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Benefits |
Preparation |
Medicinal Uses |
Side Effects |
Plant |
Folklore |
whole palmetto seeds
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| Common Names |
| Saw Palmetto , Sabal Sabal serrulata |
| Botanical Name |
| Sarenoa serrulata Hook, F |
| Family |
| ARECACEAE or PALMAE Palm Family |
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Saw palmetto is another wonderful instance of scientific research validating traditional herbal medicine. Numerous studies have shown saw palmetto to be effective in 90 percent of patients suffering from BPH within the first year of treatment, compared to a success rate of less than 50 percent for patients taking finasteride, one of the most commonly proscribed drugs for benign prostate hyperplasia.Although it has lost the favor of mainstream medicine in the U.S., it is still widely used in Europe. |
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Prep Methods :Look for extracts containing 320 milligrams of fruit extract and biologically active sterols. or 2 to 3 teaspoons of fresh saw palmetto berries every day.
 Remedies using Saw Palmetto
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| Benign prostate hypertrophy( BPH). | | Saw palmetto frequently equals and sometimes exceeds pharmaceuticals for treating benign prostate hypertrophy( BPH).. More than a dozen clinical studies involving almost 3,000 men have verified saw palmetto's ability to markedly alleviate BPH symptoms- without the libido reducing side effects of the pharmaceutical drug. The herb helps more men than synthetic drugs, and it gets the job done faster. 499
(Duke, James A, Ph.D. ) | | Male pattern baldness | | Saw palmetto prevents dihydotestosterone from interacting with prostate cells to reproduce. This enzyme is the leading suspect behind male pattern baldness. Informal, anecdotal evidence indicates that saw palmetto stems hair loss and triggers growth. 671
(Duke, James A, Ph.D. ) | | Congestion, Colds | | The berries have a toning and soothing influence on mucous membranes throughout the body as well as an expectorant property, making this a useful remedy for colds and catarrh (the isolated oil is an effective inhalant). It has a traditional use for asthma and bronchitis. The herb is also used to treat urinary disorders and enuresis. It is reputed to be mildly sedative to the nervous system. 1321
(Mabry, Richard ) |
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| Side Effects: |
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| Unlike the pharmaceutical, there is no evidence to suggest that women of child bearing years should not handle saw palmetto berries. |
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 Saw palmetto is a scrubby little tree native to the Eastern seaboard from South Carolina to Florida. It is also found in coastal Southern California. The trees live to be centuries old, but seldom get taller than 6 to 10 feet. Crowned with three foot wide fan of long, spiky leaves, with red-brown, oblong berries. After ripening, the berries are partially dried and are used as medicine.
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 In the early part of this century, saw palmetto berry tea was commonly recommended for benign enlargement of the prostate and to treat chronic urinary tract infections. Used as food by the Seminole Indians in Florida, the berries have been used to ease upset stomachs and insomnia, but the older herbalists did not foresee palmetto's current status as the premier treatment for male prostate problems. |
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Essential Oils
