“Saw Palmetto”
Botanical Name: Serenoa repens, S serrulata
Common name: Saw Palmetto, Cabbage Palm
Family: Palmae
Parts Used: Fruit
Active Constituents:
- Carbohydrates
- Fixed oils
- Steroids
- Flavonoids
- Resin
- Tannins
- Volatile oil (Barnes et al 2002)
Qualities: Dry, warm
Actions:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-prostatic
- Anti-androgenic
- Male tonic
- Diuretic
- 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor – decrease conversion of testosterone to DHT
- Prolactin inhibitor
- Improves overall tone of reproductive system (Purcell)
Indications:
- Mild to moderate BPH
- PCOS – due to anti-androgenic action
- Reduce ovarian enlargement with chronic irritation – with dull, aching pain – can act as a ‘sedative’ for the ovaries
- Inflammation of the genitourinary tract esp cystitis, atrophy of sexual tissues
- Aphrodisiac
- Sex hormone deficiency
- Stubborn acne conditions – due to influence on the liver
- Non infectious prostatitis (Bone, 2003) (4-6 weeks for result)
- Traditionally used for undeveloped mammary glands, irritative cough, whooping cough, laryngitis, acute catarrh, asthma, nervous system tonic
Contraindications:
Thomsen & Gennat (2009) recommend contraindicated in pregnancy & children under 12 due to hormonal effects
Bone suggests that this is not so.
Cautions: Minor GI complaints such as nausea – usually resolved when the herb is taken with meals
Dosage: 2.9-4.5ml of 1:2LE per day or 15-30ml per week
Materia Medica 