Other Common Names: Sabal, Sabal Fructus, Fructus Serenoae, S'gepalmenfr?chte, S'gepalme.

Habitat: Saw palmetto is found in sandy coastal lands or as undergrowth in pine forests in the Southeastern United States.

Description:Saw palmetto is a fan palm plant. The flowers produced by this plant are yellowish-white and the fruit is a reddish-black fleshy fruit with a pit.

Plant Parts Used: The fruit. The Native Americans ate the fruit for nourishment but also used it for treatment of many urinary and genital disorders. The European settlers saw this use and developed additional uses for it. An extract from the fruit is used in herbal medicine today. Essential fatty acids and phytosterols are found in this extract. The fatty acids contained in saw palmetto are lauric acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and myristic acid. The polysaccharides; galactose, arabinose, and uronic acid, are also found in the fruit.

Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of Saw Palmetto

* Historically, saw palmetto has been used as a tea to treat benign enlargement of the prostate. It was also commonly used to treat frequent urinary tract infections. Some also believed it increased sperm production and sex drive in men. It also found use as an aphrodisiac and breast enlarger in women. Frequent urination and excessive night urination, due to inflammation of the bladder or prostate, was a common condition treated by saw palmetto in the past.

* Today many studies have been, and still are being, conducted on saw palmetto to test some of the common claims. It is commonly used today to tone the male reproductive system and boost the production in reproductive hormones in men. It has also been used by females with fertility issues and reproductive organ problems as well. It is still being used to treat many urinary tract disorders. In some cases it has been shown to aid thyroid function and help with asthma and other bronchial and throat problems, especially those related to excess mucous secretions.

* One of the other issues that its use has been focused on is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH.) Testosterone collects in the prostate and the converts to dihydrotestosterone (DHT.) This causes the cells to multiply quickly causing an enlargement of the prostate. Saw palmetto is thought to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT and also the binding of DHT to receptor sites.

* Saw palmetto has also been touted as anabolic agent, contributing to muscle growth. This is also a by-product of the action on testosterone, stopping its conversion to DHT. This leads to more free floating testosterone, which is an anabolic agent and leads to more muscle mass.

* There are few, positive clinical trials published on the benefits of saw palmetto extracts both topically and internally for hair loss (baldness) in men.

Potential Side Effects of Saw Palmetto

This herb has been found to be relatively safe. There have not been any contraindications or drug interactions found. The long-term effects have not been analyzed yet but it appears safe at normal doses. It is also safe to mix with other herbs. It may be taken with Damiana and Kola for reproductive system health. Horsetail and Hydrangea can be taken with it to help slow or reverse growth in enlarged prostate glands.

Even though it has been shown to be safe in normal doses it is important not to use larger than normal doses. It is also important to consult your physician if you are on prescription medications or may be pregnant. One of the primary active ingredients in saw palmetto, beta-sistosterol, is similar to cholesterol on a chemical level. In very rare cases mild nausea, reduced libido and erectile dysfunction may be experienced. As with any herbal supplement, if side effects are experienced during use, discontinue the supplement and if they do not clear up consult a physician.