Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

Saw palmetto was traditionally used as a remedy for chronic cystitis (bladder inflammation), urinary tract infections, sex hormone disorders, impotence and frigidity, and respiratory tract diseases. Today, Saw palmetto is most widely used as an herbal remedy for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) symptoms, including discomfort and excessive night-time urination.

Saw palmetto contains a number of compounds with potential therapeutic effects. Researchers have not yet identified with certainty the BPH related compounds, although the evidence points to certain fatty acids and sterols with either enzyme or hormone-related effects. A recent study found that a saw palmetto extract significantly reduced excessive urination both at night and during the day. 85% of the study’s participants had their condition either stabilize or improve over the study’s three-year period. Results of a study by Goldmann et al  revealed that Saw Palmetto Berry Extract (SPBE) inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells and decreased the expression of the enzyme Cox-2. Increased expression of Cox-2 is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, thus the findings suggest that Saw Palmetto may help to protect against this common disease. Animal studies have suggested that the fruit and extracts also have anti-allergic and immune-system-stimulating properties.

Saw palmetto is sold in capsules, liquids, and standardized extract; it is frequently combined with pygeum (Pygeum africanum), an herb with a somewhat less-established reputation for improving prostate health. Although saw palmetto is also available as a tea, the fatty acids in the herb thought to be at least partly responsible for its effects do not dissolve well in water; thus, drinking a tea would not be effective against BPH. An average dose of saw palmetto is 160mg of an extract standardized for 85 to 95% fatty acids and sterols.

No long-term toxicity has been reported. Large amounts of the berry are reported to cause diarrhea. Given Saw palmetto’s welldocumented hormonal actions, the herb may interact with prostate medicines or hormonal treatments (including hormone replacement therapy), possibly cancelling out their effectiveness or causing unwanted side effects. Saw palmetto should also be avoided in patients with a hormone-dependent illness such as breast cancer, and those who are pregnant or lactating.