Saw Palmetto for Women

Saw palmetto is a palm like tree, which grows in certain areas in the United States of America. This palm like tree bears brown to black berries and oil is extracted from the berries, which is then used for various therapeutic uses. The berries have been a part of the diet of natives of the southeastern U.S., for more than hundred years. The other name given to saw palmetto is sabal palmetto.

There are many uses of saw palmetto for men. It has been used to treat enlarged prostate glands in men. It is also beneficial in treating urinary tract infections and other problems related to the urinary tract. It has proved to be beneficial in treating a number of ailments in women, there are many benefits of saw palmetto for women. Let's see what are they.

Benefits of Saw Palmetto for Women

There is a lot of research, that is underway, about the benefits of saw palmetto. There are indeed many therapeutic uses of saw palmetto. The first benefit of saw palmetto is to arrest hair loss. One of the predominant cause of hair loss is excessive production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). More than 98% of DHT is formed at the root of the hair. When saw palmetto extract oil is applied and massaged onto the scalp, it helps in arresting hair loss.

Women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), have abnormally higher levels of testosterone, than the normal levels. Saw palmetto berries help in treating PCOS. It reportedly also has anti-estrogenic effect and counters high estrogen levels. Another benefit of saw palmetto is, that it helps in alleviating hirsutism (i.e. growth of too much hair on the face, etc.), which is a common symptom associated with PCOS.

Another benefit of saw palmetto for women is in treating acne. It is known to regulate the production of hormones, hence, it is one of the remedies for acne caused due to hormonal imbalance. However, studies are yet underway to ascertain this benefit.

One of the prominent properties of saw palmetto is that, it is diuretic in nature and it has anti-androgen properties, which help in decreasing water retention and at the same time also control blood pressure. Therefore, it has been used as a natural remedy for treating high blood pressure or hypertension condition with its diuretic effect.

Beside the DHT inhibiting effect, saw palmetto stimulates the production of the female hormone prolactin, which is known to promote breast enlargement. It is the very hormone prolactin, that promotes milk production, hence, it is used by lactating women.

Although there are many benefits of saw palmetto for women, there are also some side effects of it. The most common side effect is a gastrointestinal problem. This side effect can be reduced, if saw palmetto is taken along with food. Use of saw palmetto can increase the risk of bleeding in women or also have an effect on the sex hormones. A chemical present in saw palmetto is chemically similar to cholesterol. High levels of this chemical in blood is known to have increased the severity of heart disease, especially in people, who have previously suffered from heart attacks.

Therefore, it is recommended, that saw palmetto should be taken after consultation your health care professional. In case you notice any other side effects after taking saw palmetto, it should be reported to your physician without any delay.