A member of the palm family, saw palmetto is found in coastal regions, like Texas and Florida. The fruit and seeds of the saw palmetto plant have been used for years to regulate hormonal imbalances, and support and tone the glandular tissues of both men and women. Saw palmetto also strengthens the thyroid, which controls overall gland function.

An herb used to tone and strengthen male and female reproductive systems, saw palmetto relieves testicular inflammation, inhibits the hormone responsible for prostate enlargement, and reduces breast tenderness related to breast feeding and menstruation.

Saw palmetto’s antiseptic and astringent properties help to ease inflamed and irritated tissues of the urinary tract. Expelling toxins and irritants by stimulating urine flow, saw palmetto may help reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.

As an expectorant, saw palmetto alleviates coughs and congestion brought on by asthma, bronchitis and colds. Saw palmetto may also be used to balance the metabolism, aid digestion and stimulate the appetite to increase weight gain.

Saw Palmetto Gives Prostate Relief

50 to 60% of men will experience benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the swelling of the prostate gland. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra–imagine a rubber washer (prostate) with a straw (urethra) strung through it, and you have the basic setup. As the prostate gland swells and pinches closed the urethra, problems begin to emerge: painful urination, decreased flow, difficulty stopping or starting flow, nocturnal urination, etc.–these are clearly unpleasant and undesirable symptoms.

Hormonal changes that take place as men age are responsible for BPH and an understanding of these changes and how they effect the prostate gland will help to explain why Saw Palmetto is so effective at relieving BPH. As men age levels of testosterone decrease, but levels of some other hormones actually increase. The hormones that increase are FSH, LH, estrogen, and prolactin. One other culprit, an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone(DHT) is increased as well. Though levels of testosterone drop, the testosterone that is present begins to concentrate in the prostate gland–inefficient removal of the testosterone combined with increasing levels of 5-alpha-reductaseresults in inordinately high levels of DHT, a much more potent hormone than its precursor. This in turn causes the prostate gland to swell. Estrogen seems to inhibit the removal of DHT, complicating the situation further and prolactin is known to be an aggravating factor as well.

Saw Palmetto inhibits DHT binding to cellular receptors, inhibits the action of 5-alpha-reductase, and helps block the action of estrogen. The net of these actions is a track record in reducing the severity of BPH in mild to moderate cases that is better than finasteride (Proscar), the most commonly prescribed medication for BPH in the US, and a specific 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (it is interesting to note that while Saw Palmetto is not nearly as strong a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor as Proscar, its generality of action makes it more effective than Proscarin mild to moderate BPH - this seems to be typical of herbal medicines). In Germany and Austria, Saw Palmetto is a first-line treatment for BPH, where it is far out-prescribed over Proscar. Saw Palmetto is MUCH cheaper than Proscarand has no side effects. 1-2 weeks of Saw Palmetto supplementation should reveal whether or not it will be effective for you (some people notice results within hours); if it works, plan on taking it regularly.

Do Not Self-Diagnose BPH

BPH is a potentially life-threatening situation, if left untreated it leads to kidney problems, and can kill! Symptoms of BPH are difficult to distinguish from those of prostate cancer, and a simple test called a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test can make all the difference in the world in terms of treatment regimens. Talk to your doctor about BPH treatment. You may be surprised at how open doctors are to “alternative” treatment of BPH with Saw Palmetto. If your doctor is reluctant, give him/her the list of references at the bottom of this page.

Side Effects of Saw Palmetto

Rare gastrointestinal disturbances, otherwise none.

How Much Saw Palmetto To Take

Most of the studies done on Saw Palmetto have been on supplements right around 160mg of Saw Palmetto standardized at 85-95% fatty acids and sterols, taken twice daily.

Other Considerations with Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto is the best first line of attack in relieving BPH, but it is not the only one, nor are the hormonal changes described above the only aggravating factors. Other things that have been shown helpful include zinc, Flaxseed Oil, amino acid, Stinging Nettle, Pygeum, and Cerniltonsupplementation, high protein diet, and increased consumption of soy products. Other aggravating factors are beer (sorry, its the hops), cadmium (from cigarette smoke), peroxidized cholesterol (take your antioxidants!), and pesticides (common on non-organically grown fruits and vegetables).

Sources:

1. Boccafoschi & Annoscia “Comparison of Serenoa repens Extract with Placebo by Controlled ClinicalTrial in Patients with Prostatic Adenomatosis”, Urologia 50 (1983): 1257-68.
2. Braeckman, “The Extract of Serenoa repens in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Multicenter Open Study”, Curr Ther Res 55 (1994): 776-85.
3. Champlault, Patel & Bonnard, “A Double-Blind Trial of an Extract of the Plant Serenoa repens in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia”, Br J Clin Pharmacol 18 (1984): 461-2.
4. Cirillo-Marucco, Pagliarulo & Tritto, et. al., “Extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) in the Early Treatment of Prostatic Hypertrophy”, Urologia 5 (1983): 1269-77.
5. Emili, Lo Cigno & Petrone, “Clinical Trial of a New Drug for Treating Hypertrohy of the Prostate (Permixon)”, Urologia 50 (1983): 1042-8.
6. Tasca, Barulli, & Cavazzana, et. el., “Treatment of Obstructive Symptomatology Caused by Prostatic Adenoma with an Extract of Serenoa repens: Double-Blind Clinical Study vs. Placebo”, Minerva Urol Nefrol 37 (1985): 87-91.
7. Tripodi, Giancaspro & Pascarella, et. al., “Treatment of Prostatic Hypertrophy with Serenoa repens Extract”, Med Praxis 4 (1983): 41-6.

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