Saw palmetto is an herbal supplement made from the ripened berries of the plant species Sabal serrulata and Serenoa repens. Traditional use of the herb stems back to the Mayan civilization, as well as to the Seminole tribe in Florida. Saw palmetto is not a verified treatment for bladder control problems in women or men. Seek your doctor's advice before using a saw palmetto supplement.
Saw Palmetto Background
Saw palmetto appears to stop the process that normally converts the male hormone testosterone into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone, according to MayoClinic.com. It also appears to alter the effects of the female hormone estrogen. Additional potential routes of biological activity for the herb include blocking hormone receptors in the body and reducing inflammation. Saw palmetto products can contain whole berries, ground berries or dried berries. Available supplement forms include capsules, tablets, infusions, teas and liquid extracts.
Potential Uses
The only use of saw palmetto that has a significant degree of scientific verification is in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, also called an enlarged prostate gland, MayoClinic.com and the U.S. National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus report. In cases of this disorder, the herb appears to achieve its effects by shrinking the inner lining of the prostate gland, which can interfere with urine flow in men with BPH. There is considerable disagreement, however, on saw palmetto's effectiveness even in this setting. Some researchers have concluded that the herb has as much effectiveness as prescription BPH medications, while others have concluded that saw palmetto has little or no essential value in BPH treatment.
Bladder Control Treatments
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse lists potential treatments for bladder control problems in women that include exercises designed to strengthen the pelvic muscles, weight loss, avoidance of foods or drinks that increase urine output and use of planned bathroom breaks to reduce the risks of uncontrolled urination. Additional potential treatment options include medications designed to treat a specific bladder control problem called overactive bladder, electrical stimulation of the bladder nerves, surgery and use of a supportive, internal plastic device called a pessary.
Considerations
Saw palmetto is sometimes used in the treatment of bladder disorders, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine notes. There is no scientific justification, however, for this use. Other uses of saw palmetto that don't have a clear scientific justification include treatment of migraine headaches, asthma, prostate cancer, prostate infections, chronic pelvic pain, hormonal imbalances, decreased sex drive, underactive bladder, sore throat, baldness and colds or coughs. Consult your doctor for more information on saw palmetto, as well as more information on effective treatments for female bladder control problems.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Herbs at a Glance; Saw Palmetto
- MayoClinic.com: Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens [Bartram] Small) (Pages 1 and 3)
- MedlinePlus: Saw Palmetto
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse; What I Need to Know About Bladder Control for Women; August 2007
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