Saw palmetto fruit comes from Serenoa repens, a palm tree native to southeastern United States. The first discovery of this fruit was by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The American aboriginals used the berries to treat a variety of urinary and reproductive systems conditions. They also used the fruits as an antiseptic and expectorant, which dissolves thick mucus to help relieve respiratory difficulties.
Other than uses in traditional medicine, saw palmetto extract is also part of the eclectic medicine, a branch of American medicine involving the utlization of botanical remdies and physical therapy. This type of medicine was very popular in the later half of 19th and early half of 20th centruy. During that time period, a variety of other uses of saw palmetto have been found including treating irritative and chronic coughs and asthma, and improving apetitie, digestion and assimilation.
Nowadays, saw palmetto extracts are generally taken to treat chronic pelvic pain, bladder disorders, decreased sex drive, hair loss, and hormone inbalances. In recent years, saw palmetto had gained popularity as the herbal treatment taken for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlarged prostate condition apparent in middle-aged and elderly men. Experts, however, disagree with the effectiveness of saw palmetto against BPH. In 2006, results from a large research project conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases showed no improvement of BPH in 225 men.
The fruit itself is available in several forms including ground, dried or whole fruit. Extracts of saw palmetto have been manufactured into tablets, capsules, liquid, infusion or tea. The side effects of cosuming saw palmetto are very minimal. Some patients have reported to experience mild stomach discomfort, which can be reduced by taking the extract with food. Some men report to have tender breasts. While saw palmetto is used to improve sexual drive for some males, others experience the opposite effect. Like any dietary supplment, saw palmetto may trigger some allergic problems. Please consult a medical physician for advice
References:* (1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_palmetto_extract (2) http://nccam.nih.gov/health/palmetto/
