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Saw Palmetto Fruit Uses

May 12, 2011 | By Kimberly Riggins

Saw palmetto is a fruit that comes from a small palm tree native to the eastern part of the United States. It is used as an herbal supplement to treat various health conditions, including prostate cancer, colds and coughs, chronic bronchitis, chronic pelvic pain, asthma, migraine headaches, hormonal imbalances and urinary tract issues. More scientific studies are needed, however, to confirm the benefits of saw palmetto.

About Saw Palmetto

The use of this fruit as a medicinal remedy dates all the back to the Mayans and the Seminole tribes, where it was both used as an antiseptic and as an expectorant, according to MayoClinic.com. Today, saw palmetto is used to treat enlarged prostate gland and to fight off infections including prostate cancer. Saw palmetto can be found in its natural form as a fresh fruit or berry, ground, and dried. It is also available in liquid, extract, capsule, tablet and tea form.

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

A study published in the December 2010 issue of the "The Italian Journal of Urology and Nephrology," showed that 320 mg of saw palmetto per day improved the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy in participants by at least 50 percent. In another study published in the February 2011 issue of "Urologia Internationalis," researchers confirmed that 320 mg of saw palmetto per day did positively impact the symptoms of BPH. During this study, 120 patients with mild to moderate BPH symptoms were administered a 320 mg capsule of the ethanolic extract of serenoa repens each day. After 24 months, every patient saw significant improvements including a reduction in their residual urinary flow, a reduction in urinary obstruction, and better erectile function.

Prostate Cancer

According to a study published in the May 2007 issue of "Prostate," saw palmetto supplementation may be an effective way of inhibiting the formation of prostate tumors. During this study, laboratory mice with prostate cancer were administered either 50 or 300 mg of saw palmetto extract per day for 12 or 24 weeks. The mice who were given 300 mg per day experienced significant results, showing fewer tumors and an increase in apoptosis, or cancer cell deaths. In another study published in the June 2011 issue of the "International Journal of Oncology," an herbal formula containing saw palmetto proved to inhibit proliferation, migration, and adhesion of the human prostate cancer cell. Although these studies have promising results, more research needs to be done to show that saw palmetto supplementation is a potent anti-cancer treatment.

Side Effects

Before taking saw palmetto for any condition, a physician should be consulted. Side effects appear to be mild and include headache, dizziness, bad breath, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, muscle pain and discomfort, difficulty in breathing, insomnia and depression. Anyone who is pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid using saw palmetto because it may have an undesirable hormonal effect. Saw palmetto should also be avoided if you are undergoing surgery, during post-surgical recovery, or while using anticoagulants as it could increase the risk of bleeding.

References

Article reviewed by Libby Swope Wiersema Last updated on: May 12, 2011

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