General Description
Saw palmetto (also known as the sabal palm) is a dwarf palm tree
found in the West Indies and in the United States along the southern
Atlantic coast. It grows to a height of 6 to 10 feet, with a fan-shaped
crown of 2 to 4 foot serrated leaves. The tree bears wrinkled, red-brown
to black berries, which are used for health purposes.
Health applications
History and traditional use
Native Americans used saw palmetto berries to treat urinary tract
disorders in men. Herbalists have traditionally used saw palmetto
berry tea to treat urinary tract infections and prostate enlargement.
Modern studies have focused on the herb's potential benefit in the
treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Chemical Composition
The active components in saw palmetto berries include fatty acids
and sterols. Extracts of saw palmetto berries are usually standardized
to contain 85 to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols.
Saw palmetto and the prostate
More than half of men over age forty are affected by BPH, a condition
in which the prostate gland becomes enlarged, eventually compressing
the urethra and inhibiting normal urine flow. Studies have shown
that saw palmetto may significantly improve urinary tract symptoms
in men with BPH1-3, apparently by inhibiting
the activity of an enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone
(a hormone that promotes overproduction of prostatic cells, resulting
in prostate enlargement).4-5 Saw palmetto
appears to be as effective as Proscar (a
prescription drug used in the treatment of BPH), but with fewer
adverse side effects.1
Dosage/Toxicity
Medical studies have used 320 mg per day, divided into two 160
mg doses.2-3 To assure reliable potency, many
herbalists recommend a fat-soluble extract standardized to contain
85 to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols.6
Saw palmetto is well tolerated with few reported side effects,
usually limited to minor gastrointestinal complaints.3
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