Facts About Saw Palmetto

The saw palmetto or cabbage palm, grows throughout Florida. This dwarf palm is also found along the southern east coast of the United States to South Carolina. The berries of the plant are harvested for herbal medicines and have turned into a lucrative business in Florida. It is not unusual to see groups of people throughout the state, harvesting the berries growing wild along the roadsides. Below is some information pertaining to the saw palmetto, including its history and many medicinal uses.

History

• The saw palmetto fruit has been used by the Indians of Florida for thousands of years. The Seminole Indians have used it as a food staple for a very long time as well as a medicine. The first book written about the saw palmetto was by Susan Hales, in 1898. The Indian medicine men used the dried fruit to treat many ailments. The berries were thought to treat everything from impotence to other sexual dysfunctions in men. It was also thought to be a great tonic to fix whatever ailed you.

  The dried fruit was crushed or used as a tincture. It is also historically noted that the saw palmetto was used to treat conditions in women, such as infertility, painful periods, an expectorant for the lungs, appetite stimulant and helping the breasts grow. Eli Lilly & Company was the first known manufacturer of processing the dried fruit into medicines. The company set up a facility in Vero Beach, Florida specifically designed for the berries. Saw Palmetto berries were so highly prized at the time as a medical cure, and they were included in the United States Pharmacopoeia in 1908.

  By 1946 the saw palmetto was removed from the Pharmacopoeia due to lack of interest by the general public in natural medicine. The loss of popularity was blamed on the fact drug manufacturers were unable to get patents on natural remedy products. Thus, anyone could take their formulas and copy it. Technology had not reached the point in development where it could identify the ingredients in these natural products that made them work.

  In the 1950s, natural remedies started becoming popular with the public once again in Europe. Several European pharmaceutical companies began to process the saw palmetto extract. Once again, the product was available for general use by the public. It wasn't until 1998 that the saw palmetto was again included in the United States Pharmacopoeia.

Uses

• The fruit of the saw palmetto is used to treat many things. This fruit is usually dried and are either used ground or whole. The fruit is then manufactured into teas, tinctures or capsules. The saw palmetto is used to treat everything from urinary problems, sexual dysfunctions in men, hormone imbalances, hair loss, acne, asthma, bronchitis, cancer, expectorant, high blood pressure, menstruation problems in women and indigestion as well as many other conditions. Excitement has developed recently in the medical community due to the fact saw palmetto may help in the treatment of hair loss.

Doses

• As with any natural medicine, many of these products have not been thoroughly tested by government agencies for their effectiveness and safety. Make sure to read all labels before starting treatment and discuss taking saw palmetto with your physician.

  For adults 18 years of age and older, it's recommended to take 320 milligrams daily. This dose can be taken in one or dividing it between two doses. Teas are generally not as effective because the active elements do not dissolve in water.

  At this time there is not enough scientific studies and information pertaining to saw palmettos use on children. Therefore, it is not recommended giving it to children under the age of 18. More studies are needed before it is deemed safe enough for them to use.

  Remember, the FDA does not regulate herbs or vitamin supplements very strictly. Therefore, there is no way to guarantee the products strength or safety. Because of this, the effects of the product may vary from brand to brand. It is best to read the label and check with your physician before starting any herbal treatment.

Warnings

• There have been very few side effects noted by people taking saw palmetto. The most common complaint was about digestive problems associated with taking it. These included nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. It is thought that food should be ingested before taking a saw palmetto supplement, to decrease the chances of suffering stomach discomfort.

  Though saw palmetto has not clearly been defined as the cause, some people have reported dizziness, headaches, ulcers, liver damage, high blood pressure, chest and muscle pain while taking it. There is no proof that saw palmetto was the determining factor in causing these disorders. Some men have even complained about being unable to have an erection, or breast tenderness, while taking saw palmetto. It is thought that the active ingredient in saw palmetto somehow affects how the body reacts to our sex hormones. Therefore, men or woman taking medications with hormones in it, should use caution when introducing saw palmetto into their diet.

  Saw palmetto should be used with extreme caution when other medications are being taken to thin the blood, or surgery is on the horizon. It is thought that saw palmetto can increase the risk of bleeding when used with these other medications. The preparation PC-SPES, which is no longer on the market for sale, was found to include the blood thinner warfarin in it, as well as seven other herbs. It was removed from sale because of the danger it posed. The FDA issued a warning to the public of it's danger and it's no longer commercially available.

  People also should use caution when mixing saw palmetto with other herbal supplements known to increase the risk of bleeding. There have been cases reported of bleeding when saw palmetto was used with Ginkgo biloba and garlic. It has also been noted that the absorption of iron into the body, may be prevented by the tannins that are found in saw palmetto.

Considerations

• The use of saw palmetto as an herbal medicine, can be dated back to the Incas. It has been used to treat illness for a very long time. Harvesting the berries has been a profitable business in the state of Florida since the 1800s and still is today. Though the conditions it treats are many, it is still an herbal supplement and not regulated by the FDA. As with the addition of any new supplement or medicine, using it with caution is best. Check with your doctor first before starting a regiment of saw palmetto. Though it has been used safely for years and the side effects are few, it is best to have an overview of your own health conditions before taking it.