhibits 5-alpha-reductase, which produces DHT, thereby lowering DHT levels themselves.

Second, it reduces the expression of androgen receptors (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), blocking abnormal tissue growth in the prostate.

Finally, it induces the spontaneous apoptosis of already enlarged prostate cells. In animal experiments conducted based on these mechanisms, the weight of enlarged prostates decreased by as much as 39% compared with the control group, providing scientific evidence that the Chamdanggui Hwanggi Extract Complex suppresses and improves prostate enlargement.

Severance clinical trial confirms improvement in urination discomfort and sexual function

Verification of actual efficacy through human application testing was led by a research team in the Department of Urology at Yonsei University Severance Hospital. The human trial results were published in 2025 in Investigative and Clinical Urology, the official journal of the Korean Urological Association and an SCIE-level international journal. In the trial, 84 men with BPH symptoms took 600 mg of the Chamdanggui Hwanggi Extract Complex daily for 12 weeks. Their total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) decreased by an average of 26%.

Particularly noteworthy is not only the improvement in urination discomfort but also the enhancement of sexual function. In the human trial, the group taking the Chamdanggui Hwanggi Extract Complex showed statistically significant improvements across all indices in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) evaluation, including erectile function, sexual desire, and overall intercourse satisfaction. This outcome addresses the needs of middle-aged and older men seeking to simultaneously alleviate urination discomfort and boost male vitality.

Managing prostate health with a reliable domestic novel ingredient

Based on these scientific research findings and human application test results, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has officially recognized the Chamdanggui Hwanggi Extract Complex as an individually approved functional ingredient that “may help maintain prostate health.” An official from the Rural Development Administration stated, “By scientifically substantiating the efficacy of domestically grown medicinal crops, this will serve as a turning point in reshaping a health functional food market that has depended on imported ingredients.”

In addition, it has passed rigorous safety assessments, including a “90-day repeated-dose toxicity test” conducted by government-designated testing institutions, confirming that long-term intake does not impose a burden on the human body.

As BPH management is not a one-time task but a long-term effort that must continue throughout life, the ingredient has effectively demonstrated that it is safe for daily consumption without concern for side effects. Experts said, “BPH requires consistent management, as neglecting it can lead to complications such as deterioration in bladder function,” adding, “For those who have had no choice but to rely on imported ingredients, domestically developed novel ingredients, whose efficacy has been verified through world-class research and which have been created under the leadership of national institutions, now offer an excellent alternative.”

For middle-aged and older men whose lives have long been constrained by urination problems and constant discomfort, the Chamdanggui Hwanggi Extract Complex, backed by the national management system, is expected to provide a new solution for restoring prostate health and male confidence.

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