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Saw palmetto is a shrublike palm plant that is typically found in the southeastern region of the United States. Known as Serenoa repens, this plant produces dark berries that experts consider to have medical benefits. For hundreds of years, Native Americans have consumed these berries in whole or in tea form. In modern times, medicinal companies offer dried saw palmetto in an easy-to-take supplement form by grinding the plant and serving it in capsule or tablet form.
Saw Palmetto in Supplement Form
Historically, saw palmetto was utilized for several conditions, including those involving the male and female reproductive organs. These days, saw palmetto serves as a dietary supplement that assists in alleviating urinary issues associated with an enlarged prostate gland or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The supplement is also popular for helping deal with chronic pelvic pain, migraine, hair loss, and other conditions. This article discusses the benefits, side effects, and everything else you need to know about saw palmetto before implementing it into your diet.
The Benefits of Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is associated with a number of health benefits, such as better prostate health, improved urinary tract function, balanced hormone levels, and reduced hair loss. Supporting research backs up the efficacy of this palm plant, especially in issues dealing with urinary tract symptoms. Supplementing saw palmetto may also boost anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties, but more research is necessary in these areas.
Saw Palmetto and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Saw palmetto supplements are most popularly used to help treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common medical condition among men that involves the slow and abnormal enlargement of the prostate. If the issue is left untreated, the enlarged prostate can compromise an individual's ability to empty their bladder or disrupt the regularity of their urination. A study involved a group of men who were provided 320 mg of saw palmetto to be taken over a period of 24 weeks, while another group was given a placebo. The results indicate that the group who took the supplement had fewer symptoms of BPH and better urinary flow compared to the group that received the placebo.
Saw Palmetto and Urinary Tract Function
Besides benign prostatic hyperplasia, supplementing with saw palmetto plays a role in dealing with other lower urinary tract symptoms involving the bladder, urethra, and prostate. Research states that the compounds in saw palmetto assist in dealing with issues such as frequent nighttime urination, decreased urine flow, and increased urinary urgency. Another study compares individuals who consumed a daily saw palmetto extract with those who were given a placebo. The group who took the saw palmetto extract saw improved urine flow and a decreased need for nighttime urination.
Saw Palmetto and Hair Loss
Genetics, medical issues, and hormone changes are some of the main culprits that lead to hair loss. Several studies have maintained that saw palmetto is effective in helping balance hormone levels and preventing androgenetic alopecia, a common form of hair loss. A case study on androgenetic alopecia compared a group of men who consumed a 200-mg dose of saw palmetto with another group that only took a placebo. The study found that about 60% of the individuals who took saw palmetto experienced an improvement in their hair loss symptoms.
Saw Palmetto and Chronic Pelvic Pain
According to some experts, saw palmetto is beneficial in dealing with chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men. As its name suggests, this condition produces excruciating pelvic pain that can last for several months and limit one's ability to function normally. A 2021 study in the World Journal of Urology explored the issue by providing a group of individuals suffering from chronic prostatitis with a daily 160-mg dose of saw palmetto while another group received a placebo. The research concluded that those given saw palmetto reported reduced overall pain compared to the placebo group.
