Uses of Pygeum

Pygeum, the African plum tree (in botanical nomenclature, the pygeum africanum or prunus africanum), is an evergreen tree growing at high altitudes in central and southern Africa. For thousands of years, African healers―herbal medicine men―used the bark of this tree, which they powdered and prepared as tea to treat bladder and urinary tract disorders. Today, such herbal remedying is considered standard in many parts of Europe, and is becoming available in the United States.

Prostate health

• Pygeum, sometimes taken with other herbs such as saw palmetto and stinging nettle root, helps alleviate the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland. This condition affects 50% of men 50 years of age and older, occurring more frequently in men of American and European descent. Symptoms include frequency and urgency of urination (particularly at night), weak urinary stream and incomplete voiding of the bladder. If the prostate gland enlarges too much, there is increased risk of urinary tract infection and kidney damage.

Food as medicine

• Studies have shown that pygeum supplements contain three food compounds that target the prostate and urinary tract: (1) phytosterols, which have an anti-inflammatory effect; (2) pentacyclic terpens, which have an anti-edema or decongestic effect; and (3) ferulic esters, which indirectly control testosterone activity in the prostate and also help to rid the body of cholesterol end-products associated with the condition. The prescribed dosage of pygeum supplementation (standardized to contain 13% total sterols) is 50 to 100 mg twice per day.

Natural hair loss treatment

• The same mechanism in pygeum that is thought to control testosterone activity and inhibit its conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) also targets male and female pattern baldness as well. Pygeum is an effective DHT blocker, and DHT is heavily implicated in both conditions. Thus, for people turning away from medicinal DHT blockers, like finasteride, pygeum as well as saw palmetto present herbal alternatives for hair loss remedies. Unfortunately, though, no clinical hair loss research has been done to support the efficacy and safety of pygeum in this role.

Bulk pygeum

• The demand curve for pygeum in the worldwide market is getting steeper. At this time, wild pygeum is approaching the status of endangered species, as per www.pccnatralmarkets.com: "Efforts are being made to grow pygeum on plantations and control harvesting the wild." While data is not available to support hair loss treatment benefits, nor have studies been done regarding the long-term effects of pygeum treatment on an individual, pygeum is among the herbs and spices being demanded in bulk by consumers.

Side effects

• Not enough is known about the possible adverse effects of pygeum. Because of this research vacuum, pregnant and breastfeeding women must err on the side of caution and not ingest this herb. Generally, pygeum seems to be well tolerated, if occasionally causing bearable digestive disturbances such as diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain or nausea. As for interactions with other drugs, herbs, supplements, food and lab tests, none are known, which means proceed with caution under the supervision of a reliable health-care practitioner.