saw palmetto Health Article

Generic name(s):

saw palmetto

Brand name(s):

Saw Palmetto

What is the most important information I should know about saw palmetto?

Talk to a doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider before taking saw palmetto. You may not be able to use this product if you have certain medical conditions or take other medications.

Saw palmetto has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease, and it should not be substituted for prescription medications.

Saw palmetto has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of saw palmetto may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. Some marketed herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Saw palmetto may increase your risk of bleeding. Tell your healthcare provider if you take a blood thinner such as Coumadin, or if you have hemophilia, a stomach or intestinal ulcer, or if you need to have any type of surgery.

What is saw palmetto?

Saw palmetto comes from a palm-like plant that grows in the southeast United States. The berries of this plant are used to make the capsule form of saw palmetto.

Saw palmetto blocks certain effects of certain hormones in the body and also has some anti-inflammatory actions.

Saw palmetto has been used to treat symptoms of enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH), such as increased night-time urination or decreased urinary flow.

Saw palmetto has been used historically to treat stomach or intestinal problems, bladder irritation, and bronchitis.

Saw palmetto has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease, and it should not be substituted for prescription medications.

Saw palmetto has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of saw palmetto may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. Some marketed herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Saw palmetto may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking saw palmetto?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to saw palmetto, or have certain conditions. Be sure your doctor knows if you have:

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder (such as hemophilia);

• stomach ulcer with active bleeding; or

• ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

Before taking saw palmetto, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, or other healthcare provider. You may not be able to use this product if you have:

• liver disease;

• heart disease;

• a heart rhythm disorder;

• a history of stomach ulcer; or

• asthma or other breathing disorder.

Do not take saw palmetto without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Saw palmetto may be harmful to an unborn baby. It is not known whether saw palmetto passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this product without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without the advice of a doctor.