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Herbs & Supplements
Sabal serrulata
Scientific Name: Saw Palmetto
Other Names: Cabbage Palm, Fan Palm, Sabal, Scrub Palm, Serenoa, Serenoa repens
Who is this for?
Uses
Saw palmetto is used mainly by men to relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)--a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. The urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, passes through the prostate gland. For most men, BPH is a normal part of aging. An enlarged prostate, however, may cause men to have trouble starting or maintaining urination, urinate more often, have urine leaks, or need to urinate during the night.
Numerous laboratory, animal, and human studies have been done to test the effectiveness of saw palmetto for BPH. In general, results have been positive--possibly due to saw palmetto's potential ability to block at least partially the effects of an enzyme that promotes and maintains prostate cell growth. However, many of the human studies were not well controlled and many of them involved only small numbers of participants. Therefore, some results may not be very reliable. In one animal study, saw palmetto appeared to cause the prostate to shrink, but while using saw palmetto seemed to help relieve the symptoms of BPH for humans, it had little or no effect on prostate size. It also showed no effects on blood levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein that is produced by prostate cancer cells. Because PSA circulates in the blood, it can be tested easily to determine if prostate enlargement is caused by cancer.
Saw palmetto has also been reported to have mild anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, and sedative properties. These effects are based largely on case reports with little study evidence to support them. Results from a small study of men who suffered from long-term inflammation of the prostate showed improvement in some markers of inflammation after 3 months of treatment with saw palmetto. Conversely, a separate, year-long study also involving a small group of men with chronically inflamed prostates found that taking saw palmetto had no significant effects on either the symptoms or the inflammation, itself. More studies are underway to evaluate these possible effects of saw palmetto.
Results from one small human study and several unconfirmed reports from individuals taking saw palmetto to treat BPH seem to indicate that saw palmetto may stimulate hair growth. Some women reportedly use it to increase breast size, and it has also been promoted to enhance sexual desire for both men and women. Much more scientific evidence is needed to support any of these possible uses.
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Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.
In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.
This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.
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Who is this for? 
