Chronic pelvic pain syndrome, also called chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, is a group of symptoms involving the prostate gland and other parts of the lower urinary tract or genital area in men. The main symptoms are pain and urinary problems. Because saw palmetto is recognized as useful for treating symptoms of an enlarged prostate, you may be interested in taking the herb for chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before using saw palmetto as an herbal remedy.
Symptoms
Symptoms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome can be significant and affect quality of life. There are many possible causes and curing the condition is difficult, according to PubMed Health. If you have chronic pelvic pain syndrome, you may find blood in your semen or urine, and experience pain in the pelvic, genital or anal area, or in your lower back. Urination problems also are associated with this syndrome, such as frequent urination, painful urination, weak urine stream and incomplete bladder emptying. Pain during bowel movements or during ejaculation also may occur.
Saw Palmetto
Research indicates that saw palmetto decreases symptoms of an enlarged prostate, medically known as benign prostatic hypertrophy, notes MedlinePlus. It appears helpful in some men for reducing urinary problems such as waking up during the night and needing to urinate. Evidence is insufficient to evaluate the effectiveness of saw palmetto for treating chronic pelvic pain syndrome, according to MedlinePlus, but the website advises that the herb does not appear to help this condition.
Use
If you'd like to try saw palmetto for chronic pelvic pain syndrome, a traditional dosage for this condition is 160 mg in capsule form two times per day, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Use an extract standardized for 85 to 95 percent of fatty acids and sterols. The medical center recommends consulting your doctor before taking saw palmetto because it interacts with some medications. Side effects associated with saw palmetto, such as headaches and nausea, are usually mild and uncommon.
Other Treatments
If saw palmetto is not effective for your chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptoms, some men have found limited success with pollen extract, according to PubMed Health. Alpha-adrenergic blocker prescription medicines help relax muscles of the prostate, and another prescription medicine, allopurinol, also may help relieve symptoms. You may take aspirin, ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate pain associated with this condition. Consult your doctor for further guidance.
Member Comments