The ripe berries of the saw palmetto plant are used for medicinal purposes. The active ingredients, which contribute to the plant's medicinal properties, include fatty acids, flavonoids and plant sterols. Saw palmetto products are available as dried berries, capsules, tablets and tinctures. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that the labeling of quality saw palmetto supplements should say that the contents are standardized and contain 85 to 95 percent sterols and fatty acids.
Traditional Uses
Saw palmetto has been reported in the treatment of prostate conditions since the late 1800s. Native Americans used saw palmetto as a tonic that nourished the body, reduced urinary tract infections and stimulated the appetite. Saw palmetto has been used to treat irritable bladder and increase prostate health.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia -- BPH
Saw palmetto may reduce the symptoms of BPH, such as the frequent urge to urinate, difficulty urinating and poor urinary flow. The plant sterols in saw palmetto have antiandrogenic effects, which may inhibit the ability of testosterone to cause prostate cells to grow. Clinical research studies on saw palmetto's effectiveness in treating symptoms of BPH are mixed. A study published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in April 2009 found that saw palmetto was no more effective in treating urinary BPH than placebo. Additional long-term, placebo-controlled trials are needed. Do not use saw palmetto as the sole course of treatment for BPH. Men with symptoms of BPH should see a doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Additional Uses
The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that initial animal studies show saw palmetto to be useful in inhibiting tumor growth, which may help treat prostate cancer. The antiandrogenic effects of saw palmetto may help reduce male-pattern hair loss. Additionally, saw palmetto is used to treat migraine headaches, coughs, chronic pelvic pain, asthma and low libido, although there is insufficient evidence proving its effectiveness on these conditions.
Considerations
In general, saw palmetto is safe and has few side effects. Stomach distress, headache, dizziness, insomnia and fatigue have been occasionally reported. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not regulate saw palmetto products. Saw palmetto may interact or interfere with medications that treat BPH as well as anticoagulants and oral contraceptives.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Saw Palmetto
- "Reviews in Urology"; Saw Palmetto Berry as Treatment for BPH; Elliot Fagelman, M.D., and Franklin C. Lowe, M.D., M.P.H.; Summer 2001
- MayoClinic.com: Saw Palmetto -- Evidence
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; Serenoa Repens for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; J. Tacklind, et al.; April 15, 2009
- American Cancer Society: Saw Palmetto
- National Institute of Health -- MedlinePlus: Saw Palmetto
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