Saw palmetto, identified by the botanical names Serenoa repens or Sabal serrulata, is a native southeastern United States plant in the palm family. Dried saw palmetto berries were traditionally used as a medicinal food in Native American cultures. Today, saw palmetto is commonly used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia, an enlargement of the prostate glad that can cause men severe discomfort. Evidence is mixed as to whether, and how, saw palmetto really works.
History
Saw palmetto berries were a staple food and medicine in Native American culture in the southern regions of the United States where the plant is indigenous. Dried saw palmetto berries, picked in the fall, were traditionally combined with nettles and pumpkin seeds and consumed to fight symptoms of impotence and infertility, as well as inflammation, according to Creighton University School of Medicine. Through the 1800s, saw palmetto was increasingly used to treat livestock. Observing its beneficial effect on genitourinary problems in cattle, consumers began using saw palmetto to treat enlarged prostates as well as sexual transmitted diseases. While herbal treatments fell out of favor in the United States in the 1950s, saw palmetto continued to be commonly used in Europe for treatment of enlarged prostates, although antibiotics replaced its use for sexually transmitted disease treatment.
Effectiveness for BPH
Scientific evidence is mixed, but it suggests that saw palmetto may be effective in treating symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. BPH is an enlargement of the male prostate gland. This enlargement causes physical discomfort and a need for frequent urination, especially at night, which can lead to exhaustion. An increasing body of scientific literature suggests that a lipophilic, meaning fat-based, extract of saw palmetto may be effective in reducing symptoms of BPH, as well as for reducing prostate inflammation, according to Dr. Charlie Phillips at the Creighton University School of Medicine Alternative Medicine Webpage. Because the effective components are contained in a fat-based extraction, tea and other water-derived saw palmetto products will not be effective. Symptoms of BPH and prostate cancer are quite similar, so be certain to see your doctor to rule out a more serious condition before using saw palmetto to treat BPH.
Other Uses
Saw palmetto has been marketed as an herbal treatment for a variety of disorders, including male pattern baldness, asthma and coughs, chronic pelvic pain syndrome and migraine headache relief. While there may be anecdotal support for these uses, there is insufficient scientific evidence to support a conclusion that saw palmetto is effective for treating any of these disorders, according to MedLine Plus and MayoClinic.com. Saw palmetto reduces estrogen in the body, so it may interfere with the effectiveness of birth control pills or estrogen therapy in women, according to MedLine Plus. Consult your doctor before taking saw palmetto for any health condition.
Considerations and Warnings
Saw palmetto is considered likely safe for most people, according to MedLine Plus. However, due to its hormonal effects, it is not safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Saw palmetto also slows blood clotting, so it should not be taken by people who are taking other blood thinners such as aspirin or warfarin, and should not be taken within two weeks before surgery. Saw palmetto may also interfere with the absorption of iron, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, so it should be taken with caution by people prone to anemia.
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