In herbal medicine, saw palmetto (Serenoa repens or Sabal serrulata) is a plant. Saw palmetto is a plant that is often used to treat hair loss and prostate issues.
Saw palmetto supplements are usually made up of extracts from the plant's fruit.
What Is the Purpose of Saw Palmetto?
Asthma, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), chronic pelvic pain syndrome, colds, coughs, migraine, prostate cancer, and sore throat are all reported to benefit from saw palmetto in alternative medicine.
Saw palmetto is also known to help with libido and stress relief.
Some of these possible advantages have received only sporadic scientific backing.
BPH
The treatment of BPH, a disorder characterised by enlargement of the prostate, is one of the most prevalent applications of saw palmetto. BPH is not a life-threatening condition, but it does induce symptoms such as an increased desire to pee. It may also cause urinary tract infections and other problems.
Saw palmetto has been demonstrated in a few modest trials to aid with BPH symptoms. However, according to a 2012 study published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, saw palmetto may be inefficient in treating urinary symptoms related to BPH.
Researchers looked at 32 previously published clinical studies with a total of 5,666 people for this investigation. In males with BPH-related lower urinary tract symptoms, saw palmetto did not enhance urine flow measurements or prostate size, according to their findings.
Loss of hair
5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme involved in the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, is believed to be inhibited by saw palmetto. Androgenic alopecia, often known as male-pattern hair loss, seems to have dihydrotestosterone as a crucial factor in its development.
While there isn't much proof that saw palmetto can aid with hair loss, there is some evidence that it can help with androgenetic alopecia.
A group of guys with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia exhibited a "very good response" to therapy with saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol in a pilot trial published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2002. This conclusion was partially related to saw palmetto's ability to suppress the action of 5-alpha reductase, according to the study's authors.
Other Advantages
According to new studies, saw palmetto may be useful in the treatment of a variety of different health problems.
In 2010, small research published in the Swiss journal Urologia Internationalis indicated that saw palmetto might help individuals with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
The research divided 102 patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome into two groups: one got a combination of saw palmetto, selenium, and lycopene, while the other received just saw palmetto. Both groups demonstrated a considerable reduction in symptoms after eight weeks of therapy.
There's also some evidence that consuming saw palmetto before prostate surgery will help you spend less time in the operating room (as well as blood loss, the development of problems during surgery, and total time spent in the hospital).
Possible Negative Consequences
Saw palmetto has a slew of negative consequences, including:
• Foul Breath
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness
• Exhaustion
• Headache
Erectile dysfunction, breast tenderness or enlargement, and changes in sexual desire have all been observed in males who have taken saw palmetto.
Saw palmetto may affect the levels of sex hormones like oestrogen and testosterone, despite the fact that it hasn't been properly studied in people. As a result, anybody with a hormone-sensitive disease (such as breast cancer or prostate cancer) should talk to their doctor before using saw palmetto. Saw palmetto should not be taken by children or pregnant women.
Rare case reports of liver inflammation, pancreatitis, jaundice, headache, dizziness, sleeplessness, depression, breathing problems, muscular discomfort, high blood pressure, chest pain, irregular heart rhythm, blood clots, and heart disease have been reported, but they haven't been linked to saw palmetto.
Saw palmetto has been associated with significant bleeding in at least two cases. Unless under medical supervision, anyone with bleeding issues or who is using anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs like warfarin (Coumadin®), aspirin, or clopidogrel (Plavix®) should avoid taking saw palmetto. It should also be avoided two weeks before or after surgery.
Saw Palmetto Capsules Dosage and Preparation
There is insufficient scientific evidence to suggest a dosage of saw palmetto. A dosage of 320 mg of saw palmetto extract was given daily for two months before surgery in trials investigating the efficacy of saw palmetto on prostate surgery patients.
Your age, gender, and medical history may all influence the dosage that is right for you. To obtain tailored advice, speak with your healthcare practitioner.
What to Watch Out For
Saw palmetto-containing dietary supplements may be found at a variety of natural-food shops, drugstores, and herbal-products stores. Saw palmetto may also be purchased over the internet.
If you decide to purchase this or any other supplement, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests looking for a Supplement Facts label on the package. The quantity of active substances per serving, as well as additional added components, will be listed on this label (like fillers, binders, and flavorings).
Finally, the group recommends that you search for a product that has a mark of approval from a third-party quality-testing agency. U.S. Pharmacopeia, ConsumerLab.com, and NSF International are among these organisations. A mark of approval from one of these organisations does not guarantee the product's safety or efficacy, but it does ensure that it was made correctly, has the contents specified on the label, and is free of hazardous contaminants.
