What is saw palmetto?
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is an extract of the saw palmetto berry, the fruit of a short palm tree that grows in the southeastern United States, mainly in Florida and Georgia. It is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, or simply prostrate enlargement. A traditional Native American remedy for urinary tract problems, saw palmetto was researched in the 1960’s by French scientists, who developed the extract.
Saw palmetto is an herb that has been used as a tonic, antiseptic and expectorant as well as a treatment for enlarged prostate. It is taken from the berries of a variety of dwarf palm tree that is native to Southern California, along with other southern coastal regions of the United States. It began to see popularity during World War II, when people used it to increase sexual stamina, libido, and sperm production. Although interest in saw palmetto waned in the 1950s, there was a resurgence of interest in the 1990s, and saw palmetto continues to be used as an herbal supplement to treat hormonal balances in both women and men. Although not regulated by the FDA, saw palmetto is thought by many to effectively treat urinary difficulties that are a result of prostate enlargement, or Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH). Saw palmetto is a common treatment in Europe to treat BPH, and has been proven effective there for promoting normal, healthy urination. This is thought to be because saw palmet
Saw palmetto comes from a palm-like plant that grows in the southeast United States. The berries of this plant are used to make the capsule form of saw palmetto. Saw palmetto blocks certain effects of certain hormones in the body and also has some anti-inflammatory actions. Saw palmetto has been used to treat symptoms of enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH), such as increased night-time urination or decreased urinary flow. Saw palmetto has been used historically to treat stomach or intestinal problems, bladder irritation, and bronchitis. Saw palmetto has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease, and it should not be substituted for prescription medications. Saw palmetto has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of saw palmetto may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. Some marketed herbal supplements have been found to be co
