Saw Palmetto and Prostate Health
Posted on June 23, 2008 by DFHS Article Team
Saw Palmetto and Prostate Health
One natural herb used for treating an enlarged prostate is Saw Palmetto.
Saw Palmetto is native to the West Indies and the Atlantic coast of the United States of America. Native Americans and early white settlers used the berries to treat problems with the reproductive system and urinary tract. The herb has been widely used in Europe and Canada for years, and more recently has found favor in even the United States.
There is increasing research and growing documentation that supports the benefits of Saw Palmetto for both the prostate and the urinary tract. Nearly 50 percent of men over age 50 will experience benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlargement of the prostate gland. One in seven over this age will be diagnosed with some form of prostate cancer. Saw Palmetto may be as effective in treating BPH as prescription medications and drug.
A clinical trial conducted in of all places, France, reported that the number of times men had to wake up and urinate at night decreased by an incredible forty five percent, and urine flow rate increased by fifty percent after treatment with saw palmetto. In another research study, 1297 males that suffered from enlarged prostates were given Saw Palmetto extract for 12 weeks, the participants observed the following: A) far less need nighttime urination B) increased urine flow, accuracy, and volume.
In an analysis paper on the clinical trials of Saw Palmetto published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that males given saw palmetto were twice as likely to report an improvement in symptoms than those given a placebo. The plant part used is the berry, and the active constituents are sterols and free fatty acids that are standardized to 85-95 percent.
The initial research and studies of Saw Plametto have certainly been promising and offer a non-prescription drug alternative to treating the enlarged prostate.
While Europeans have embraced herbal treatments, these remedies still have not found favor with medical professionals in the United States. Perhaps with more research and experience, herbs will provide a larger role in prostate treatment options in America.
Until then, many Americans are seeking out these natural alternatives and supplements at health food stores and trying them on their own without medical supervision. As in all medical treatments, let your doctor know, even if he or she doesn’t approve. This can help you avoid possible side effects with other prescription drugs.
For more information visit: This Saw Palmetto Information Website
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