What Is Saw Palmetto Extract?

Saw palmetto extract is an herbal extract taken from the fruit of a palm-like plant that grows abundantly in the South Eastern region of the United States. Saw palmetto berries were used by indigenous American cultures for centuries as a medicine, though they are only recently being recognized as an effective treatment for certain disorders.

Aspects

• The saw palmetto plant, also known as Serenoa repens or the American dwarf palm tree, grows in large numbers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. The saw palmetto prefers sandy or woodland habitats and produces berries that are rich in both phytosterols, beneficial steroids exclusive to plants, and essential fatty acids.

History

• The use of saw palmetto berries as a medical treatment for humans can be traced back to the Mayans, who used a concoction of the macerated berries as a health-promoting tonic. The Seminole Indians, a tribe originally located in what is now Florida, commonly used the berries to treat a variety of illnesses related to the urinary and reproductive system. The Seminoles also used saw palmetto berries to break down and clear out mucus from the respiratory tract and as a general antiseptic.

Medical Uses

• In recent medical history, extracts of the saw palmetto berry have been used as an alternative treatment for a wide variety of ailments, the most common of which include: urinary infections and bladder disorders; respiratory tract infections; prostatitis (chronic pain located within the pelvic region); a number of reproductive problems, such as menstrual pain and irregularity; and as a treatment for both male baldness and prostate cancer. The most convincing data about saw palmetto extract's medicinal usefulness is in the treatment of enlarged prostates in men.

Treatment for Enlarged Prostate

• A number of research studies have shown that saw palmetto extract is an effective treatment for non-cancerous, enlarged prostates (benign prostatic hypertrophy). Saw palmetto is the most commonly used herbal treatment for the condition throughout Europe; however, its use as a viable enlarged-prostate treatment has not been officially endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration or the rest of the medical community in the United States.

Side Effects

• Use of saw palmetto extract does not appear to cause any significant side effects. The most common problems associated with using the extract are mild digestive disorders, including constipation, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Other, less-common side effects include allergic reactions, a disruption in normal cardiac function, headaches and dizziness.