SAW PALMETTO The Chiropractic Resource Organization
Saw Palmetto
This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C. Send all comments or additions to:
Frankp@chiro.org
If there are terms in these articles you don't understand, you can get a definition from the Merriam Webster Medical Dictionary. If you want information about a specific disease, you can access the Merck Manual. You can also search Pub Med for more abstracts on this topic.
What is St. Saw Palmetto?
A nice review by students from the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy
Saw Palmetto Monograph (Serenoa repens)
Alternative Medicine Review 1998 (Jun); 3 (3): 227–229 ~ FULL TEXT
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is one of the most common medical conditions in middle-aged and elderly males, with an incidence of approximately 50-60 percent in men age 40-60, and greater than 90 percent in men over 80. The disease process leading to symptomatology in older males probably begins as early as the late 20s, and may have an incidence rate of 10 percent at that age. Rarely a fatal disease, BPH affects the patients' lifestyle and comfort.
Saw Palmetto: Effective BPH Symptom Relief
Could the fruit of a plant many consider a weed ease the symptoms of a painful condition that affects so many older men? Native Americans have used saw palmetto (Serenoa repens, S. serrulata and Sabal serrulatum) berries for hundreds of years as a nutritive tonic and a reproductive strengthener. They also used the herb to flush kidney stones, increase male fertility and treat breast disorders, urinary tract irritations and weakened urine flow. While many of these historical applications have yet to be studied, saw palmetto is touted today for its ability to reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Saw Palmetto Shrinks Enlarged Prostate Tissue
Many European studies have shown that saw palmetto improves symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) , an enlargement of the prostate that causes uncomfortable urinary symptoms as men get older. Now the first American randomized clinical trial of saw palmetto shows that the plant also reduces swelling in enlarged prostate tissue.
Saw Palmetto Abstracts
Analytical Accuracy and Reliability of Commonly Used Nutritional Supplements in Prostate Disease
J Urol 2002; 168 (1) Jul: 150-154
Commonly used nutritional supplements for prostate disease vary widely in measured dose. Saw palmetto demonstrated tremendous variability with some samples containing virtually no active ingredients. In contrast, the more regulated substances we measured, such as vitamins and minerals, demonstrated less variation.
Saw Palmetto Extracts for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review
JAMA 1998 (Nov 11); 280 (18): 1604–1609
The existing literature on S repens for treatment of BPH is limited in terms of the short duration of studies and variability in study design, use of phytotherapeutic preparations, and reports of outcomes. However, the evidence suggests that S repens improves urologic symptoms and flow measures.
Treatment of Obstruction in Prostatic Adenoma Using an Extract of Serenoa Repens. Double-Blind Test vs. Placebo
Min Urol Nefr 1985; 37: 87–91
Twenty-seven patients (age 49-81 years) with state I and II prostatic adenomas were given either Serenoa repens extract (160 mg twice daily) or placebo. Patients receiving the serenoa extract effectively improved urinary symptoms and urine flow meter graps. In two cases, serenoa repens extract reduced the volume of the adenoma.
Serenoa repens (Permixon). A Review of its Pharmacology and Therapeutic Efficacy in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Drugs Aging 1996 (Nov); 9 (5): 379–395
In conclusion, Serenoa repens is well tolerated and has greater efficacy than placebo and similar efficacy to finasteride in improving symptoms in men with BPH. Although there is a need for further comparative studies, particularly with alpha 2-receptor antagonists, available data indicate that Serenoa repens is a useful alternative to alpha 1-receptor antagonists and finasteride in the treatment of men with BPH.
Thanks to Pub Med
for their quality MEDLINE search tool.
