SAW PALMETTO

An Herbal aid for Prostate Disorders

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a scrub by palm tree native to Florida that bears a fruit that has a long folk history of use as an aphrodisiac and sexual rejuvenator. These berries have also been used for centuries in treating conditions of the prostate. Recently, the therapeutic effect of an extract of saw palmetto berries has been shown to greatly improve the signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate in clinical studies.

Prostate enlargement is found on 50-60% of men between the ages of 40 and 59 years of age. It is characterized by increased urinary frequency, nighttime awakening to empty bladder, and reduced force and caliber of urination. The condition is referred to medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia. If prostatic hyperplasia is left untreated, eventual obstruction of the bladder outlet will occur. This results in the retention of urine in the blood. Surgery is often necessary to unblock this passageway.

HORMONAL CHANGES

As men get older, their hormone levels undergo changes. Typically testosterone levels go down while estrogen and prolactin levels rise. In the prostate, the net effect of all these complex hormonal changes is an increase in dihydrotestosterone. This hormone is responsible for including the excessive growth of the prostatic tissue. From a therapeutic standpoint., the goal is to reduce the synthesis of dihydrotestosterone or prevent it from binding to cellular receptor sites.

As mentioned earlier, a saw palmetto berry extract has demonstrated positive effects in the treatment of BPH. This effect appears to be due to its inhibition of dihydrotestosterone. This inhibition of dihydrotestosterone occurs at its initial synthesis as well as at cellular binding sites. This action greatly reduces the effects of dihydrotestosterone on the prostate. This reduction of dihydrotestosterone by saw palmetto extract has been demonstrated in experimental studies. They further support the therapeutic effect seen in clinical trials as well as the long folk use for this condition.