Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto

Latin Name: Serenoa repens
Family: Arecaceae

Part used: Fruit.
Energetics: Sweet, pungent, astringent, warm & dry.
Iris: Lymphatic.
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.

CONTRA-INDICATIONS

Avoid a few weeks prior to surgery.

ACTIONS

  • Anti-neoplastic
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Galactagogue
  • Smooth muscle antispasmodic
  • Breast enhancer
  • Diuretic
  • Anti-androgenic
  • Aphrodisiac
  • Sedative
  • Urinary antiseptic
  • Tonic

Main Constituents

  • Essential oil
  • Polysaccharides
  • Flavonoids: Rutin, Quercetin
  • Sterols
  • Fatty acids
  • Resin
  • Tannin

Main Uses

Mental/Emotional: Absence of sex drive
Musculo-Skeletal System: To increase weight and strength
Endocrine System: Benign enlargement of the prostate gland, Absence of sex drive, To assist bust development, Sex Hormone deficiency, PCOS, Underdeveloped mammary glands, Inhibits 5-alpha reductase (blocks conversion of Testosterone into DHT leaving more Testosterone in the system
Immune System: Alopecia
Reproductive System: Impotence, Decreased sperm, Epididymitis, Prostatitis, Prostate enlargement, Ovaritis, Uterine enlargement
Urinary System: Inflammation or catarrh of the urinary tract, Painful urination, Cystitis

More About Saw Palmetto

The fruit of Saw Palmetto has been eaten by humans for thousands of years. Saw Palmetto fruit was a staple food item for the Seminole indians. Folklore has it that the Indians dried the fruit and kept it for a year round food source. The Indian medicine man also kept a medicine bag of Saw Palmetto around to treat atrophy of the testes, impotence, inflammation of the prostate, low libido in men, and as a general tonic to nourish the body.
Other historical uses have included the treatment of infertility in women, treatment of underdeveloped breasts, increased lactation, painful menstruation cycles, anti-inflammatory, appetite stimulant, and as a tonic and expectorant for mucous membranes, particularly the bronchial passages.
It cleanses and tones the pelvic viscera of the urinary and reproductive systems of the male and female.
To date, Saw Palmetto has over 30 scientific clinical studies to back its reputation as one of the leading treatments in BPH, and there is new evidence that androgenetic alopecia is caused by the same mechanism of action that causes enlarged prostate glands, and thus Saw Palmetto is rapidly becoming the herb of choice in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia.
Saw Palmetto combines well with Horsetail and Nettle to help acne caused by high androgens in PCOS. It blocks the conversion of testosterone into DHT leaving more testosterone in the system.

Recipes:


Saw Palmetto Berry Tincture

Supports prostate health and urinary function.

Ingredients:

  • 42g of dried saw palmetto berries
  • 236ml of high-proof alcohol (such as vodka, 40%)
  • Glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
  • Cheesecloth or fine-mesh strainer
  • Amber glass tincture bottles with droppers (for storage)

Instructions:

  • Measure out the dried saw palmetto berries.
  • Place the dried saw palmetto berries in a glass jar.
  • Pour the high-proof alcohol over the saw palmetto berries, ensuring they are fully submerged.
  • Seal the glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
  • Shake the jar gently to mix the ingredients.
  • Store the jar in a cool, dark place for about 4-6 weeks, shaking it daily to aid in the extraction process.
  • After the steeping period, strain the tincture through cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer into amber glass tincture bottles.
  • Label the bottles with the contents and date.
  • Store the Saw Palmetto Berry tincture in a cool, dark place. It can last for several years if stored properly.
  • Usage: Take a 2-4ml of the tincture 1-3 times a day in water or juice.

References


Prostatic hyperplasia, urologic symptoms, urologic flow

Serenoa repens for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The evidence suggests that Serenoa repens improves urologic symptoms and flow measures compared with placebo. Serenoa repens produced similar improvement in urinary symptoms and flow compared to finasteride and is associated with fewer adverse treatment events.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10796790/

Lower urinary tract symptoms

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: effects on urodynamic parameters and voiding symptoms.
Saw palmetto is a well-tolerated agent that may significantly improve lower urinary tract symptoms in men with BPH.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9609640/

Androgen receptors

The effect of Permixon on androgen receptors.
The effect of Permixon on dihydrotestosterone and testosterone binding by eleven different tissue specimens was tested. The drug reduced the mean uptake of both hormones by 40.9% and 41.9% respectively in all tissue specimens.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3218455/

Prostatic cancer cells

Saw palmetto berry extract inhibits cell growth and Cox-2 expression in prostatic cancer cells.
Since increased Cox-2 expression is associated with an increased incidence of prostate cancer, and decrease in its expression by SPBE would provide a basis for further investigation of its use against BPH and in prostatic cancer chemoprevention.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11913955/

Hyperplasia, benign prostatic cancer

A prospective study of the efficacy of Serenoa repens, tamsulosin, and Serenoa repens plus tamsulosin treatment for patients with benign prostate hyperplasia.
Treatment of BPH by both SR and TAM seems to be effective alone. None of them had superiority to another and additionally, combined therapy (SR + TAM) does not provide extra benefits. Furthermore SR is a well-tolerated agent that can be used alternatively in the treatment of LUTS due to BPH.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17203353/

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