Saw palmetto refers to the fruit of a palm tree originating in Africa. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and is now gaining popularity in the Western medicine. You can buy saw palmetto as capsules, powder, or the actual berries. It is mainly used for treating or controlling the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Other uses include prevention of baldness and treatment of migraines, sore throats and asthma.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate, occurs as a result of changes in hormone production, which are common in the elderly. This causes the prostate's cells to start multiplying, hence enlarging the organ. Symptoms of a swollen prostate include frequent and painful urination, weak stream, and an increased risk of urinary tract infections. The May 2008 issue of "American Family Physican" reports that many studies have found saw palmetto extract to be effective in treating the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and mentions that half of German doctors prefer prescribing saw palmetto over conventional medicines. However, the report notes that not all studies are in agreement about the effectiveness of saw palmetto, and conclude that this extract might exhibit different effectiveness according to the stage of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Male-Pattern Baldness
The April 2002 issue of "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" investigated the effectiveness of saw palmetto extract in male-pattern baldness, which is the most common type of baldness found in men. This condition is caused by the same hormone imbalances that cause benign prostatic hyperplasia. The subjects were males between the ages of 23 and 64, in good health and with mild to moderate male-pattern baldness. The result was a very positive one, with 60 percent of the patients reporting an improvement in their condition.
Cancer
Preliminary data is emerging that indicates that saw palmetto extract may be able to slow the progression of cancer. However, as of May 2011, the only data available is cell studies data, and these cannot always be extrapolated to predict the effects in human beings. An example of such a study is reported in the August 2009 issue of "Oncology Reports." In this study, it was found that saw palmetto extract slowed the growth of leukemia cells and caused them to die.
Safety of Saw Palmetto
The June 2008 issue of "Complementary Therapies in Medicine" reports a detailed assessment of the safety of saw palmetto extract use in 225 men who were using it for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia at a dose of 160mg twice daily. The authors did not find any evidence of serious side effects associated with saw palmetto use.
References
- "American Family Physican": Diagnosis and management of benign prostatic hyperplasia; JL. Edwards; May 2008
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia; N. Prager et al; April 2002
- "Oncology Reports"; Serenoa repens induces growth arrest and apoptosis of human multiple myeloma cells via inactivation of STAT 3 signaling; Y. Che et al; August 2009
- "Complementary Therapies in Medicine"; A detailed safety assessment of a saw palmetto extract; AL. Avins; June 2008
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