Saw palmetto, or Serenoa repens, is a palm-like plant that produces a berry-like fruit. Ripe saw-palmetto berries are used to produce medication. Native Americans in the southeastern United States used saw palmetto as a staple food and as a herbal remedy, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Saw palmetto is still used in modern times, but dosage varies depending on your age and the reason why you're taking the medication.
Use
Historically, saw palmetto is used to treat stomach or intestinal conditions, bladder discomfort and bronchitis, Drugs.com reports. However, saw palmetto is most often used to relieve symptoms of an enlarged prostate. An abnormally large prostate, or benign prostatic hypertrophy, leads to symptoms of increased night-time urination and a decrease in urinary output. Saw palmetto has yet to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of any disease. You should not use saw palmetto as a replacement for any medication prescribed by your doctor.
Dosage
If you're older than 18, 320 mg of saw palmetto daily -- either in one dose or divided into two doses -- can be used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy, MayoClinic.com explains. Traditional, less studied methods suggest taking 1 to 2 g of ground or dried berries daily. Alternative medical practitioners often recommend a tincture or tea containing saw palmetto, with doses ranging from 1 to 4 milliliters. But the smaller dosage may not be as effective.
There is insufficient evidence to support the use of saw palmetto in children under the age of 18. Younger patients should only be given saw palmetto when prescribed by a doctor.
Side Effects
As with most medications and herbal remedies, saw palmetto is associated with numerous unintended side effects. Less serious side effects of saw palmetto include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, headache, dizziness, insomnia, muscle pain and a decreased libido, Drugs.com warns. If these symptoms become intolerable, consult your physician.
Serious side effects of saw palmetto include weakness, fainting, bloody stools, cough that produces blood, pain in the breasts or testicles, chest pain and excessive bleeding. Furthermore, you may experience an allergic reaction to saw palmetto, which includes swelling of the face, hives and difficulty breathing. If you manifest any of these symptoms, immediately seek emergency medical treatment.
Interactions
There are no known interactions between saw palmetto and other foods or herbal supplements. However, saw palmetto can interfere with the actions of certain drugs, according to MedlinePlus. Saw palmetto can decrease the efficacy of contraceptive drugs and other estrogen-containing pills. When combined with anticoagulants, like aspirin, heparin and warfarin, saw palmetto can increase your risk of suffering from frequent bruising or abnormal bleeding.
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