The palmetto saw or saw palmetto has been widely publicized as one of the best remedies to treat the symptoms of enlarged prostate ( benign prostatic hyperplasia ), and its extract is part of many herbal products to treat this condition, but not much minus the only therapeutic indication attributed to it.
We break down below what are the traditional and pharmacological uses of the sabal fruits and their possible health benefits:
It shows a remarkable diuretic and antiseptic action. Strengthens the bladder muscles and favors the elimination of toxins through the urine. It is intended to treat bladder infection or cystitis and the urinary tract as a whole, urethriti, prostatitis, etc. You can read more about it here now.
Saw palmetto has been traditionally indicated to relieve some of the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia or an enlarged prostate, such as frequent urination, nighttime urination or urination, the urgency with which it occurs, urination little or choppy and painful discomfort when urinating, in a condition that affects one in four men over 55 years and which increases with age. Sterols may confer anti-inflammatory, hormonal, and antiandrogenic activity, may inhibit the action of 5 alpha-reductase enzymes, present in the testes and other tissues, and act as prostate medications such as finasterideas a reducer of different prostate symptoms.
- It is credited with a certain ability to regenerate prostate tissue, as well as a certain stimulating effect on secretory function, as a means of increasing urine flow. In the Phytotherapy Vademecum reference is made to the studies by Peris and others, from 1995. In a clinical trial a year later, carried out by the Hungarian team formed by Kondás, Philipp and Diószeghy on only 38 patients during 12 months, it was seen that the Serenoa repens extract managed to increase urinary flow in 3 out of 4 cases. More recent studies, however, cast doubt on such utility. A 2012 clinical experiment, published on BJU international, concludes that sabal extracts do not show superior efficacy to placebo in treating hyperplasia through 17 double-blind trials.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
As a traditional remedy, but also due to its possible incidence at the hormonal level, by inhibiting the action of the hormone dihydrotestosterone DHT, a male and androgenic hormone, it has been intended to treat male impotence , testicular atrophy and lack of libido in the male. However, there are no reliable studies that confirm this assumption and new clinical trials would be necessary to corroborate it.
Again as a traditional remedy, present in the medicinal practice of the native peoples of Mesoamerica, sabal berries and other related palms are intended to treat general weakness, fatigue and lack of energy, as well as to alleviate intestinal disorders and diarrhea.
Conclusion
Serenoa repens may be effective in relieving cough , decongesting the upper respiratory tract and eliminating throat irritation due to its astringent, demulcent and anti-inflammatory effect, in cases of influenza , bronchitis , laryngitis and pharyngitis . It is a traditional remedy. Sabal fruits have been indicated to stimulate the appetite and to favor a placid digestion.