Saw Palmetto: Natural Health For The Prostate

Saw Palmetto: Natural Health For The Prostate

Saw palmetto consists of the partially dried, ripe fruit of a low, bushy palm that grows from South Carolina to Florida. The saw palmetto tree grows only about two to four feet high, with kernel - shaped winding leaves and abundant berries. Native Americans used these berries for the treatment of various urinary problems in men. Later, European physicians began using it to relieve the symptoms of BPH ( genial prostatic hyperplasia ) by:

* Developing urinary flow
* Unfolding ease of urination
* Facilitating a more complete emptying of the bladder
* Decreasing frequency of urination *

Though some recent studies report vis-a-vis results, a review of 18 randomized catastrophe conducted between 1983 and 1997 and involving approximately 3, 000 participants terminated that saw palmetto herbal products provided some benefit in controlling lower urinary tract symptoms and flow measures in men with BPH. * The mechanism of dash of saw palmetto is introspection to be through its facility to block hormone ( testosterone and estrogen ) receptor sites and its anti - inflammatory effects.

The recommended dose is one to two grams of the herb per day or 320 mg of an alcohol extract per day. It should be noted that while most researchers believe that saw palmetto is good for fixed relief of BPH only and that it does not shrink the size of the lanky prostate, there is some research to suggest that saw palmetto may actually cause the prostate to shrink slightly, thereby retarding prostate enlargement. *

The drug Proscar does this, too, and to a greater extent than saw palmetto, but other routine medications for BPH have no issue on prostate size. Saw palmetto may also sweep a role in the management of non - bacterial prostatitis, but it does NOT profligacy a role in the treatment of prostate cancer. *

Routine prostate screenings, including digital rectal inquiry ( DRE ) and blood tests for prostate special antigen ( PSA ), should be conducted on a casual square one, as advised by a know beans physician. Applicable to its power to interference hormone receptor sites, it should not be taken by patients receipt hormone therapy, nor should it be taken by those taking anticoagulant medication.

* REFERENCES
1. Tyler VE. " Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals, " Pharmaceutical Products Press, Binghamptom, NY, 1994. p. 82.
2. Flag TJ, Ishani A, Rutks I et al. Phytotherapy for friendly prostatic hyperplasia. Public Health Nutr 2000; 2 ( 4a ): 459 - 472.
3. Braeckman J. The extract of Serenoa repens in the treatment of genial prostatic hyperplasia: a multicenter unbarred study. Curr Ther Res. 1994; 55: 776 - 785.
4. Romics I, Schmitz H, Frang D. Action in treating friendly prostatic hypertrophy with Sabal serrulata for one ticks. Int Urol Nephrol. 1993; 25: 565 - 569.
5. Marks LS, Partin AW, Epstein JI, et al. Effects of a saw palmetto herbal blend in men with specific generous prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 2000; 163: 1451 - 1456.
6. Kaplan SA, Volpe MA, Te AE. A unfolding, 1 - instance trial using saw palmetto versus finasteride in the treatment of gang III prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome. J Urol. 2004; 171: 284 - 288.