|
 Saw
palmetto is a small palm tree that grows in coastal areas of the
American southeast, parts of Africa, and southern Europe. It has
white flowers that bloom in the spring and summer and produces
clusters of olive-sized fruits that turn dark blue when ripe. Once
dried, the fruits are used medicinally.
In many western
countries, saw palmetto is used to relieve the symptoms of benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) -- a non-cancerous enlargement of the
prostate gland. While unpleasant, BPH is a common ailment affecting
the prostate of many aging men. BPH may exhibit a number of symptoms
including trouble starting or maintaining urination, the need to
urinate more often, urine leaks, or the need to urinate during the
night.
Saw palmetto contains a number of compounds including
plant sterols and fatty acids. Many studies have been carried out to
test the effectiveness of saw palmetto for relieving BPH. Results
have been positive; however, most studies were not well-controlled
and all did not contain a statistically significant number of
participants. Consequently, saw palmetto supplementation may provide
different results for different individuals. It also important to
know that while saw palmetto may to help relieve the symptoms of
BPH, it did not reduce the actual size of the prostate.
Some
herbalists also purport that saw palmetto may also exhibit
anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, and sedative properties.
Other reports, while unconfirmed, indicate that saw palmetto may
also be somewhat effective in stimulating hair growth.
Due to
the hormone activity of saw palmetto, women have used saw palmetto
to increase breast size. However, there is no clinical evidence to
support its effectiveness for this use.
Dosage and
Administration
Saw palmetto supplements are
available as capsules, tablets, and can also be purchased in liquid
form. Oral saw palmetto products should be standardized to contain
80% or more of the active ingredients, which are fatty acids.
Standardization by the manufacturer assures the same amount of
active ingredient is in every batch of the commercial
preparation.
Many times it can require up to a month and a
half of saw palmetto dosages before any noticeable effect occurs.
Usual doses of a standardized saw palmetto product range from 320mg
to 1800mg daily.
Products that combine saw palmetto with
other herbs is quite common. However, the FDA has warned against the
use of some combination products because they can cause internal
bleeding. You should consult with a doctor before using any saw
palmetto product.
|
