Saw Palmetto is an herb native to the Americas, also known as the American dwarf palm tree and cabbage palm, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The herb plant has a long history of usage in the U.S., dating back to the Seminole tribes of Florida, and has been used for health in a variety of ways ever since. The herb is available today in a number of forms, including tablets, tea, as a brewed infusion, capsules or liquid extract.
Bladder Health
Saw palmetto is known for its use as a bladder herb, helping reduce symptoms of urinary infections, disorders of the bladder and urinary tract problems that cause pelvic pain, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Saw palmetto may also be taken for an under-active bladder, according to the Mayo Clinic, but they state that there is little proven data to promote it as an effective bladder treatment program.
Hair Care
Saw palmetto is believed to reduce and slow hair loss or alopecia in woman, especially those who have higher than normal testosterone levels. Women experiencing hair loss are believed to have higher levels of dihydrotestosterone in their blood, according to Medical News Today. Various components in saw palmetto are believed to reduce or inhibit production of an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase, vital for the production and activity of testosterone. Effectiveness in treatment of hair loss may depend on the preparation that is purchased, according to The Hormone Help Center.
Skin Care
Saw palmetto has been used by women to help treat acne flare-ups, believing that the herb helps reduce levels of DHT in the blood. Erratic and high levels of hormones in the body are believed to contribute to acne, and saw palmetto reduces some of that hormone production. However, this believe has not been scientifically proven.
Breast Enlargement
Saw palmetto is also used by many women believing it can naturally enlarge breasts, states Body Building for You. It's marketed in the U.S. and Europe as a muscle building supplement called an anabolic. Women may use the herb to encourage breast enlargement , because its use among men may cause breast enlargement, according to Medline Plus of the National Institutes of Health. However, such use by women has not been scientifically validated and women should be aware of various side effects of use before taking. Discuss use of saw palmetto with your doctor before taking for breast enlargement goals.
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