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Saw Palmetto
The herb saw palmetto, pronounced - saw pawl-MEH-toh, is a small palm tree native to the southeastern United States. Its fruit was used medicinally by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Common Names - saw palmetto, American dwarf palm tree, cabbage palm
Latin Names - Serenoa repens, Sabal serrulata
Some Uses of Saw Palmetto Include:
- Mainly for urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate gland (also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH).
- Chronic (lasting a long time) pelvic pain.
- Bladder disorders.
- Decreased sex drive.
- Hair loss - male pattern hair loss - it has been suggested that saw palmetto may block some effects of testosterone and therefore reduce male pattern hair loss, similar to the medication Finasteride - Propecia ®. More studies are necessary before saw palmetto can be recommended for this use. Reference: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-sawpalmetto.html
- Hormone imbalances.
How Saw Palmetto Is Used
The ripe fruit of saw palmetto is used in several forms, including ground and dried fruit or whole berries. It is available as a liquid extract, tablets, capsules, and as an infusion or a tea.
What Science Says
- Several small studies suggest that saw palmetto may be effective for treating BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) symptoms.
- In 2006, a large study of 225 men with moderate-to-severe BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) found no improvement with 320 mg saw palmetto daily for 1 year versus placebo. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) cofunded the study with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
- There is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of saw palmetto for reducing the size of an enlarged prostate or for any other conditions.
- Saw palmetto does not appear to affect readings of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is protein produced by cells in the prostate. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is used to screen for prostate cancer and to monitor patients who have had prostate cancer.
Side Effects and Cautions of Saw Palmetto
- Saw palmetto may cause mild side effects, including stomach discomfort.
- Some men using saw palmetto have reported side effects such as tender breasts and a decline in sexual desire.
- Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
General Safety Advisory:
Like drugs, herbal or botanical preparations have chemical and biological activity. They may have side effects. They may interact with certain medications. These interactions can cause problems and can even be dangerous. Before taking an herb or a botanical preparation, consult a doctor or other health care provider, especially if you have a disease or medical condition, take any medications, are pregnant or nursing, or are planning to have an operation. Statements made about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dietary supplements do not require FDA approval to be sold in the United States.
References:
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) - National Institutes of Health (NIH) - May 2006 - nccam.nih.gov/health
This summary is a general overview about the topic discussed and does not include all the facts, or include everything there is to know about any medicine and/or products mentioned. Do not use any medicine and/or products without first talking to your doctor. Possible side effects of medications, other than those listed, may occur. Full Disclaimer & General Safety Advisory