Saw palmetto, also known as the American dwarf palm, is a shrub or tree that grows in the southeast coastal region of the U.S. Herbal preparations made from this plant are sometimes used as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, a condition characterized by a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Talk with your physician about using saw palmetto before attempting to self-treat.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmettos have white flowers that bear yellow berries. When ripe, these berries are dried and used in preparations that include tablets, capsules, liposterolic extracts and tinctures. You may also receive dried berries in an unaltered form. Active ingredients in saw palmetto berries include flavonoids, fatty acids, plant sterols and polysaccharides.
Uses
Doctors do not know precisely how saw palmetto achieves its potentially therapeutic effects, although they do have working theories, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. According to one theory, saw palmetto alters testosterone levels in the body. According to a second theory, it reduces the production of an enzyme known to trigger growth in the cells of the prostate gland. Potential real-world effects of saw palmetto in the treatment of BPH include reduction of symptoms such as nighttime urination, overly frequent urination and difficulty starting or sustaining an adequate urine stream. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM, lists additional uses for saw palmetto that include treatment of chronic pelvic pain, hormone imbalance, hair loss, decreased sexual drive and bladder disorders.
Effectiveness
Evidence for the effectiveness of saw palmetto in the treatment of BPH is mixed. While some smaller studies indicate potential treatment benefits, a larger year-long study conducted in 2006 by the NCCAM and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases showed no treatment benefit from saw palmetto when compared to placebo medications. In addition, saw palmetto does not appear to affect the body's levels of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, a protein produced in the prostate that is associated with the development of prostate cancer.
Side Effects
When used as directed, saw palmetto rarely causes side effects. However, in some cases, you may develop reactions to saw palmetto use that include mild headaches or mild stomach upset. Additional potential effects include unusual breast tenderness in men and decreases in sexual interest. In women, saw palmetto may mimic the effects of certain hormones, and you should not use a saw palmetto product if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have hormone-influenced cancer or have identifiable risks for developing this form of cancer.
Considerations
You should not use saw palmetto in combination with finasteride or any other medication designed to treat BPH. If you take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications such as warfarin or aspirin, use of saw palmetto can decrease their effectiveness. Additionally, use of saw palmetto may diminish the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. You should not use saw palmetto for BPH without your doctor's explicit knowledge and advice.
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