Saw palmetto is a supplement. It is made from the fruits of the Serenoa repens trees that are used to make this supplement. Serenoa repens are the dwarf palm trees. You can find them in abundance in Georgia, Florida, Cuba, and the Bahamas.
It grows in the sandy soil and has saw-like teeth on its stalks that connect the leaves to the stem. It gives dark berries that have a large seed. The Native Americans use this fruit as a sedative and also for its diuretic, aphrodisiac, nutritional and cough-reducing properties.
Saw palmetto is largely used to treat the enlargement prostates, improve the urinary function and boost hair growth. Some of the people also use this supplement to boost the libido and fertility.
They also have anti-inflammatory properties so help to reduce inflammation. Saw palmetto also shows anticancer effects. But all of these uses and health benefits are not proven by science.
These days’ people use the berries or dry and use them in tea. You can get dried and ground saw palmetto in capsule or tablet form. But you will commonly find it in the form of oil extract that is taken out of the fatty portion of these berries.
This gives a higher amount of Vitamin E and antioxidants compared to eating the raw fruit. You can easily find this product online.
How Saw Palmetto helps in Prostate Health?
BPH
Saw palmetto has properties that are useful for treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). This is a medical condition where there is a slow, noncancerous but an abnormal form of enlargement of the prostate. This condition is very common in older men. This medical condition is experienced by 75% of men that are in their 70s.
It is necessary to treat it or the prostate will end up enlarging to a point where it interferes with the ability to empty the bladder completely. It can also cause an increase in the frequency and the urge of urinating every now and then. This often leads to excessive urination during the night which disturbs your sleep repeatedly.
BPH is a part of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This group of symptoms is related to the bladder, prostate, and urethra. LUTS can affect both women and men which is opposite to BPH.
What studies are saying?
There are several studies done on saw palmetto’s effect on LUTS. Researchers have seen mixed results. An early study stated that saw palmetto can help in increasing the flow of urine and help in reducing the urge to urinate in the night in men with BPH.
The researchers did some tests by using saw palmetto alone and in combination with traditional drug therapy and both showed the same results. However, a latest study named Cochrane review concluded that saw palmetto provide little improvement in LUTS.
How much mg of Saw Palmetto
Whereas there are two reviews stating that taking a daily dose of 320 mg of Permixon which is an extract of saw palmetto proves to be more effective in comparison with the placebo in improving the flow of urination and reducing the urge to urinate at night.
The effects might vary based on the strength of the formula. But further research and study needs to be done before making any strong conclusion.
