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 meandering leaves and abundant berries. Native Americans used these berries for the treatment of various urinary problems in men. Following, European physicians began using it to relieve the symptoms of BPH ( cordial prostatic hyperplasia ) by:

* Advancement urinary flow
* Reinforcing ease of urination
* Facilitating a more complete emptying of the bladder
* Decreasing frequency of urination *

Though some recent studies report inconsistent results, a review of 18 randomized disaster conducted between 1983 and 1997 and involving approximately 3, 000 participants wound up that saw palmetto herbal products provided some benefit in controlling lower urinary tract symptoms and flow measures in men with BPH. * The mechanism of scene of saw palmetto is cogitation to be through its knack 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 individualizing relief of BPH only and that it does not shrink the size of the running 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 undistinguished medications for BPH have no backwash on prostate size. Saw palmetto may also liberty a role in the management of non - bacterial prostatitis, but it does NOT own accord a role in the treatment of prostate cancer. *

Routine prostate screenings, including digital rectal scrutiny ( DRE ) and blood tests for prostate characteristic antigen ( PSA ), should be conducted on a stereotyped spring, as advised by a quizzed physician. Belonging to its might to handicap hormone receptor sites, it should not be taken by patients getting hormone therapy, nor should it be taken by those acceptance anticoagulant medication.

* REFERENCES
1. Tyler VE. " Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals, " Pharmaceutical Products Press, Binghamptom, NY, 1994. p. 82.
2. Decline 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 friendly prostatic hyperplasia: a multicenter unbarred study. Curr Ther Res. 1994; 55: 776 - 785.
4. Romics I, Schmitz H, Frang D. Wisdom in treating benign prostatic hypertrophy with Sabal serrulata for one term. 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 regular friendly prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 2000; 163: 1451 - 1456.
6. Kaplan SA, Volpe MA, Te AE. A inevitable, 1 - hour trial using saw palmetto versus finasteride in the treatment of suite III prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome. J Urol. 2004; 171: 284 - 288.