Saw Palmetto Uses

Saw palmetto, also known as an American dwarf palm tree, is native to the southeastern United States, where its berries were a staple food item for Native Americans in the early 1900s. The berries are also used as an herb for a variety of medicinal purposes. As with any herb, you should talk to your healthcare practitioner before supplementing with saw palmetto.

Nutritional Benefits

The exact mechanism of how saw palmetto works is unknown, but the berries are a rich source of fatty acids, such as caprylic, oleic, lauric and stearic acid. They also contain flavanoids, carotene and tannins, which are antioxidant-rich nutrients that help to reduce damage to your body induced by free radicals. In addition, the berries contain polysaccharides, which help to reduce inflammation and stimulate your immune system.

Purported Benefits

Saw palmetto acts as a diuretic, urinary antiseptic and appetite stimulant. It is also thought to boost the libido, and it has been used to increase sperm production and enhance sexual function. According to the Nutritional Supplements Health Guide website, herbalists often use saw palmetto to treat persistent coughs, digestive problems and menstrual complications. They also use it to sooth an irritated uterus and to reduce excessive facial hair growth in women with polycystic ovaries.

Prostate Conditions

According to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, saw palmetto is used to treat a variety of prostate conditions. The herb inhibits the production of dihydrotestosterone, which is a type of testosterone that has been found to contribute to an enlarged prostate. As such, it is used clinically in Europe alone and sometimes combined with nettle root herb to treat benign prostate hyperplasia, which is a condition characterized by an enlarged prostate. In addition, a combination of saw palmetto and the herbs curcumin, quercetin and urtica dioca may be an effective natural treatment for bacterial prostate infections. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that while more research needs to be done, saw palmetto may also inhibit the growth of tumor cells and may therefore help to prevent and treat prostate cancer. Memorial Sloan-Kettering warns, however, that research on saw palmetto for the treatment of prostate conditions is still preliminary, and studies have shown conflicting results.

Precautions

Side effects of saw palmetto are rare but may include mild headaches, gastrointestinal upset, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. A case of severe hemorrhaging has been reported from the use of saw palmetto, and you should not combine the herb with anticoagulant drugs because it may cause an increased risk for prolonged bleeding. Saw palmetto may also affect hormone levels and decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. It is not recommended for pregnant and nursing women, or women at risk for hormone-related cancers. Saw palmetto may also interact negatively with certain medications, such as benign prostate hyperplasia drugs. Saw palmetto can be purchased as dried berries, powdered capsules, tablets, liquid tinctures or as an liposterolic extract. For the best results, choose a supplement that is standardized to contain 85 to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols.