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SAW PALMETTO (Serenoa serrulata)
Common name
Saw palmetto
Medicinal part
Berries
Description
Saw Palmetto is the fruit of a
small palm-like plant found in the West Indies and the United States.
Its berries are dried after gathering during fall and winter. It is plentiful along
the southeastern coast of Florida and the Gulf Coast. Indians native to these areas
recognized the medicinal qualities of saw palmetto, and in the 1870s it began to
be recognized within the contemporary medical community, being added to the United States
Pharmacopoeia in 1905.
Native Americans used saw palmetto roots to treat snakebite, kidney problems,
high blood pressure, and neuralgia. Today, research has renewed interest in the saw palmetto,
which is claimed to be effective as a treatment for prostate enlargement and cystitis.
Tests on patients with this condition, called BPH (nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate gland),
have been extensive but controversial. French and German doctors regularly use saw
palmetto as a treatment for enlarged prostate and related symptoms, but there can be side effects.
All authorities agree that no one with this condition should self-medicate but should
rely on professional health care providers for diagnosis and advice about treatment.
In addition, pregnant women, especially in the early terms, should not use the herb without consulting their doctors.
Dosage
Infusion: Use ½ teaspoon crushed berries to 1 cup hot water. Take 1 to 2 cups daily.
Tincture: Use 20 to 30 drops, and take 3 times daily
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