What Is the Difference Between Saw Palmeto Extract & Saw Palmeto Organic?

Saw palmetto products are extracts from berries, but not all are considered organic. Saw palmetto is a widely used herb for prostate problems. Promoting hair growth is a recent claim for the herb. Saw palmetto is a low-growing, long-lived, dwarf palm tree, which is grown mostly in Florida. Orange to purple berries are used to make supplements.

Extract

• An extract is the juice from an herb's berries or leaves. You can also make extracts by drying herbs and their fruit and creating a powder. Other substances may be added to a tablet or capsule for coloring or preservation. Extracts from saw palmetto are used for medicinal purposes.

Organic

• To carry a certified-organic label from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, ingredients in the product must be organic. Organic means that foodstuffs are grown without pesticides or chemicals, are not irradiated, and the soil is amended to replace nutrients.

Non-organic

• Herbal supplements not labeled organic are not necessarily inferior. Seek reputable sellers and known brand names. Some growers may not have organic status because they are too small to meet FDA requirements. To get certification as organic from the FDA can be a long process as well. Still, some consumers may feel they are buying a purer product if it is labeled organic.