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Saw palmetto is a small palm tree found in Florida and the Gulf Coast that produces a brown berry. Centuries ago, Native Americans discovered that the berry has diuretic effects and began using it to treat urinary problems. Today, saw palmetto is the premier herbal treatment for prostate enlargement. History of Saw Palmetto Native Americans had many uses for saw palmetto. They harvested the plant’s leaves for mattress stuffing and thatched roofing and to weave into hats and baskets. Doctors throughout the South recommended berry preparations to treat coughs and bronchitis. However, saw palmetto was used primarily as an aphrodisiac to enlarge women’s breasts and treat benign prostate enlargement in men, called BPH. Saw Palmetto Uses Today, saw palmetto is no aphrodisiac, nor does it enlarge the breast. But since the 1990s the herb’s berry extract has become a widely accepted treatment for benign prostate enlargement. After age 40, men’s testosterone levels decline and other hormones increase like prolactin and another male sex hormone. These hormones cause the overgrowth of prostate tissue that is referred to as prostate enlargement. Many studies have shown that saw palmetto shrinks enlarged prostates and relieves symptoms of BPH including the need to urinate frequently and urgently, difficulty getting started, decreased flow, difficulty finishing or dribbling, and the need to get up at night to urinate. It should be noted that neither saw palmetto nor drugs like Proscar cure BPH. They reduce the prostate size and relieve symptoms. Continued enlargement may happen with either the herbal or drug treatment, and surgery may become necessary. One interesting study showed that a saw palmetto formula given to men with advanced prostate cancer whose tumors no longer responded to mainstream medication showed a 50% reduction in tumor growth. While it’s too early to call saw palmetto a treatment for prostate cancer, that day may soon come. Saw Palmetto Dosage Studies show that saw palmetto reduces the symptoms of prostate enlargement when using 320 mg of a standard extract every day, split into 2 or 3 doses. But the more doses people have to take, the less likely they will take it. So doctors decided that one large dose or two doses is just as effective. Saw Palmetto Safety If saw palmetto produces any side effects, they are mild like stomach upset and headache. Allergic reactions are also possible in some people. Because saw palmetto has hormone effects, men with hormone disorders should talk to their doctors first. If you are having trouble urinating or if you pass blood in your urine, talk to your doctor as saw palmetto may not be right for you. Many times you will find prostate capsules or concoctions that have other herbs in addition to saw palmetto. Make sure you are aware of these other herbs and their possible interactions with medications you are taking or your health history. Or you may want to stick with a saw palmetto only extract to be safe, since it is the active ingredient in any prostate health treatment.
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