Saw palmetto is best known as a potential way for men to obtain relief from symptoms of an enlarge prostate, a condition called Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH).
However, being a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory capabilities as well saw palmetto is able to provide a host of other benefits.
Below our team of experts will examine the numerous potential benefits of saw palmetto supplementation.
19 Benefits Of Saw Palmetto
There is copious clinical evidence to support claims that saw palmetto can deliver the following benefits.
1: Saw palmetto promotes prostate health.
This is saw palmetto’s #1 claim to fame and the reason most men use it. Scientific studies have confirmed the ability of saw palmetto to reduce swelling of the prostate (1) and alleviate the symptoms that come with it. Most men will experience a swollen prostate when they get older. Whenever possible, the time to take saw palmetto is before it happens.
2: Saw palmetto has anti-inflammatory properties.
Inflammation is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it plays a key role in the process of healing. On the other hand, it sometimes gets out of control and leads to all manner of health problems, including rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, and inflammatory bowel conditions. Saw palmetto has anti-inflammatory properties that may help keep these conditions at bay.
3: Saw palmetto might help with respiratory conditions like asthma.
Asthma is an inflammatory condition wherein the airways overreact to stimulus and become inflamed. Because of its anti-inflammatory abilities, saw palmetto might help people with asthma keep their airways clear. These same anti-inflammatory capabilities may also be beneficial for those with bronchitis or allergies.
4: Saw palmetto improves urinary health.
Saw palmetto has diuretic (2) properties, which help it promote urine flow. This is important for men with BPH who commonly suffer from disruptions to their normal urinary activity, due to the enlargement of the prostate gland. Saw palmetto, with its diuretic abilities, helps improve urine flow, which has the added benefit of fending off urinary tract infections.
5: Saw palmetto may be effective against arthritis pain and stiffness.
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, saw palmetto can be useful in battling numerous health conditions, including arthritis. Arthritis and inflammation are inextricably linked since arthritis produces inflammation, and inflammation aggravates arthritis. By reducing inflammation saw palmetto can reduce stiffness in the joints, which will, in turn, reduce the associated pain.
6: Saw palmetto is rich in antioxidants.
Antioxidants (3) are the only defense human beings have against the scourge of free radicals. Free radicals are unbalanced atoms present in everyone’s body, which, if left unchecked, can cause cell death and lead to heart disease, cancer, and more. Antioxidants seek out these unbalanced atoms and neutralize them. Saw palmetto is rich in antioxidants.
7: Saw palmetto may be useful before prostate surgery.
The evidence is often contradictory, but some doctors believe that taking saw palmetto in the weeks leading up to prostate surgery can minimize complications from that surgery. While this seems encouraging, be aware that as of this writing, there have not been any clinical studies to support or reject this notion.
8: Saw palmetto can help balance testosterone levels.
For both men and women, maintaining a proper balance of hormones is crucial. When testosterone production waivers or increases, it can produce a number of different health problems, including hair loss, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, weight gain or loss, unwanted facial hair in women, and more. Saw palmetto has demonstrated an ability to balance testosterone levels.
9: Saw palmetto may help with acne.
Acne is one of those things you might have expected medical science to have found a cure for now by now. But such is not the case. The best we can hope for are effective treatments. Saw palmetto has shown potential for being one of those treatments (4). Saw palmetto reduces the production of sebum, an oily substance secreted by the skin that clogs hair follicles and causes acne.
10: Saw palmetto may help reduce hair loss.
There are several factors that influence hair loss. Genetics is one, certainly. And nothing can be done about that, yet. But hair loss also occurs for other reasons, particularly in women. Hormonal imbalances where the body produces too many male hormones can cause a woman to start losing hair. Because saw palmetto can restore hormonal balance, it may also be useful in treating hair loss (5).
11: Saw palmetto may be effective in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome.
PCOS, or Polycystic ovarian syndrome (6), typically affects young women and can lead to irregular periods and the development of unwanted facial hair. PCOS is typically caused by excess androgen (testosterone) production. Saw palmetto may reduce testosterone production and activity in women and reduce the effects of PCOS.
12: Saw palmetto can help normalize your menstrual cycle.
As we mentioned above, PCOS can not only produce unwanted facial hair, but it can disrupt a woman’s normal menstrual cycle. By promoting proper hormonal balance and reducing the amount of testosterone active in a woman’s system, these irregular menstrual cycles can often be eliminated.
13: Saw palmetto may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Saw palmetto has proven its ability to arrest BPH in older men (7). This is important for a number of reasons. First and foremost, because stopping BPH in its tracks may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. The scientific jury is still out on a definitive connection between BPH and prostate cancer. But there is enough evidence to support the notion that there is a link.
14: Saw palmetto is low in side effects.
While saw palmetto rarely produces adverse side effects, it has been known to happen on occasion. Especially if a person takes more than the recommended amount. In such cases, they may experience a headache, lightheadedness, or nausea. Some people have complained of diarrhea or constipation. Again, though, such side effects are rare.
15: Saw palmetto may boost libido.
There is compelling scientific evidence to support the long-held belief that saw palmetto can increase libido in men (8). It is believed this increase in sexual function is related to saw palmetto’s ability to increase testosterone production and improve prostate health. The prostate is, after all, a crucial component of male sexual function. So it follows that a healthier prostate may lead to a healthier sex life.
16: Saw palmetto may help stabilize blood glucose levels.
Scientific evidence regarding saw palmetto’s ability to help stabilize blood sugar is lacking, primarily because there have yet to be any reputable large scale health studies on the subject. Until those studies happen, what we have is a growing body of circumstantial evidence that points to saw palmetto possibly being effective at stabilizing blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes.
17: Saw palmetto may produce natural breast enlargement.
There is some evidence that saw palmetto can act as a natural breast enhancer. How it does so is not entirely understood. It may reduce the production and activity of testosterone in women’s bodies, thereby clearing the way for female hormones to assert their influence. Or, it may promote the production of zearalenone (9), a hormone known to promote breast development.
18: Saw palmetto is safe for most men and women.
As we have seen, saw palmetto is both safe and effective when taken as directed (10). It is more than just the ‘supplement du jour’. It is a viable way to treat an array of disorders, primarily those affecting the male prostate gland. Side effects are rare, and both men and women typically tolerate saw palmetto supplements well.
19: Saw palmetto can enhance overall health.
Most men will be interested in saw palmetto for its ability to mitigate BPH symptoms, and most women for its ability to balance hormone levels. But the bottom line is that, because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, saw palmetto can help just about anyone achieve a higher degree of overall health. And you can’t really ask much more than that from any supplement.
Conclusion
Whether you seek relieve from the swelling and discomfort of BPH, wish to improve urinary tract health, are looking for a way to relieve arthritis pain, or are looking to boost your libido consider saw palmetto supplements. They’re affordable, safe and used by millions of men and women every day.