Saw Palmetto 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Saw Palmetto – 100 g ($24.99), 50 g ($14.99), 25 g ($9.99)

Benefits:

Folk medicine has used saw palmetto for inflammation of the urinary tract, bladder, testicles, and mammary glands. It has also been used for bed-wetting, persistent cough, eczema, and improvement of the libido. Homeopathy remedies are used for urination problems and inflammation of the urinary tract. American physicians recognized the usefulness of saw palmetto in hormonal regulation as early as 1856. Doctors prescribed teas of whole dried palmetto berries for breast enlargement, muscle building, and prostate problems.

Saw palmetto has since gained widespread use by doctors and alternative health practitioners as a safe treatment for prostate disorders. In fact, the German Commission E has approved its use for urination problems associated with benign prostatic disease stage I and II. Stage I is characterized by an increase in the frequency of urination, nighttime urination, and weak urinary stream. Stage II is the beginning of decompensation of bladder function accompanied by formation of residual urine and urge to urinate. Saw palmetto also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and prostate cancer. Herbalist Andrew Chevallier has called saw palmetto the “plant catheter” for its ability to strengthen the neck of the bladder and to reduce enlargement of the prostate, allowing for the free passage of urine. Saw palmetto’s action in this regard has been demonstrated by research. In a double-blind study of thirty men, Italian investigators found that one month’s treatment with saw palmetto extract increased urine flow 1,700 percent more than placebo. A study of 110 men by British researchers found that 320 milligrams of saw palmetto extract daily was five times more effective than placebo in improving bladder emptying. In addition, the men did not have as much difficulty, discomfort, or pain in urinating as they had before taking the herb, and reported that they did not have to get up at night to urinate as often. The value of saw palmetto in treating prostate enlargement is so widely recognized in Germany that over 90 percent of German men with prostate enlargement are treated with saw palmetto, often in combination with other herbs.

However, not all studies have shown saw palmetto to be effective in BPH. In one study where men took 160 milligrams of saw palmetto twice a day, there were not significant differences in maximum urinary flow rate, residual volume after voiding, and prostate size compared to placebo. In another study, an extract of saw palmetto, Permixon, did not consistently afford any greater benefit compared to a drug, tamsulosin, except there seemed to be improvement in the amount of “peak urinary flow” symptoms. Two large studies capturing the totality of the evidence also did not support saw palmetto for BPH. However, combining saw palmetto with other herbs seemed to offer benefit to men with chronic prostatitis when the herb was combined with urtica dioica, curcumin, and quercetin. Similarly, adding saw palmetto to vitamin E, cernitin, and beta sitosterol improved subjective symptoms but not objective measurement in patients with BPH. Subjects reported 242 percent improvement in daytime urinary frequency and 258 percent improvement in nighttime urination. In another study, pretreatment with saw palmetto reduced complications during and after surgery for transurethral resection of the prostate and open prostatectomy.

Saw palmetto eases prostate swelling by regulating hormones. If there is an excess of dihydrotestosterone, which stimulates the growth of new cells in the prostate, the prostate can thicken and squeeze the urethra, making urination difficult. Saw palmetto extracts reduce prostate enlargement by reducing the availability of dihydrotestosterone to prostate tissue. Deprived of its hormonal stimulus, cell division in prostate tissue slows. Although saw palmetto prevents the prostate from absorbing dihydrotestosterone, it does not reduce the body’s production of testosterone, which would cause changes in sex drive and sexual performance. Saw palmetto extracts also reduce prostate enlargement by short-circuiting the pathways by which inflammation-causing hormones are produced. This action reduces swelling caused by the accumulation of fluid in prostate tissue. It may also account for the fact that saw palmetto extracts offer relief much sooner than their prescription alternatives.

 Recommended Use

Saw palmetto is available as a tablet or saw palmetto liposomes. For prostate conditions, it is often combined with pygeum. (See PYGEUM.) A few locally produced saw palmetto teas are still on the market today. These are not recommended for the indications listed here. Most commercial saw palmetto products, however, are made from concentrated extracts of the berries’ naturally occurring fat-soluble steroids.

There is some disagreement among experts as to whether saw palmetto berries offer the same benefits as saw palmetto extract. The German Commission E states that the daily dose is 1 to 2 grams of saw palmetto berry, which is equal to 320 milligrams. Saw palmetto berries frequently cause diarrhea, and in rare cases saw palmetto extract can cause stomach upset. Whichever form of the herb is used, it may take four to six weeks to determine if the herb is helping.

Patients with hormone-dependent cancers should be cautious about taking saw palmetto and speak to their doctor first. Saw palmetto is both antiestrogenic and estrogenic, and antiandrogenic. It is not recommended during pregnancy and lactation due to its hormonal effects. Drug-interaction experts Joe and Teresa Graedon suggest that women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not handle saw palmetto tablets, just as they should avoid contact with finasteride (a synthetic antiandrogen). Additionally, since saw palmetto berries have both estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity, the Graedons suggest that women taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy should also avoid saw palmetto products.

You should not use saw palmetto to treat urinary problems without first seeking medical evaluation. Similar symptoms can be caused by more serious conditions, such as prostate cancer, that require medical treatment. Men taking the drugs finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) should inform their doctors if they are also taking saw palmetto, as dosages may have to be adjusted. Saw palmetto should not be used in conjunction with blood-thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin), as there is an increased risk of bleeding. Saw palmetto binds iron, so patients taking supplemental iron should allow two hours between ingestion of saw palmetto and iron.

Botanical Name: Serenoa repens
English: Palmetto berry
Also, known as: American dwarf palm tree, Dwarf palm tree, Dwarf palmetto, Fan palm, Sabal, Sabal Fructus, Sägepalmenfrüchte, saw palmetto, Saw palmetto berries, Serenoa, American Dwarf Palm Tree, Baies du Chou Palmiste, Baies du Palmier Scie, Cabbage Palm, Chou Palmiste, Ju-Zhong, Palma Enana Americana, Palmier de Floride, Palmier Nain, Palmier Nain Américain, Palmier Scie, Sabal, Sabal Fructus, Sabal serrulata, Saw Palmetto Berry, Serenoa repens, Serenoa serrulata
Origin: USA
Harvested: Wild
Parts Used: Partially-dried ripe fruit

General Information:
The plant grows from 6 to 10 feet high, forming what is called the ‘palmetto scrub. It has a crown of large leaves, and the fruit is irregularly-spherical to oblong-ovoid, deep red-brown, slightly wrinkled, being from j to 1 inch long and about £ inch in diameter. It contains a hard-brown seed. The taste is sweetish and not agreeable, and the panicle containing it may weigh as much as 9 lb. It has no odor.

How to use:
Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water. Bring the water to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30-60 minutes. Strain and squeeze out as much as liquid as possible and enjoy it!

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with a bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder and or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purposes ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.