Saw Palmetto for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)


Saw Palmetto for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Saw Palmetto

One of these is the extract of the plant Serenoa repens or Serenoa serrulata. It is also called the American dwarf palm tree or saw palmetto (Permixon). In several experiments, saw palmetto was found to reduce inflammation of the prostate and improve the symptoms of prostate enlargement. Saw palmetto reduces the number of times the sufferer has to get up to pass urine during the night.

A German study of over 2,000 older men found that saw palmetto stimulates the emptying of the bladder and increases a general feeling of well-being.

One of the ways saw palmetto works has only recently been clarified. It blocks the enzyme called 5a-reductase, which helps convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone is a molecule which binds to prostate cells, causing them to grow and resulting in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or eventually cancer of the prostate. So, by blocking the enzyme, this conversion doesn't take place and the prostate cells are not stimulated to grow dangerously out of control. This implies that saw palmetto takes times to work (30-45 days) and needs to be taken for long periods to maintain the blockage of the enzyme. If saw palmetto is stopped, then theoretically the reaction will be free to go ahead.

The side effects, stomach upset or indigestion, are rare. The recommended dose is 160mg twice a day and this is suitable for mild to moderate cases of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Some trials comparing saw palmetto with the prescription drug Proscar found that apart from causing more side effects, Proscar was 20% less efficient than saw palmetto in improving the symptoms. Other trials found the two treatments to be equal. Yet others found no benefits for saw palmetto. These are early results and more trials are needed for confirmation. If you are taking any medication for prostate problems, don't change it without a doctor's advice.

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