What is Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is also known as saw palmetto, American dwarf palm tree, cabbage palm, and saw palmetto in English is Saw Palmetto and Serenoa repens. It gets its name from its green leaves, which look like the teeth of a saw. It is a small palm tree with a maximum height of about 7-10 feet (2.1-3.0 meters).
Saw PalmettoWhere does it come from
It is endemic to the subtropical regions of the southeastern United States and is most commonly found in the coastal plains and sand dunes of the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. It grows in clumps or dense thickets in sandy coastal areas and in thickets in pine forests or hardwood hammocks. It is a hardy plant; extremely slow growing and long lived, some plants, especially in Florida, may be 500-700 years old.
Usage and functions of saw palmetto
The ripe fruits of saw palmetto are available in a variety of forms, including ground and dried fruit or whole berries. It is available as a liquid extract, tablets, capsules, and as an infusion or tea. The plant has white flowers and produces yellow berries that turn black when ripe. The berries can be dried to make an herbal remedy that can be used to treat conditions such as prostate problems, urinary tract infections, bladder disease, hormone imbalances and hair loss. It is also thought to boost libido and sperm production. Saw palmetto extract is an extract from the fruit Saw Palmetto and is marketed as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Saw palmetto and health benefits
The relationship between saw palmetto and hair growth
Hair loss in both men and women is called androgenetic alopecia, and it is common as we age. Men often experience M-shaped hair thinning, known as male pattern baldness. Thinning usually occurs across a woman's entire scalp and rarely results in complete baldness. With hair loss so common, it's no wonder people turn to herbal remedies. Saw palmetto is one of the most popular treatments people use to slow down hair loss or regrow hair. It is caused by the hormone testosterone and converting it into a molecule called DHT. This change causes hair follicles to shrink, leading to hair loss. Men have more testosterone than women, so baldness is more common in men. Extracts from saw palmetto berries may block 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. DHT, the molecule that causes hair loss, has also been linked to prostate enlargement. Male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia). Early research suggests that applying saw palmetto to the scalp may promote hair growth. Additionally, the quantity and quality of hair loss in men with male pattern baldness can be improved by taking a combination of saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol by mouth.
The relationship between saw palmetto and prostate
A man's prostate is about the size of a walnut and helps produce semen (semen). BPH is common in men as they age and occurs when the glands become larger than they should be. This can begin to block the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, and cause difficulty urinating, such as starting or stopping, urinating frequently, or having to urinate at night. Some research suggests that supplements may shrink the prostate. Other possibilities are that it relieves inflammation or prevents your body from converting the hormone testosterone into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which may play a role in BPH.
Some small studies suggest that saw palmetto may help you relieve BPH symptoms in a variety of ways. Among them: You may need to get up less often at night to urinate. It improves your flow as you go. It relieves pain during urination.
Some animal studies suggest saw palmetto may help prevent tumor cell growth, raising hopes for its potential as a prostate cancer treatment.
Saw Palmetto Side Effects and Interactions
Saw palmetto is considered a dietary supplement or herbal product. It is generally considered safe for adults when taken as directed. Side effects are uncommon and usually mild. The most common ones are: nausea, stomachache, bad breath, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting. Stomach irritation can be avoided by taking the extract with food.
Saw palmetto may thin your blood and may cause excessive bleeding during surgery. Before starting any new types of treatments and procedures, be sure to tell your doctor about all supplements you are taking. Interactions may occur between saw palmetto and some other medications. Because it has been shown to thin the blood, saw palmetto should not be taken with other blood thinners. In particular, it should not be taken with prescription drugs such as aspirin and warfarin. Saw palmetto works similarly to the drug finasteride, which is used to treat hair loss and enlarged prostate. You should not take them together unless directed by your doctor. Saw palmetto may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives because it interacts with hormones.
