Saw palmetto most commonly is known for its use in treating certain types of prostate conditions, especially relieving symptoms of an enlarged prostate, called benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. Some use it to treat specific types of prostate infections and, in combination with other herbs, to treat prostate cancer. However, the evidence from research studies about its effectiveness is mixed. Consult with your physician before using saw palmetto medicinally.
Sources
You can buy saw palmetto supplements as dried berries and in capsule, tablet, tincture and liquid extract form. It is best to buy those saw palmetto supplements that are standardized to contain 85 percent to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols, which are the active compounds in saw palmetto.
Dosage
According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, saw palmetto is used in pill form in doses of 160 mg twice a day or 320 mg once a day to relieve symptoms of BPH. Some take saw palmetto tea for BPH, which is made with 5 to 6 g of powdered dried fruit. Ground, non-standardized berry preparations are taken in daily doses of 1 to 2 g, while liquid extracts are used in daily doses of 5 to 6 ml.
Effectiveness
According to a review of research studies published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in 1998, saw palmetto was effective for managing symptoms of BPH; however, a study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" in 2006 did not show benefits of saw palmetto for treating moderate to severe symptoms of BPH. It might take up to two months of saw palmetto treatment before you can start to notice symptom relief from BPH, says the NIH.
Considerations
Saw palmetto generally is safe for most people, says the NIH, but might occasionally experience some mild side effects from taking saw palmetto, including, dizziness, headache and gastrointestinal complaints. A few cases of liver and pancreatic damage also have been reported when taking saw palmetto. You should avoid saw palmetto within two weeks of surgery and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
References
- National Institutes of Health: Saw Palmetto
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Saw Palmetto
- PaloAltoMedicalFoundation.org: Saw Palmetto
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Saw Palmetto Extracts for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. A Systematic Review; TJ Wilt, et al.; Nov 1998
- "New England Journal of Medicine"; Saw Palmetto for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; S Bent, et al.; Feb 2006
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