Saw palmetto
Scientific names: Serenoa repens, Serenoa serrulata, Sabal serrulata
Family: Arecaceae/Palmae
Alternate names: American Dwarf Palm Tree, Baies du Chou Palmiste, Baies du Palmier Scie, Cabbage Palm, Chou Palmiste, Ju-Zhong, Palma Enana Americana, Palmier de Floride, Palmier Nain, Palmier Nain Américain, Palmier Scie, Sabal, Sabal Fructus, Saw Palmetto Berry
Actions: Adrenergic, Antiandrogenic, Anticarcinogenic effect, Anti-inflammatory, Drug metabolism, Fertility, Hormonal, Immunomodulatory
Background
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a tree that grows up to 10 feet tall with thorn-shaped leaves arranged like a fan. Its ripe fruit is used to make medicine.
Saw palmetto seems to lower the amount of pressure on the tubes that carry urine in males. Saw palmetto also might prevent testosterone from being converted to a more potent form called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Reduced levels of DHT might help prevent some types of hair loss.
People commonly use saw palmetto for symptoms of an enlarged prostate called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). But it doesn't seem to improve this condition. Saw palmetto is also used to prevent complications from prostate surgery and for treating other prostate conditions, male-pattern baldness, sexual dysfunction, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Saw palmetto seems to lower the amount of pressure on the tubes that carry urine in males. Saw palmetto also might prevent testosterone from being converted to a more potent form called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Reduced levels of DHT might help prevent some types of hair loss.
People commonly use saw palmetto for symptoms of an enlarged prostate called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). But it doesn't seem to improve this condition. Saw palmetto is also used to prevent complications from prostate surgery and for treating other prostate conditions, male-pattern baldness, sexual dysfunction, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Saw palmetto is likely safe when used for up to 3 years. Side effects are usually mild and might include dizziness, headache, nausea, and diarrhea.
When given rectally: Saw palmetto is possibly safe when used for up to 30 days. It's unknown if it is safe to use for longer periods of time.
Surgery: Saw palmetto might slow blood clotting. It might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using saw palmetto at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
When given rectally: Saw palmetto is possibly safe when used for up to 30 days. It's unknown if it is safe to use for longer periods of time.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Saw palmetto is likely unsafe when taken by mouth during pregnancy or breast-feeding. It acts like a hormone, and this could be dangerous. Don't use during pregnancy or breast-feeding.Surgery: Saw palmetto might slow blood clotting. It might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using saw palmetto at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- A type of prostate surgery (transurethral resection of the prostate or TURP). Taking 320 mg of saw palmetto by mouth daily for 2 months before prostate surgery can improve surgery outcomes.
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
- Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). Taking saw palmetto by mouth has little or no benefit for reducing BPH symptoms. Saw palmetto doesn't seem to reduce the need to go to the bathroom at night or reduce painful urination.
Dosing & administration
Saw palmetto has most often been used by adults in doses of 320-960 mg by mouth daily for up to 3 years. It's also been used in lotion. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Birth control pills (Contraceptive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some birth control pills contain estrogen. Saw palmetto might decrease the effects of estrogen in the body. Taking saw palmetto along with birth control pills might decrease their effects. If you take birth control pills along with saw palmetto, use an additional form of birth control such as a condom.
Estrogens
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Saw palmetto seems to decrease estrogen levels in the body. Taking saw palmetto along with estrogen pills might decrease their effects.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Saw palmetto might slow blood clotting. Taking saw palmetto along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Saw palmetto might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Per capsule:
- Serenoa repens (Saw palmetto) ext. 320 mg equiv. fatty acids 144 mg
- Crateva magna ext. 120 mg
- Equisetum arvense ext. 150 mg
- Zinc citrate 17.2 mg equiv. zinc 5.5 mg
- Selenomethionine 68.3 µg equiv. selenium 27.5 µg
- Cholecalciferol 12.5 µg equiv. vitamin D3 500 IU
- Lindera strychnifolia ext. 150 mg
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Per capsule:
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Per capsule:
- Serenoa repens (Saw palmetto) ext. 107 mg equiv. fatty acids 96.3 mg
- Crateva magna ext. 90 mg
- Urtica dioica ext. 104 mg
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Per tablet:
- Serenoa repens (Saw palmetto) ext. 25 mg
- Cholecalciferol 12.5 μg equiv. vitamin D3 500 IU
- d-alpha-Tocopherol 10 mg
- Methylcobalamin (Activated B12) 200 μg
- Zinc citrate 36.6 mg equiv. zinc 12.5 mg
- Beta-carotene carotenoids (Vitamin A) 3 mg
- Phyllanthus emblica ext. 65 mg
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2) 40 μg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 6.35 mg equiv. thiamine 5 mg
- Riboflavin 5-phosphate sodium (Activated B2) 1.71 mg equiv. riboflavin 1.25 mg
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) 12.5 mg
- Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 5.46 mg equiv. pantothenic acid 5 mg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P) 2.03 mg equiv. pyridoxine 1.25 mg
- Levomefolate glucosamine (Activated folate) 463 μg equiv. levomefolic acid 250 μg
- Calcified lithothamnion (Red algae) 28.72 mg equiv. calcium 8.62 mg
- Magnesium 13.13 mg
- Chromium picolinate 201.13 μg equiv. chromium 25 μg
- Copper sulfate 200 μg
- Manganese gluconate 43.86 mg equiv. manganese 5 mg
- Selenomethionine 124.18 μg equiv. selenium 50 μg
- Borax 6.6 mg equiv. boron 750 μg
- Ascophyllum nodosum 18.75 mg
- Lutein 1 mg
- Lycopene 1 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 5 mg
- Vaccinium macrocarpon ext. 0.25 mg
- Camellia sinensis ext. 5 mg
- Schisandra chinensis ext. 5 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 5 mg
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai) 5 mg
- Chlorella vulgaris 5 mg
- Curcumin (Turmeric) 500 μg
- Zingiber officinale ext. 5 mg
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp) 5 mg
- Citrus sinensis ext. 5 mg
- Ultra fruit blend 25 mg
- Cruciferous vegetable blend 25 mg
- Live vegetable blend 22.5 mg
- Multi herb blend 12.5 mg
- Calcium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 38.58 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 32.5 mg equiv. calcium 3.88 mg
- Magnesium ascorbate (Vitamin C) 45.5 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 32.5 mg
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This monograph was last reviewed on 04/07/2024 10:00:00 and last updated on 26/03/2022 08:45:52. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
