AKA: American Dwarf Palm Tree, CabbagePalm, Ju-Zhong, Palmier Nain, Sabal, Sabal Fructus, Serenoa Repens, Serenoa serrulata, Sabal Serrulata

The Saw Palmettos is a small palm tree that is indigenous to the coastal parts of the Southern United States. Native Americans were the first to use the deep purple berries of the plant, using it as a food as well as an urinary and reproductive aid. The Mayans reportedly used it as a nutritive tonic and the Seminoles used the berries as an expectorant and antiseptic. The plant has also been used by newly arriving colonists as a way to recover for illness and for problems with the urinary tract.

Benefits and Uses   

• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
• Increase bust size
• Aphrodisiac
• Hair Growth
• Cancer Prevention
• Muscle Tone

In the late 1800's saw palmetto started to receive notice from the medical community for its benefits. Dr. J.B. Read wrote in the April 1879 issue of the American Journal of Pharmacy that saw palmetto By its peculiar soothing power on the mucous membrane it induces sleep, relieves the most troublesome coughs, promotes expectoration, improves digestion and increases fat, flesh and strength. Its sedative and diuretic properties are remarkable," He went on to write: "Considering the great and diversified power of the saw palmetto as a therapeutic agent, it seems strange that it should have so long escaped the notice of the medical profession."

Today, saw palmetto is used by natural health practitioners to treat a wide array of ailments such as inflammation of the urinary tract and testicles, coughs and respiratory congestion. It is also utilized to strengthen the thyroid gland, regulate metabolism, stimulate appetite and help with digestion. This herb is also being used for prostate health, and many people take it to help increase sexual vigor, increase breast size and even help with male pattern baldness.

BPH, Hair loss and DHT

Benign prostate Hyperplasia, or BPH is a condition which many men over the age of 40 suffer from. BPH is the enlargement of the prostate gland. This swelling of the gland results in the obstruction of the urethra which leads to painful urination, reduced urine flow, stopping or starting and dribbling after urinating, and more frequent urination at night. If left untreated, BPH could lead to serious kidney problems. Saw palmetto is thought to help men control their BPH problems by reducing the amount of dihydrotestorone (DHT), estrogen and progesterone that men create. These hormones are thought to contribute to the enlargement of the prostate. In one study involving 50 men taking 320 mg of saw palmetto extract a day and 44 other taking a placebo, the patients treated with the extract urinated less frequently, had a better urine flow, and reported less pain and discomfort while urinating. The patients taking saw palmetto also reported fewer side effects than those in the control studies.

Another trail involving 3000 European men showed that saw palmetto was just as effective in relieving symptoms of BPH as the over the counter drug: Proscar (November 1998 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association). Studies like these have actually lead to the FDA to evaluate the herbal product for approval for the treatment of BPH.  On a side note, the production of DHT is also linked to Androgen alopecia (male pattern baldness) leading to saw palmetto becoming a popular additive to many herbal hair loss supplements.

Side Effects

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding: talk to your doctor before taking saw palmetto. Also talk to your doctor if you have a hormone related cancer like breast or prostate cancer, or if you taking hormone related drugs such as testosterone and estrogen replacements.

coming soon....