The saw palmetto plant has berries that have historically been used for urinary problems, to boost libido and increase sperm production, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. It is now used to help treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition in which the prostate is enlarged. The berries are typically not eaten in berry form; saw palmetto can be made into a liquid extract, powdered capsule or liposterolic extracts. Before using saw palmetto, ask your doctor if this product is safe for you to take.
Step 1
Eat 1 g to 2 g of dried saw palmetto berries daily. Drugs.com states that though this form of saw palmetto may be used, standardized preparations are more common. With standardized preparations, you also get an accurate measure of how much saw palmetto is in the product.
Step 2
Take a fat-soluble liposterolic saw palmetto extract containing 85 to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. The exact dosage of saw palmetto can vary, but typical dosing can range from 100 mg to 400 mg, twice a day, according to Drugs.com.
Step 3
Consume 5 mL to 5 mL of saw palmetto liquid extract daily. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this dosage has not been used in clinical studies, so it is not known if this dosage is effective.
Tips and Warnings
- Only buy saw palmetto products that are from reputable companies, and the label should read that they are made with 85 to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols, says the University of Maryland.
- Before consuming saw palmetto berries, talk with your doctor to see if it is safe for you to take them, as they can interfere with certain medications. If you have benign prostatic hyperplasia, do not attempt to treat it yourself without being under a professional's care. Consult with the doctor to see if this remedy would be appropriate for your situation. Pregnant and nursing women should not take saw palmetto.
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