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 theU.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.
Saw palmetto is a type of dwarf palm that grows in some parts of Europe, Africa, and the southeastern part of the
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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