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March 16th, 2007

Medical Information On Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto has recently gained popularity in the U.S. for its medical uses among which is giving symptomatic relief for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as well as conditions associated with the bladder and urinary tract. The extract of the partially dried berries of saw palmetto constitutes amounts of fatty acids like lauric acid, myristic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid, and also includes plant sterols and polysaccharides. The active part of saw palmetto is in these oils.

Saw palmetto is a type of dwarf palm that grows in some parts of Europe, Africa, and the southeastern part of the U.S. Many centuries back, saw palmetto was part of the staples of Indian-Americans who eventually discovered its uses. Today, however, substantive medical information on saw palmetto is yet to be supported by research. Most data from research only indicate that saw palmetto has no known side effects in laboratory animals that were fed 2g/kg of the herb’s extracts for six months.

Medical information on saw 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 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 that need medical attention rather than treating symptoms alone, which may result in the delayed treatment when the disease is already on its advanced stage.

For saw palmetto to at least have some perceptible benefits, a daily dose of 160-320mg containing 80-90% of extract is recommended. Medical information on saw palmetto in relation to its contraindications was substantiated in a laboratory research conducted on rats and dogs that were fed 2g/kg of saw palmetto for six months. The subjects did not seem to show ill-side effects. The most common side effect of saw palmetto is gastrointestinal distress, which can be relieved by taking saw palmetto along with food.

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Saw Palmetto Side Effects - Be Warned!
Palmetto Side Effects Medical Information On Saw Palmetto - Fake Pills & Less Potency Products One should be very careful in purchasing saw palmetto herbs out there in the market. While there are many legitimate establishments selling authentic 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 a different formulation - and of a different potency. Some are even combined with other herbal ingredients -...

Saw Palmetto and Weight Gain
... weight brought about by this herb, the stronger the belief of more people that perhaps saw palmetto may play 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...

Saw Palmetto as an Aphrodisiac
... and gradually accepted such types of medicine. Being a general tonic in the past, has categorized saw palmetto as an aphrodisiac supplement that can be used by men to bring back their yearning Medical Information On Saw Palmetto & longing for sex. Some would need a little bit of help - that extra bit of jolt to get back on track to their previous pace & levels of libido - and saw palmetto is believed to be able to give the spark necessary in achieving this. Saw palmetto as an aphrodisiac is used to heighten one's sexual desire and increase libido. These are used by some who feel their sex lives need a little jumpstart - regardless of age. It is believed to increase nutrition to the testicles. If it truly does this - it is indeed worthy to be called a wonder herb. What is conflicting though...

Saw Palmetto For Weight Gain Purposes
... as a tonic herb. Saw palmetto Medical Information On Saw Palmetto for weight gain or for endurance or for sports performance purposes does not lack a strong following that believes in its efficacy. Some who may have not seen improvements, not only in their general state of health, but also in terms of gaining significant pounds to reach their ideal body weight - also turn to saw palmetto. Saw palmetto's berries are said to contain the wonders of this herb, and in these fruits have come about extracts that are used for one's medication. As also being claimed by some women, it has been of their belief that taking saw palmetto increases breast size. Some have held on to this belief, and have also become concerned of the herb's fattening effect along with this. Some who have just recovered from a major illness or are even still recovering, also take some dosage of the saw palmetto herb. As...

Saw Palmetto and Acne II
... in flushing out toxins. Getting the toxins out would also mean increased metabolism, vibrant energy and clearer skin - thereby aiding in fighting acne. Flax seed oil, milk thistle, saw palmetto and acne addressed directly or indirectly with their medical effects - are worthy of consideration. Milk thistle is considered to purify the liver - and working with the other herbs for aiding acne treatment is surely one Medical Information On Saw Palmetto way to go. Exercise makes one sweat. It increases blood circulation. With such activity, the excretion of waste is hastened. Toxins are given a way to get out of one's system. This would be of help as well. Vitamins, minerals, fiber-rich food, exercise, lots of water, other herbs, saw palmetto and acne given due treatment with these...

Herbal Teas With Saw Palmetto
... renewal. There are hundreds of known herbal teas, many of which are commercially prepared and ready-to-drink. Medical Information On Saw Palmetto One of the most widely accepted herbal plants and prepared as tea is saw palmetto. While the saw palmetto tea is considered a tonic drink in itself, other manufacturers in the natural/organic pharmaceutical business make herbal teas with saw palmetto. What is saw palmetto? Saw palmetto is a palm like low-lying shrub that grows in the continents of Europe, Africa and along the coasts of southeastern North America. Its fruits are around the size of olives, which turn purple black when ripe, and form clusters. It is the saw palmetto berry extracts that contain herbal benefits and used for medicinal treatments, among those is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The medical benefits of saw palmetto in BPH for some people have been backed up by research. Herbal Teas with saw palmetto Natural/organic manufacturers mix herbal teas with saw palmetto for the drink to provide additional rejuvenating effects than saw...

Mix Of Herbs Saw Palmetto Complex
... itself contains essential fatty acids like lauric acid, myristic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, phytosterols, and polysaccharides. The use of saw palmetto dates back many centuries ago to the Native Americans who used saw palmetto as a staple in the winter months. It was also during this time that the elder men felt an improvement in their nighttime urination, and hence begins the theory about saw palmetto. According to several studies, saw palmetto complex seems to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The latter is the compound that signals prostate cells to multiply abnormally enlarging the prostate as in the case of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Saw palmetto complex is often a mixture of saw palmetto extract, pumpkin...

Saw Palmetto Overdose
... related to sex-hormones. Taking Saw Palmetto if one has Medical Information On Saw Palmetto any of these conditions may be dangerous as the product affects hormonal levels in the body. Keep in mind that Saw Palmetto has not been FDA evaluated for effectiveness, purity, and safety, and so all possible risks and/or advantages of the product, including how Saw Palmetto overdose can occur, may not be identified. Saw Palmetto usage in the traditional and cultural settings may vary from accepted concepts of present Western medicine. If considering the use of this herbal supplement, consulting a primary health care expert is advisable. In addition, consulting a practitioner skilled in the uses of health/herbal supplements can be beneficial, as well as coordinating the treatment among every health care provider...

Saw Palmetto And Testosterone: One Affecting The Other
... BPH. Saw Palmetto and Testosterone Control Either way, testosterone plays a part in both theories. The use of saw palmetto and testosterone levels seem to have a direct relation. The herb inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha reductase enzyme, which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Administering saw palmetto and testosterone effect resulting with such use treats the symptoms of BPH - and as claimed by some, on male pattern baldness. As hair loss is believed to have been caused in the same manner as BPH, and by the action of saw palmetto and testosterone controlled as claimed - many have concluded even without significant medical studies, the efficacy of the said herb in alopecia treatment. Workings of Saw Palmetto and Testosterone Effects How saw palmetto exactly works is...

Saw Palmetto Herb
... with Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or BPH. BPH in simple terms means having an enlarged prostate and it also means the same as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Symptoms for BPH include urine leakage, frequent urination, weak urinary stream, difficulty to urinate and nighttime urination. Although it is not surely known to reduce the prostate's size, it can help by reducing inflammation and swelling of the prostate gland - thus addressing the symptoms that come with BPH. Saw palmetto herb does this by inhibiting the testosterone effects on the prostate. There are also studies that show that saw palmetto herb can help in hair re-growth. It prevents male balding by stopping testosterone in converting into dihydrotestosterone or DHT - and by not allowing DHT to bind with androgen receptors. Some have also used saw palmetto herb to aid in Medical Information On Saw Palmetto muscle building. Others have also used it to increase libido, treat impotence and to increase sperm count. Saw palmetto herb is also believed to help those with thyroid...

Prostate Health And Saw Palmetto
... which is of course misplaced. Newer techniques in suppressing the androgen testosterone don't mean surgical or chemical removal of the testicles. That is because androgen deprivation therapy techniques of today make use of enzymes like 5-AR inhibitor to block the switching of testosterone androgen to DHT. -Without starving the whole body of the essential hormone testosterone. That is why prostate health and saw palmetto works together marvelously. It seems prostate health and saw palmetto compliments each other in every detail. Saw palmetto is an herbal extract of a plant sharing the same name. In the past it is commonly taken by men to improve urinary function, hence why it is an effective treatment to sufferers of an enlarged prostate glands, or BPH. And likewise, since prostate cancer sufferers exhibit symptoms of BPH, saw palmetto works beautifully with them too. How can saw palmetto aid you? As an excellent inhibitor 5-alpha reductase, it prevents formation of testosterone to Medical Information On Saw Palmetto DHT,...

Saw Palmetto For Fertility
... side effects although gastrointestinal distress was reported in patients taking 320mg daily in divided doses for at least 6 weeks. This mild reaction to saw palmetto can be alleviated when taking food along. For the purpose of comparison, not all clinical trials favor admonitions for saw palmetto. A 2006 Medical Information On Saw Palmetto study co-funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) on 225 men with moderate to severe BPH, who took 160mg twice daily for one year, reported no significant improvement in their conditions. Consumers must be given stern warning on the use of herbs in general. Herbs like saw palmetto are potent so that it's important to discuss this matter with a medical practitioner. Moreover, patients wanting to lift the odds...

What Is Saw Palmetto? And Answers To More Questions About It
... side effects? Saw palmetto, like any other medicine - either it be official prescription medicine or alternative medicine - have side effects that result from such use. The side effects though are found to occur very rarely and of minor types. These side effects are usually associated with the stomach & intestines. There have also been complaints on allergies, decline in sexual desire and tender breasts. If one should experience any of these side effects or any other condition that may have resulted with one's intake of saw palmetto - stop the use of it and refer your condition to your doctor. What is saw palmetto - How much dosage is necessary? Saw palmetto is taken in orally. There are saw palmetto products in the market that has a specific strength and purity that would fit your Medical Information On Saw Palmetto case. As to the dosage, the correct answer for this one, as always is - it depends. And this is true. Each individual or patient for that...

Saw Palmetto And Pygeum Extracts
... Since the middle of the 80's, not less than 10 studies, including double-blinded studies, have affirmed the effectiveness of saw palmetto and pygeum extract. Not only is the combination effective in treating symptomatic BPH, a 1991 Italian study also indicated the value of pygeum in giving relief to urinary problems associated with BPH, as well as increasing sexual desires. Some products of saw palmetto and pygeum extract include a formulation of 85% fatty acids and plant sterols in a 320mg saw palmetto extract and 100mg of pygeum extract, with Vitamin D3 and 15mg zinc. Vitamin D3, Medical Information On Saw Palmetto zinc and selenium are vitamins that help restore sexual functions and prevent prostate cancer. Consumers must be warned though that the FDA does not yet recognize saw palmetto and...

Saw Palmetto Affects Prostate Cancer
... benefits in alleviating lower urinary tract symptoms as well as inhibiting the formation of the compound dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the culprit that commands cells to over multiply resulting in enlarged prostates. Saw palmetto's uses trace back to the Indian-Americans who utilized the fruits of this plant as a staple until they discovered its medicinal uses. Previous studies failed to conclude that saw palmetto affects prostate cancer, other than providing symptomatic relief to BPH and irritations of the urinary Medical Information On Saw Palmetto tract. However, inconclusive data do show that main active elements found in saw palmetto, which are the plant sterols, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, and polysaccharides. Saw palmetto inhibits the overproduction of human sex hormones, consequently correcting hormonal imbalance. By inhibiting testosterone, saw...

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