Saw Palmetto for Men and Women

by Rosa Parks
Herbs-Wholesale.com

What is Saw Palmetto?

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 nutritional 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 Are 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.