How to Use Saw Palmetto for Health

Saw palmetto (serenoa repens) is a bushy palm that grows up to 18 feet along the eastern coast of the United States. As an herbal supplement, it specifically refers to an extract from the berries of the plant. The following steps will help you decide whether or not to take this herbal supplement.

Instructions

• 1

  Know the historical uses of saw palmetto. It has been used as an extract for at least two centuries for treating conditions such as general weakness, recovery from a major illness and urogenital ailments. It was associated with reducing the size of the prostate gland as early as the 19th century.

• 2

  Know the results from modern scientific testing. Saw palmetto has been clinically established as effective in managing benign enlargement of the prostate gland. The active ingredient for this benefit is thought to be one the phytosterols.

• 3

  Study the side effects of saw palmetto. The reported side effects include erectile dysfunction, mild nausea and reduced libido, but saw palmetto is generally considered safe because these effects are milder than with similar drugs. However, one of its ingredients is beta-sitosterol, which is chemically similar to cholesterol.

• 4

  Take no more than the recommended dosage. This can vary from one to two g/day depending on the manufacturer, but the daily intake of the active ingredients should not exceed 320 mg/day.