Parts Most Frequently Used: Ripe Fruit

Flavors/Temps: Slightly Sweet, Pungent, Astringent, Warm, Dry

Caution: Considered safe. Be aware saw palmetto can slow blood clotting, so if already using blood clotting medicines, including aspirin and ibuprofen, you could experience increased bruising and bleeding.

History/Folklore: Studies suggest that saw palmetto helps shrink the size of an enlarged prostate by shrinking the inner lining that puts pressure on the tubes that carry urine within the prostate.

Native Americans of the Seminole tribe in Florida ate the berries for food and used the plant to treat urinary and reproductive problems associated with an enlarged prostate gland. They used it to treat coughs, indigestion, insomnia and infertility problems too. There is a history of saw palmetto being used by the Mayans who traveled as far north as the Southern United States and/or also traded with the local Seminole Indians.

The Mayo Clinic reports that more than 2 million American men use saw palmetto to treat BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate).

The herb is used to treat frequent urination, increased urination at night (nocturia), trouble starting urination, dribbling and incomplete urination.

Saw palmetto increases testosterone which is associated with low libido in both men and women. Sperm production is guided by testosterone and in women, too little testosterone can lead to reduced egg production. The increased testosterone also increases sexual libido in both sexes. Increased testosterone is also associated with increased hair growth, so some men will use the herb to reduce the loss of hair and sometimes promote hair regrowth.

Specifically, saw palmetto slows the production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase which turns testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a sex steroid and androgen hormone. While this is important for male development it contributes to many of the common health issues in men such as loss of libido, enlarged prostate and hair loss.

Saw palmetto can slow blood clotting so if using medications that slow blood clotting the combination can significantly increase your chance for inappropriate bruising and bleeding. This includes aspirin and ibuprofen. So be sure to check with your healthcare provider about what you are taking.

Some plants are thought to be 500-700 years old.