Saw Palmetto

Saw Palmetto has widely been used in herbal medicine as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) . It has also been indicated in herbalism for sexual debility, epididymitis, urinary difficulties, loss of male sexual power, gonorrhoea, sexual neurotics, enlarged ovaries and bronchitis. [2] Saw Palmetto is commonly featured in male "prostate formulas". Often, tincture is made from fresh Saw Palmetto berries.

It is said that Saw Palmetto is much more popular in Europe as a treatment for benign prostatic hyperlplasia than it is in America, and that America is in general not aware of the extensive European research. [3]

Saw Palmetto - History

The earliest mention of Saw Palmetto I have been able to find in western literature is in the Domestic Encyclopaedia of 1803, which states:

"The repent caudex of the saw-palmetto, being torn from the surface of the earth, cut into proper lengths, dried, and burnt to ashes, produce the greatest quantity of pot-ash of any known vegetable. And the drupes, or large berries of this species, which are of the size and figure of dates, and as sweet, afford good and nourishing food to the Indians and hunters. They are not palatable to white people, till they become accustomed to them." [4]

The passage quoted above cites "William Bartram's Manuscripts" as a source. This is presumably William Bartram the American naturalist (April 20, 1739 – July 22, 1823) who explored the United States and made extensive botanical drawings. [5]

Traditionally, the berries of Saw Palmetto have been eaten by Native American men "to increase sexual vigor", and by women "to firm the breasts." [6] In the 19th century, Saw Palmetto was used as an aphrodisiac ("to restore sexual activity after sexual excesses") and it was also believed that long term use would gradually enlarge women's breasts. While these claims seem not to be believed much any more, especially in America - there may just be something to it: It is accepted that Saw Palmetto "has a hormonal action" [7] - and another source states that Saw palmetto is known to stimulate the production of the female hormone prolactin that promotes breast enlargement. [8] So this could be yet another example of old folklore deserving more of a fair hearing! It seems that modern science likes to dismiss old folklore out of hand on the grounds that it has not been validated by science. Generations of observation and exploration, while not performed under laboratory conditions, should not be disregarded without fair consideration.

Is Saw Palmetto an Aphrodisiac?

There is much herbal folklore reporting aphrodisiac effects of Saw Palmetto - but science has chosen to focus only on the prostate health effects. This is understandable in a way as prostate health is a serious concern.

In the realm of science: There is much encouraging evidence to suggest that the effects of Saw Palmetto in prostate and sexual health treatment is more than just folklore: A 2002 human study at the Scientific Research Institute of Urology, Moscow, Russia reported significant improvements in urinary flow, prostate size reduction and sexual function with use of a branded Saw Palmetto extract. [9] The changes were long term - the study ran for two years and many of the improvements were not noted until the second year.

Several other scientific studies on humans support these prostate health / urinary flow findings and a search for "Saw Palmetto" on Pubmed.gov will quickly validate this. However, no study appearing on Pubmed directly investigates whether the Saw Palmetto is actually an aphrodisiac.

On another note, a fascinating 2009 study showed that Saw Palmetto induced growth arrest of a variety of human leukemia cells![10]

Saw Palmetto - conclusions

It would appear from these investigations that Saw Palmetto may have some aphrodisiac function, but if so, it is more long-term. There are strong indicators that it may play a role in general sexual health and the restoration of normal prostate, urinary and sexual function in some cases where these things have become debilitated.

An interesting report on Saw Palmetto appeared in the 1900 "Transactions of the National Eclectic Medical Association" and this is worth quoting from:

"I do not believe the action of saw palmetto as an aphrodisiac is direct and marked. An aphrodisiac is defined by the dictionaries as an agent which increases sexual desire, and of this class of medicines, cantharides, phosphorus, damiana, etc., are much better examples, producing their effect in a few hours in a marked degree, but being followed by corresponding exhaustion after the act. The effects of saw palmetto, on the other hand, are slow in appearing, a continued use of it for some weeks being necessary to obtain noticeable effects, and then there is not the urgent desire for coition which is produced by the irritants, only an increased power to perform the act and an absence of the exhausted feeling following, a real tonic, not stimulant action.

The real office of saw palmetto, in my opinion, is that of a reconstructive or restorative. Under its continued use the whole system seems to take on renewed vitality. The appetite increases, a keener relish for food is noticed, the bowels move more satisfactorily, the urine is increased in amount, and is voided more easily. The nervous system is strengthened throughout, trifles do not worry one as formerly, and in fact, a general sense of well-being is experienced."[12]

Saw Palmetto supplements are widely available. Saw Palmetto is listed in the AHPA's "Herbs of Commerce", p.135 & 272. [13]

Tweet