Saw palmetto is a palm-like plant whose fruit is used to make herbal medicine that is most commonly used to treat prostate conditions. Researchers aren't sure how it works but saw palmetto may effect hormone levels and have anti-inflammatory properties, according to MayoClinic.com. Saw palmetto may cause side effects including impotence and other sexual side effects. Talk to your doctor before taking saw palmetto.
Enlarged Prostate
There is conflicting evidence about whether saw palmetto is an effective method to relieve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include urinary difficulties and frequent nighttime urination. Some studies have found that it does reduce urinary symptoms but others have found no benefit at all, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you suspect an enlarged prostate is causing you symptoms, do not try to treat it on your own without consulting a doctor. Your doctor should examine you to rule out prostate cancer.
Other Prostate Conditions
Saw palmetto is sometimes used to treat other prostate conditions such as infections or chronic pelvic pain syndrome. However, research to date has not found that saw palmetto is effective for either of these conditions, according to MedlinePlus. Saw palmetto is also sometimes used to prevent prostate cancer, but there is no evidence to suggest that this works. There is also a concern that because it may have hormonal effects, saw palmetto might lower prostate specific antigen or PSA, which is tested to screen for prostate cancer. This could theoretically cause delays in diagnosing prostate cancer or in picking up a returning cancer, according to MayoClinic.com.
Baldness
Some men have reported that saw palmetto reduced their male pattern hair loss, possibly because the herb may block the effects of testosterone in the body, which is what some prescription baldness drugs do. However, there is no research on this issue to provide evidence whether it works or not, according to MayoClinic.com.
Other Uses
Saw palmetto might help patients recover from prostate surgery by reducing bleeding and the need for a catheter, but there is not enough evidence to know whether this is effective or not, according to MayoClinic.com. Saw palmetto is also sometimes used to treat a variety of conditions for which there is too little evidence to know whether there's any real benefit to the herb or not, according to MedlinePlus. These conditions include bladder problems, cough, colds, asthma and bronchitis, sore throat, migraines and increased breast size.
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