Saw Palmetto

What is Saw Palmetto?

Saw Palmetto is a small palm tree that is native to Florida and the Gulf Coast. Its berries contain the powerful compound beta sitosterol, which is where its therapeutic benefits lie.

Saw Palmetto benefits include treatments for persistent coughs, digestive problems, as well as relief from benign prostatic hyperplasia. People have also used it for the following: treatment of acne vulgaris, asthma, cough, diarrhoea, impotence, indigestion, menstrual pain, migraine, vaginal disorders, sore throat, and so on.

Saw palmetto has been scientifically proven to improve the symptoms caused by prostatitis, benign prostatic hypertrophy and enlarged prostate such as frequent urination, and incontinence. It has been generally seen to reduce prostate enlargement as well as improve the overall quality of life of those who suffer from the said conditions.

Saw palmetto has also been said to prevent the formation of the hormone which is mainly responsible for the growth and replication of prostate tissues. In the same way, saw palmetto extract is suggested to reduce male pattern hair loss. Many people have also been using saw palmetto for bladder problems.

Side Effects and Warnings of Saw Palmetto

The most common saw palmetto side effects include stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, bad breath, diarrhoea or constipation. The stomach problems can be alleviated by taking saw palmetto with food.

Less common but worse side effects include stomach ulcer, liver damage and jaundice (yellowing of skin), but the actual role of saw palmetto in these cases remain unclear. There have also been invalidated reports of insomnia, depression, headache, muscle pain, chest pains, high blood pressure, heart problems and breathing difficulties.

There have also been claims of weight gain and lowered sex drive. This are yet to be proven and is one of the reasons you should always seek advice from your medical practitioners before using this or any other dietary supplements.

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