Saw palmetto is a low-growing palm, native to the Americas, whose berries were used as a medicinal herb by Native Americans. Today, saw palmetto berries are more commonly used to treat the urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. The effectiveness of saw palmetto is unproven, and it may cause side effects. Talk to your doctor before taking this herb.
Prostate Conditions
There is conflicting evidence about the benefits of saw palmetto berries for reducing symptoms of an enlarged prostate, such as frequent urination at night. Some research has found that it may cause a small reduction in symptoms, but other research has found no benefit at all. Saw palmetto is also sometimes used to treat other prostate conditions such as infections, chronic pelvic pain syndrome or prostate cancer. However, there is no solid scientific evidence that saw palmetto works for these conditions.
Traditional Uses
Native Americans used saw palmetto to stimulate appetite and help break up coughs. They also used it as an antiseptic. Saw palmetto is also sometimes promoted as a baldness remedy and a treatment for asthma, bronchitis and other related conditions. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to determine if saw palmetto berries really work for these ailments.
Side Effects
Potential side effects include dizziness, stomach pain, bad breath, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. There may also be a small risk of an allergic reaction, which could include throat swelling and breathing problems. Some men have reported impotence, pain in the testicles, breast enlargement or tenderness, and changes in libido after taking saw palmetto. Other reported side effects include liver damage, pancreas damage, insomnia, ulcers, depression, breathing problems, muscle and chest pain, heart rhythm irregularities and high blood pressure. However, there is not enough evidence to know if saw palmetto caused these problems, which could have developed because of some other factor. To be safe, if you have a liver, pancreas, stomach, heart or lung condition, do not take saw palmetto without clearing it with your doctor.
Warnings
If you are pregnant or nursing, do not take saw palmetto, as it may have negative hormonal effects. If you are taking a hormonal medication, such as hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills or the prostate enlargement drug finasteride, do not take saw palmetto without talking to your doctor first. Also, these hormonal effects could artificially lower the level of prostate specific antigen, or PSA, which is measured in prostate cancer screening tests. This might lead to a delay in finding a cancer. Saw palmetto might increase the risk of bleeding problems. If you have a bleeding disorder or take a medication that increases the risk of bleeding, such as a blood thinner or aspirin, do not take saw palmetto without talking to your doctor. Because of the bleeding risk, if you are scheduled for surgery, stop taking saw palmetto two weeks before the operation and alert your doctor that you were taking it.
Member Comments