The powdered bark of Pygeum africanum (also referred to as Prunus africanum) has a long history of use among the natives of tropical Africa. More recently it has been used widely in Europe.
In traditional African medicine, a tea made from the powdered bark of a tall evergreen tree (Pygeum africanum) is sipped to control urinary disorders in men. Today, pygeum is a popular herbal supplement in several parts of the world for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate gland that can cause urination problems. This harmless condition affects most men over age 50, commonly causing urinary problems.