What Are the Benefits of Saw Palmetto in Women?

The small palmetto palm tree is an unsuspecting treasure chest full of health aids. Taken as a pill, drunk as a tea or eaten in berry form, many people associate saw palmetto as a treatment to help men with prostate problems. Even benefiting those bothered by hair loss, high blood pressure, hypertension, inflammation or acne, saw palmetto seems to be a masculine remedy. Do not be fooled. Women have many reasons to stock saw palmetto in their kitchens or medicine cabinets.

Breast Enlargement, Milk Production

• Saw palmetto increases the production of the hormone prolactin in the female body. Prolactin encourages the growth of mammary glands, thus an increase in prolactin is thought to help with milk production and breast enlargement.

Hair

• Is saw palmetto a magic natural remedy for making hair grow in all the right places? Already used to help those with hair loss, saw palmetto is also a suggested aid for women with thinning hair. Because it contains an enzyme called 5-Alpha reductase, which tones down testosterone, saw palmetto is helpful with controlling a woman's hair growth if it comes in dark in body locations traditionally specific to males.

Urinary Tract Infection

• Full of antiseptic enzymes, and because of its anti-inflammatory tendencies with men's prostate issues, saw palmetto has been tried and proven beneficial in fighting infection, especially urinary tract infections.

Fertility and Other Hormone-Related Problems

• Similar to how it regulates hormones in the body for hair growth, saw palmetto eases some of the discomfort of menstruation and equalizes hormones to increase fertility. It is a recommended natural herb for those who have polysystic ovarian syndrome.

Thyroid

• More and more women are haunted with thyroid problems. Once again, leaning on its hormone-regulating abilities, saw palmetto targets the thyroid, strengthening it and improving gland health and performance throughout the body.