Pharmaceutical products of the saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) are still largely made from wild collections, and extensive stocks are found primarily in the southeastern United States. Saw palmetto products are often mixed with medicinal plants with a similar effect (such as nettle root extract and pumpkin seeds). People order saw palmetto online because of its therapeutic effects.

The effect of saw palmetto for benign enlargement of the prostate is safe; you brake the increase in the size of the prostate, caused by a reduction in congestion. Also, the saw palmetto alleviates problems with urination through the relaxing effect. Both in the first and second stages of prostate hyperplasia, the saw palmetto products can be used. But be careful, treatment with saw palmetto only relieves the symptoms, additional medical care is still necessary. Saw palmetto is also very well tolerated and has hardly any side effects.

Appearance and origin of Saw Palmetto

The saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) rarely gets higher than 1-2 meters and belongs to the palm family (Palmae). It spreads like a bush over its creeping sprout (rhizome). The palm fronds are large, fan-shaped, sawn at the edge and colored gray-green. The long petioles are trimmed with teeth. In the dense, bulb-like inflorescences, egg-shaped, approximately 3 cm large, lonely berry fruits develop, which turn black when ripe.

The dwarf palm prefers barren sandy soils and a dry and hot climate.

The saw palmetto is native to the coastal regions of the southern United States. It is part of the Florida coastline, where you can easily recognize it by its large, fan-shaped leaves. The indigenous people used it as food. Today it plays an important role in herbal medicine.

The olive-like fruits are harvested ripe and used either fresh or dried. After crushing, they are extracted with fat-dissolving (lipophilic) solvents (hexane, ethanol or liquid carbon dioxide). Usually, the dried fruits are not part of numerous ready-made products, but the extracts.

How well does saw palmetto help in benign prostatic hyperplasia?

The effect of the saw palmetto against benign prostatic hyperplasia in stage I to II has been proven by numerous clinical studies. This drug brings about a significant increase in the quality of life and is equivalent in effect to the synthetic comparative product finasteride; at a lower price and fewer side effects.

The medication only improves the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, but the effect on the reduction in size is small (volume decrease approx. 6%). Therefore, a doctor should accompany the therapy.  It has assured effectiveness against ladder complaints, due to benign enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) stage I-II)

Other medicinal effects of saw palmetto

The American dwarf palm or saw palmetto is a species of fan palm that produces small fruits in an oval shape. Native Americans have used it for centuries as a source of food and herbal medicine. Currently, the health benefits of the fruits of this tree are widely recognized and it is an ingredient frequently found in various nutritional supplements.

It can help stop hair loss

The aspect by which the extract of the fruit of the dwarf palm is most known is its use in treatments against hair loss. Studies show that it is particularly useful in people suffering from androgenic alopecia, also known as pattern baldness. It works by blocking the production of DHT, a hormone that causes hair follicles to stop producing healthy hair. Frequently called “the natural finasteride,” it can be a great alternative for men and women who experience side effects when taking conventional medication.

It can help prevent cancer

Several laboratory experiments show that dwarf palm may be useful for preventing cancer. Evidence suggests that the extract may reduce inflammation and the growth of cancer cells. However, further research will be necessary to fully understand how it works.

Can boost libido

Dwarf palm extract has hormonal balance effects and helps maintain testosterone levels in the body. It is usually advertised as an aphrodisiac and there is a significant amount of anecdotal evidence that suggests that it can boost libido and improve sexual function in general.

Active ingredient hormone dihydrotestosterone

The hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is believed to play an important role in the development of prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Ingredients of the saw palmetto fruit interfere with the metabolism of the steroid hormones, inhibit the formation of dihydrotestosterone from testosterone and promote the conversion of DHT. They also block the binding of dihydrotestosterone and other hormones to their receptors. This inhibits the hormone effect. The extracts, therefore, have multiple active principles, which at least slow the increase in the size of the prostate.

Combination with other active ingredients

The saw palmetto products are often mixed with medicinal plants with a similar effect: nettle root extract, pumpkin seeds, hypoxic tubers and the bark extracts of African stinkwood (Prunus Africana).

CONCLUSION

The saw palmetto works for symptoms of BPH, such as poor urine flow and delayed onset of urine flow. As the bladder emptying improves, the urge to urinate (pollakiuria) decreases and the frequency of going to the toilet (nocturia) at night decreases. The antispasmodic property is also said to promote urine flow. The Sabal extract also shows anti-inflammatory and anti-edema properties. The effectiveness of the sabal fruit extracts against prostate hyperplasia was demonstrated in several controlled clinical studies.

If you have more than 60 ml of residual urine, you need to be more vigilant, as there is a risk of urinary retention, infection and other complications.