Taking herbal supplements is an effective way to get key nutrients on a daily basis, as well as of maintaining the healthy function of one’s organs. Recent research has found that a drug related to a centuries-old folk treatment can reduce the risk of arrhythmia, congestive heart failure and prostate cancer.

Digoxin, which is extracted from the foxglove plant, appears to lower the risk of the prostate disease among men who take it as preventive medicine, according to a study in the journal Cancer Discovery.

The report’s authors came to this conclusion after monitoring the prostate health of 47,000 men. All told, more than 5,000 participants were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Those who took digoxin had a 24 percent lower relative risk of the disease.

Researchers are still trying to determine the mechanism by which the compound inhibits prostate tumor formation.

Similar substances, like saw palmetto extract, have been found to protect prostate health and reduce inflammation.

Men who have prostate problems or who anticipate having them because of their family history may benefit from taking a daily herbal supplement.