What exactly does saw palmetto do?
Saw palmetto is a dwarf palm that grows in the coastal lands of North America, West Indies, and Mediterranean countries. The fruits are a rich source of fatty acids and phytosterols and have been used to promote urination, reduce inflammation, and for treatment of conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Saw palmetto comes as tablets, capsules, teas and berries. Although side effects are rare, they may include high blood pressure, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, decreased sex drive, impotence, urinary retention and headache.Men taking saw palmetto have also reported erection problems, testicular pain, and tenderness in the breasts. You may also want to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the following: Interactions: If you take any medicines regularly, talk to your doctor before you start using saw palmetto supplements.Saw palmetto may help reduce overactive bladder symptoms, such as urgency, incontinence, and increased frequency of urination. Overactive bladder (OAB) can cause a sudden urge to urinate. In some cases, people may leak urine after having one of these urges.Saw palmetto may interact with estrogen therapy and oral contraceptives and decrease their effectiveness. Saw palmetto may also interact with warfarin, anticoagulants, and antiplatelet medications and result in bleeding.That said, studies suggest that saw palmetto supplements are generally safe for most people. The most common side effects include diarrhea, headache, fatigue, decreased libido, nausea, vomiting, and vertigo.
What are saw palmetto tablets now?
NOW Foods Saw Palmetto Extract 160mg Softgels support healthy prostate function and urinary tract health. Derived from saw palmetto berries native to the Southeastern United States, this extract contains bioactive fatty acids and sterols that promote men’s wellness. Natural supplements that may be helpful in the management of prostate health and conditions include nettle root, saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, pygeum, pumpkin seed oil, and flower pollen extracts ( 7 , 8 , 11 , 15 , 20 , 23 ).Herbal supplements that may be used to relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) include beta-sitosterol, cernilton, Pygeum africanum, and saw palmetto.Medications for BPH Tamsulosin and alfuzosin are common alpha blockers often used as the first line of defense against BPH symptoms. They can provide relief for many individuals. Alpha Reductase Inhibitors: These medications target the hormones (dihydrotestosterone) that cause the prostate to grow.These medicines shrink the prostate. They do this by preventing hormone changes that cause the prostate to grow. Examples include finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart). They might take up to six months to work well and can cause sexual side effects.Life Extension PalmettoGuard is our pick for the best overall prostate health supplement because it consists of just five active ingredients to support prostate health: saw palmetto, nettle root extract, beta-sitosterol, boron, and rosemary extract.
Is saw palmetto safe to take daily?
When taken by mouth: Saw palmetto is likely safe when used for up to 3 years. Side effects are usually mild and might include dizziness, headache, nausea, and diarrhea. When given rectally: Saw palmetto is possibly safe when used for up to 30 days. It’s unknown if it is safe to use for longer periods of time. The studies that have assessed the benefit of saw palmetto generally had treatment periods between 3-24 months. Although you might begin to see positive results with saw palmetto within 3-6 months, it’s possible that you won’t observe maximum benefits until 12-24 months of treatment.Our findings suggest that liquid saw palmetto supplements may be the best choice for individuals who want to take a saw palmetto supplement with the highest concentrations of both fatty acids and phytosterols.Saw Palmetto for Prostate Saw palmetto, derived from a palm tree native to the southeastern United States, is one of the most popular herbal supplements for prostate health.Braeckman (1994) showed that prostate volume was significantly decreased by 9% after 45 days and 10% after 90 days of treatment with saw palmetto oil.Many older US men take saw palmetto extract in an attempt to reduce BPH symptoms, including frequent urination and a sense of urgency. Earlier studies of the supplement have produced conflicting results, and none has evaluated the benefits of saw palmetto in high doses.
Do urologists recommend saw palmetto?
In the US, no herbal supplement is approved as BPH treatment. The American Urological Association cautions that studies backing saw palmetto for treating enlarged prostates have numerous flaws, including short durations and a lack of placebo controls. Large-scale studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) during the past two decades found that saw palmetto was no more effective in treating BPH than a placebo (or fake treatment). Other reviews reached similar conclusions.Saw palmetto can slow blood clotting. When it’s taken along with other medications that slow blood clotting, it can increase your chances of bruising and bleeding. Drugs that can slow blood clotting include: aspirin.Other research suggests that saw palmetto may help with ED by increasing nitric oxide and lowering phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), an enzyme found in the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. PDE5 is the same enzyme targeted by PDE5 inhibitors, which include popular ED medications like Viagra® and Cialis®.
What is the negative effect of saw palmetto?
Saw palmetto is well tolerated. It has been used safely in research studies for up to 3 years. Adverse effects are mild and infrequent; they may include digestive symptoms, dizziness, and headache. Saw palmetto may be unsafe for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The studies that have assessed the benefit of saw palmetto generally had treatment periods between 3-24 months. Although you might begin to see positive results with saw palmetto within 3-6 months, it’s possible that you won’t observe maximum benefits until 12-24 months of treatment.Currently, saw palmetto is used mostly for symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Saw palmetto has been implicated in rare cases of clinically apparent liver injury, but its specific role in causing liver injury remains uncertain.When taken by mouth: Saw palmetto is likely safe when used for up to 3 years. Side effects are usually mild and might include dizziness, headache, nausea, and diarrhea. When given rectally: Saw palmetto is possibly safe when used for up to 30 days. It’s unknown if it is safe to use for longer periods of time.