Saw
Palmetto for Men and Women
by Rosa Parks
What is Saw Palmetto
"Saw Palmetoo boosts the immune and endocrine systems and combats male
and female infertility"
Saw palmetto is a fan palm that grows in warm climates. The plant
produces berries that when ripe, dried partially and used medicinally.
Saw Palmetto is widely used in Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom and
now the U.S. for nutritionally benefit.
Saw palmetto berries mainly be composed of carbohydrates, fixed oils
(free fatty acids and their glycerides), steroids, flavonoids, resin,
pigment, tannin, and volatile oil. Saw palmetto berries to treat
stomachache and dysentery, and used the fruit for diuretic and sexual
tonic. It has been marketed as an aphrodisiac for both men and women.
| What Is The History of Saw
Palmetto? Saw Palmetto has been eaten by humans for hundred of years. The aborigines of the Florida peninsula have inhabited the area for 12,000 years. Their diet consisted of seeds, fruits, sweet potatoes, meat, shellfish and frog legs. Although the taste of Saw Palmetto fruit is reported to be repugnant, a book by Susan Hales (1898) describes the Saw Palmetto fruit as a staple food item for the Seminole Indians. However, the use of saw palmetto as a medicinal herb continued in Europe. Currently the use of herbal alternatives for the treatment of BPH is very common there. This is most prevalent in Germany, where as many as 95% of patients are first treated with an herbal remedy. This has provided a more favorable ration between therapeutic benefits and adverse reactions. In 1908 Saw Palmetto was included in the United States Pharmacopoeia where it remained until 1946. Natural medicine was losing popularity in the US at the time. In the United States saw palmetto extract has seen a recent resurgence for the treatment of many "male-oriented" disorders such as impotence, hair loss, poor libido and enlargement of the prostate. |
What Is Saw Palmetto Good For?
During the last century, according to folk medicine, women have used the
herb to stimulate breast enlargement, lactation as well as support of
ovarian uterine health. Native Americans used it for reduced or absent
sex drive, impotence and frigidity. Because of its potential hormonal
effects, pregnant women should not use it. It may be useful in treating
other hormone-related disorders, such as male baldness, acne, under- or
over-developed breasts, hormone imbalances, low libido, PMS, low sperm
count, and reproductive issues, etc.
How Does Saw Palmetto Work?
The prostate is a small gland located near the urethra, the tube that
carries urine from the bladder out of the body. When this gland becomes
enlarged, it presses on that tube, making urination difficult. Symptoms
of BPH include frequent urination; weak flow of urine and difficultly in
completely emptying the bladder. Although not life threatening, BPH is
uncomfortable and should be treated right away. Various clinical studies
have reported the positive benefits of using standardized saw palmetto
extracts in the prevention of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), and saw
palmetto has compared favorably with finasteride in several studies.
Also, saw palmetto is reported to exert an anti estrogenic effect, as
well as an anti androgenic effect. Some investigators believe that its
anti estrogenic effect may be more important than any of its other
actions. Saw palmetto inhibits 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme that
catalyzes the conversion of testosterone into DHT, having alpha-1 and
alpha-2 adrenergic blocking capabilities. . In a broad look at studies
into Alopecia (hair loss), one scientific study suggests that saw
palmetto extract reduces hair loss caused by hormonal changes and aging.
A few other studies have shown that saw palmetto, as a botanical, can be
taken as an anti-DHT agent.
What Is The Side Effects And Precautions Of Saw Palmetto?
Side effects are rare, but may include headache, nausea,
light-headedness and abdominal pain and a very small number of men
taking the herb developed breast enlargement. It is always important
that your doctor monitors your health when you self-prescribe herbal
treatments and you should check with your pharmacist to see if the herbs
you are taking may have any interaction with any prescription
medications or pre-existing medical conditions that you may have. Once
again, if you are experiencing the symptoms of BPH, and especially if
there is blood in your urine, you should see your doctor right away to
be tested for the possibility of prostate cancer.
If a prostate problem is suspected, consult a medical professional. Do
not self-dose saw palmetto to treat the prostate. Women who are pregnant
or nursing should not use saw palmetto. Saw palmetto may affect hormone
levels and should not be taken with contraceptive pills, patches, or
hormone replacement therapy. As with any vitamin, herb, or supplement -
always consult a medical professional prior to incorporating these
substances into your diet.
Related Articles --
Saw Palmetto Overview
Trace Minerals and a Healthy Prostate
Author -- Rosa Parks -- Herbs-Wholesale.com
