Saw palmetto is widely accepted in Europe for treating symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - an enlargement of the prostate. About half of men above 50 years are affected with BPH. BPH is hormonally driven and results from a rise in the compound dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and a drop in testosterone level. Studies found the effects of saw palmetto are the inhibition of the actions of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase that signals the male hormone to convert into DHT.
First uses of saw palmetto
The first people to use saw palmetto were the Native Americans who used saw palmetto berries as staple during the winter months. During this period of taking saw palmetto, older men felt an improvement in the frequency of nighttime urination. The effects of saw palmetto are mostly associated with the bladder and urinary tract while the natives used the extracts for the treatment of nocturia, enuresis, impotence, infertility, atrophy of the testes, inflammation of the prostate, reduced sexual functions, pelvic cramps, and problems in lactation.
Today, the effects of saw palmetto are not only confined to health. Its growing demand consequently is making a $50 million dollar business out of exporting 2,000 tons of saw palmetto annually to Europe where it’s most popular.
Berry healthy claims
Saw palmetto is regarded as a potent herb that helps promote a healthy prostate especially in older men. In some clinical trials, the effects of saw palmetto extract seemingly did not interfere with the release of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) - an indication of prostate cancer.
Some clinical trials produced contrasting results on the effects of saw palmetto. A three-year trial in Germany (data not available for the number of participants) reported an improvement in urination of 73% of patients. Contrastingly in a 2006 study, 225 men with moderate to severe BPH took 160mg saw palmetto extract twice daily for one year but reported no significant difference in their condition. This study was co-funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
The effects of saw palmetto on BPH lie mainly in treating and the remission of its symptoms. Studies have not produced conclusive evidences showing saw palmetto extract can aggressively shrink the size of an enlarged prostate. Moreover, the public is warned that saw palmetto remains unregulated by the FDA despite the clamor of its efficacy. It’s best to seek advice from a professional health practitioner before taking any herbal supplements.
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Saw Palmetto Side Effects - Be Warned!
... alternative medicines, there are as many illegal retailers that conduct their business unprofessionally. One should watch out on the quality and authenticity of saw palmetto products out there. Especially in buying a saw palmetto product in the Internet - be aware of being caught in the website's well-worded ads that would lure you to try out its saw palmetto products. One should remember that aside from the risk of buying fake saw palmetto products, one may also be led to purchase saw palmetto products lines of Effects Of Saw Palmetto a different formulation - and of a different potency. Some are even combined with other herbal ingredients - that in themselves have not been sufficiently evaluated for its medicinal benefits - and this becomes a serious matter and one that could possibly have adverse effects on your health. Looking Beyond Saw Palmetto Side Effects It is a fact that like most alternative medicines, the basis of its effectiveness are based on...
Effects Of Saw Palmetto On Women
... of Saw Palmetto on women for both hirsutism and bust enhancement is merely based on assumptions and theories of the product. The troubling disorder of hirsutism in women and the hypothetical effects of Saw Palmetto on women with this condition can be traced to what causes hirsutism as well as what Saw Palmetto has been proven to treat. Hirsutism's main androgen is testosterone; in men, having a lot of testosterone is normal, but it should not be as much in women. In both women and men, testosterone is transformed into stronger hormone called dihydrotestosterone or DHT. The hormone found in the skin that rouses hirsutism is DHT; therefore, the assumption that reducing DHT will enable the reduction of hirsutism as well. So where does Saw...
Combination Of Saw Palmetto And Propecia
... studies. The combination of Saw Palmetto and Propecia as a treatment for male-pattern hair loss has not yet been scientifically supported, although Saw Palmetto has been known to be a mild dietary supplement and no interactions with other drugs or herbs has been found or reported with it; but very small research has also been done to examine the effects of using the combination of Saw Palmetto and Propecia. Given that Saw Palmetto may possibly interfere with hormonal therapy or oral contraceptives, one should inform their physician if they're taking hormone medications before taking Saw Palmetto. The exact method of why and how Saw Palmetto functions is not well understood; it might have a result on DHT like Propecia does, but it is not yet verified as science has not identified the effects. There is no means of telling that the combination of Saw Palmetto and Propecia is safe, or...
Side Effects Of Taking Saw Palmetto
... US products are equivalent. BPH is a prostate gland enlargement condition, and is probably due to hormone level change that arises with age. The disorder affects a lot of men aging forty, and over half of men aging sixty. The enlarged prostate causes a press on the urethra that interferes with urination, and causes frequent need for urination (particularly during nighttime), a diminished or stop-and-start flow of urine, as well as the feeling of not Effects Of Saw Palmetto being able to completely empty the bladder. The studies on Saw Palmetto for BPH have been promising. One evaluation by Cochrane Collaboration (an independent study), have shown twenty-one trials, with more than three-thousand men that lasted for forty-eight weeks, with the conclusion that Saw Palmetto betters BPH urinary symptoms in men. The exact method of how Saw palmetto works is not entirely understood, but its sterols and fatty acids are believed to have a variety of anti-inflammatory...
Comparison Of Saw Palmetto To Finasteride
... to finasteride in this category has revealed that Saw Palmetto is a "natural" way of treating the condition, which is more often preferred by patients. Saw Palmetto works by inhibiting testosterone conversion to DHT and is believed to obstruct the production of progesterone and estrogen, which are hormones connected to the production of DHT; finasteride works by blocking a 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which is needed for testosterone conversion to DHT that can cause the prostate to grow, resulting to decreased prostate size. Saw Palmetto has not been clinically proven to treat male-pattern syndrome, although a lot of assumptions and advertisements of the product for this use has been given; finasteride is however used to stimulate hair growth, and have shown to be effective, although results may be seen after the medicine has been taken for approximately three months and lasts only while the medicine is being used. Saw Palmetto has been seen with mild side effects more commonly related to the...
Saw palmetto Dietary Supplements
Also there may be health risks of saw palmetto use, when one is pregnant or breast-feeding. It should also be avoided for use on children. One should remember that saw palmetto has some effects on one's hormones, and the reason exactly why Effects Of Saw Palmetto one should avoid the intake of this on cases mentioned above. There is always that potential for interactions with other drugs and medications, thus one should consider the health risks of saw palmetto use when one is on medication or is taking other drugs in the present time. This may pose some danger to one's health, and since saw palmetto has not been thoroughly evaluated with its interaction with other drugs - one may be exposed to health issues because of this. Health risks of saw palmetto use may have been considered to be of minor nature, but for your case such risks should be not be shun away. Always ask the advice of your doctor, and if it is viable...
Saw Palmetto for Hair Regrowth
... cycle. Saw palmetto for hair regrowth claims to work by blocking the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. Doing so will help prevent the formation of DHT. Effects Of Saw Palmetto Also, it blocks the receptors so that DHT could not attach in the hair follicles - and hopefully prevent hair loss from occurring. Saw Palmetto for Hair Regrowth - How Real Is It? Saw palmetto was popularized by its use on BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). There were claims of its effectiveness in giving remedy to the symptoms associated with BPH. Saw palmetto is believed to address the Type II 5-alpha-reductase enzyme found mainly in the prostate. Saw palmetto for hair regrowth addresses the Type I 5-alpha-reductase enzyme found in the skin and scalp. It...
What Is Saw Palmetto? And Answers To More Questions About It
... the market as a herb that treats those with BPH or Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. The symptom for this includes problems with urination that affects one's overall quality of life. It has also been considered to Effects Of Saw Palmetto be of some help to many other illnesses or diseases. What is saw palmetto? What is its history? The human race has benefited from saw palmetto for over a long time already. Way back in history saw palmetto fruits were part of the diet of the aborigines of the Florida peninsula. It was then considered a staple food. These aborigines or Indians on that time stored their dried saw palmetto fruits to serve as their food source for longer periods of time. It has also been believed that the Mayans took saw palmetto as a tonic. The Seminoles made use of the berries as antiseptic. It clearly had evidences of health benefits even during these earlier parts of history. What is saw palmetto - What are its health benefits? Aside from...
Saw Palmetto Side Effects
... which have been distinguished in documented scientific literature. Among the most common Saw Palmetto side effects involve the intestines and stomach, which includes nausea, stomach pain, constipation, vomiting, diarrhea, or bad breath. An upset stomach caused by Saw palmetto intake may be lessened through taking it with food. Several reports have suggested that there may be lesser abdominal discomfort through lipidosterolic extract preparation called Seronoa Repens (LSESR). Likewise, other Saw Palmetto side effects have been reports of dizziness, headache, muscle pain, insomnia, breathing difficulties, chest pain, muscle pain, irregular heart rhythm, high blood pressure, depression, chest pain, and heart disease, but are not yet evidently proven to be caused by the use of Saw Palmetto. People suffering from health conditions that involve the heart, stomach, lungs, or liver should use Saw Palmetto with Effects Of Saw Palmetto caution. Women or are pregnant or breastfeeding are not recommended to use Saw Palmetto extracts because of probable hormonal activity....
Saw Palmetto Products
... and Effects Of Saw Palmetto nasal inflammation associated with asthma. The fatty acids and sterols in saw palmetto are noted in many researches to inhibit the effects of testosterone in the prostate and prevent cells to multiply thereby preventing any blockage. The popularity of saw palmetto lies in its benefits associated with balancing hormones, enhancing sex drives (aphrodisiac), and retarding the hair loss process in males. Currently, saw palmetto products are not regarded as drugs in the U.S. while most of its known benefits are not supported by conclusive data. For saw palmetto products to have at least notable effect and reduce symptomatic problems, a daily dose of 160mg-320mg is recommended for a period of 1 months or more. These saw palmetto products contain amounts of saw palmetto fatty acids in capsules or softgel: Nature's Way Standardized Saw Palmetto Extract has 160 mg/softgel from Nature's Way sold at...
Hair Loss Treatment With Saw Palmetto Dosage Of The Right Amount
... action towards receptor cells - by blocking it so that DHT will not be absorbed there - all work together to prevent hair loss. A hair loss treatment with saw palmetto dosage of appropriate quantity - in consideration of the specific potency of the saw palmetto product at hand, will do well in getting enough dose of the substance in one's system. One should take note that different branded saw palmetto products may come in different strengths - since the market still lacks control and the standardization of this. Getting a hair loss treatment with saw palmetto dosage of negligible amount may not work as effectively. One should be able to get the right dosage to prevent hair loss. As there are some multivitamin products that include saw palmetto substances into it, the dosage for saw palmetto may be so low that it can be of little or no effect to your intended purpose of hair loss prevention. Hair loss treatment with saw palmetto dosage of the...
Medical Information On Saw Palmetto
... palmetto, as noted by previous researches, back up common claims on the efficacy of saw palmetto extracts for the symptomatic treatment of BPH but data are insufficient to conclude its benefits in breast enlargement, improving sexual desires, body building, or treating symptoms of asthma and chronic bronchitis. The American Urological Association (AUA), a 9,500-member organization of urologists have warned that saw palmetto might mask symptoms of such diseases like prostate cancer or Effects Of Saw Palmetto of the genitourinary system by inhibiting its symptoms like frequent urination, overflow incontinence, difficulty in initiating urination. The AUA have not released further medical information on saw palmetto to support admonitions saw palmetto supplements manufacturers. The AUA stresses that urinary tract diseases, common in men 40 and above, may be symptoms of far more serious illnesses...
Saw Palmetto and Weight Gain
... an active role on this. As a general tonic, it nourishes the body. Saw Palmetto berries contain oils with a variety of fatty acids. These fatty acids are said to include capric, caprylic, caproic, palmitic, oleic and lauric acids. Said oil is high in phytosterols - beta-sitosterol, cycloartenol, stigmasterol, lupeol, etc. This composition of its fruit is exactly the reason why saw palmetto has become very effective in alternative medicine. Many have espoused that these saw palmetto berries may have more than just the substances mentioned above - other more substances may be at play that act to provide the medicinal benefits it currently offers now. Only more extensive and intensive medical studies will prove that to be so - and its healing wonders would then become a mystery no more. The doubts will be erased and the claims will be supported. As is applied to saw palmetto and weight gain effects with such use - will be provided with evidences...
Saw Palmetto Contraindications
... only buy with the recommendation of a doctor. Even with these drugs or conventional medicines, there is a need for a doctor's guidance so that the right dosage will be administered and the side effects that may come with the use of the product be seen beforehand. One's specific condition, age, allergies, medical history and degree of illness play a part in your doctor's assessment on recommending a particular drug. Much in the same manner with herbal medicine that such factors are also considered. In both types - whether conventional or alternative treatment is done - the side effects and interactions with other medicines are always considered. There have been cases wherein interactions of different drugs resulted to risks in one's health - even to one's life. As with saw palmetto use, it is important that the necessary precautions are observed, and all essential factors...
Saw Palmetto Supplement
... supplement, a recommended daily dose of 2 softgels is to be taken with meals. Retail price is $15.95 for 90 softgels but is sold at a sale price of $10.85. Studies on the effects of higher doses of saw palmetto has not been conducted yet but manufacturers are already Effects Of Saw Palmetto manufacturing doses as high as 550mg such as NOW Foods sold at a retail price of $14.99 but on sale at $9.99. Both products mentioned are available at www.global-nutrition-inc.com. Saw palmetto supplement with Pygeum helps enhance prostate health. Extensive research supports the long tradition of the effective combination of extracts of saw palmetto and pygeum in maintaining a healthy prostate. The sterol compounds in pygeum naturally complement with the constituents in saw palmetto. Each softgel contains 100mg dried extract of pygeum and 320mg dried extract of saw palmetto. Vitamin B6 and 10mg...