Is It Safe To Take Saw Palmetto & Fenugreek Together?

Herbs are more than mere garnishment for your plate; many are real medicines. Similarly, just because botanical medicines come from nature instead of a laboratory test tube doesn’t mean they are safe. Many herbs also interact with other medicines, including other herbs. Saw palmetto and fenugreek is one combination that may produce adverse effects because of the way these herbs influence hormonal activities. Check with your doctor before using these natural therapies to self-treat any condition.

Saw Palmetto Profile

Serenoa repens, also known as cabbage palm and American dwarf palm tree, is a small palm tree that grows along the coastal regions of the southeastern United States and southern California. The berries of the plant contain high levels of fatty acids, flavonoids and plant sterols that exert anti-inflammatory properties. Traditionally, saw palmetto is used to treat urinary problems in men, as well as symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate.

Fenugreek Profile

Trigonella foenum-graecum, also known as Greek hayseed and bird’s foot, is native to India, where it is used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to counter high cholesterol, diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders. This herb is also used to stimulate lactation, to protect the liver from toxins and to reduce inflammation. Like saw palmetto, fenugreek contains plant sterols and flavonoids in addition to alkaloid compounds, amino acids and proteins.

Hormonal Effects

Saw palmetto compounds promote anti-androgen, anti-estrogen and estrogenic effects. Specifically, the free fatty acids in the herb block the 5-aplha-reductase enzyme from converting testosterone into a compound called DHT. The herb also inhibits progesterone reception, which influences estrogen synthesis. According to a study published in “The Indian Journal of Medical Research” in 2010, fenugreek acts as an estrogenic receptor modulator and stimulates growth in MCF-7 cells, a line of cultured human breast cancer cells. While saw palmetto and fenugreek may benefit post-menopausal women and men with enlarged prostate with close medical supervision, the potential hormonal effects of both herbs suggest that this combination may not be safe for people with a history of a hormone-related cancer.

Other Safety Considerations

Both saw palmetto and fenugreek increase your risk of bleeding because these herbs increase the effects of blood-thinning pharmaceutical drugs, such as warfarin. The hormonal effects of saw palmetto and fenugreek may interfere with the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Likewise, neither should be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Both herbs may interfere with how liver enzymes metabolize other drugs and increase their side effects, while saw palmetto may prevent the absorption of iron in the intestinal tract.