Saw Palmetto For Menopause And Acne

Menopause begins when menstruation ends. As the production of estrogen, the primary female hormone, diminishes, hormonal fluctuations occur that can cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, such as excess hair growth and acne. While conventional treatment options commonly include estrogen replacement therapy, herbalists claim that women can find relief by using the herb saw palmetto as a supplemental treatment. Check with your doctor, however, before using any herbal supplement.

About Saw Palmetto

Indigenous to Texas and the sandy coastal regions of the Gulf Coast and North and South Carolina, the saw palmetto plant, otherwise known as serenoa repens, grows to heights of 10 feet and produces palmlike leaves and white flowers. Its dark purple berries constitute the source of saw palmetto's medicinal properties. Herbalists use saw palmetto to treat a variety of ailments, including prostate conditions, AIDS, menopause-related problems and skin issues.

Menopause-Saw Palmetto Link

Menopause can produce unwanted male characteristics in women. Hirsutism is a condition characterized by excessive growth of body hair on your abdomen, breasts and upper lip. It commonly occurs during menopause in women whose ovaries produce elevated testosterone levels. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, saw palmetto has anti-androgenic effects. In other words, the herb appears to lower testosterone levels, thus reducing the risk of excess hair growth associated with menopause. Phyllis A. Balch, certified nutritional consultant and author of the book, "Prescription for Herbal Healing," claims that saw palmetto contains fat-soluble steroids that prevent the stimulation of hair follicles by dihydrotestosterone, an androgen, or male sex hormone. Balch recommends taking 160 mg of saw palmetto capsules twice daily and adds that saw palmetto seems to counteract the effects of testosterone without inhibiting your sex drive. No scientific studies, however, confirm such claims.

Acne-Saw Palmetto Link

A progressive decline in estrogen production occurs during menopause, coupled with an increased production of androgens by the adrenal glands. According to MayoClinic.com, androgens not only contribute to hirsutism but can also promote adult acne. In theory, saw palmetto's anti-androgenic properties should exert therapeutic effects on androgen-related menopausal acne. However, while anecdotal evidence exists, no scientific studies substantiate this conjecture.

Considerations

Available as dried berries, powdered capsules, tablets, liquid tincture, tea and liposterolic extract, saw palmetto is generally recognized as safe when used as directed. However, it can occasionally cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness and fatigue. It can also increase the risk of bleeding, so women with heavy menstrual periods and people with blood-clotting disorders should avoid the herb. Balch advises that whichever form of saw palmetto you prefer to use, it can take up to six weeks to achieve results.