Saw Palmetto Side Effects

Saw palmetto extract is actually obtained from the berries or fruits of a small palm tree, known as serenoa repens or saw palmetto. This tree is native to North America and has been a part of traditional and alternative medicine for a number of ailments. Saw palmetto extract is a rich source of a wide range of fatty acids including oleic acid, lauric acid and palmitic acid. It also contains phytosterol or plant sterols and polysaccharides. Though there is not much scientific evidence to prove most of the health benefits of saw palmetto, it is still in use mainly for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatic enlargement and male pattern baldness. Here is an account of saw palmetto side effects as well its benefits.

Benefits of Saw Palmetto Extract

Saw palmettos has been used for a long time to treat problems associated with the urinary, genital, and reproductive system. It is one of the widely used herbal remedies for BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is commonly associated with aging. Sitosterol is the active compound present in saw palmetto extract, which is found to be responsible for inhibiting the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone or DHT. DHT is the main compound that induces rapid cell multiplication in the prostate gland leading to its enlargement. As saw palmetto reduces the level of DHT in the body, it can help in treating prostate enlargement associated with the condition BPH.

Another important function of saw palmetto is to prevent DHT from binding with androgen receptors and thereby prevent hair loss or male pattern baldness. Saw palmetto is also supposed to have sedative and expectorant effects, for which it is used in relieving cough, including bronchial cough, and asthma. It has also been found to improve appetite and digestion. However, it is mainly popular for its aphrodisiac or sex stimulating effects, due to which it is widely used to treat impotency.

What Are the Side Effects of Saw Palmetto?

As against the claims of saw palmetto promoters, many of its users have reported some noteworthy side effects. Saw palmetto has not been approved by the FDA as a medicine to treat any kind of disease. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has also not tested it to find out its safety and effectiveness. So, many of the saw palmetto berry side effects as well as benefits have not been proven. But, as reported by the users of saw palmetto extract, it can cause headache, stomach pain, bad breath, and diarrhea or constipation. Many individuals have also experienced vomiting and nausea after taking saw palmetto supplements.

Allergic reactions like itching, skin rashes, tongue inflammation, and breathing problems may be experienced by individuals allergic to this herb. Liver damage, jaundice and stomach ulcer are among the less common but severe side effects of saw palmetto extract. Apart from these, it may increase the bleeding risk in individuals with blood clotting or bleeding disorders. Important contardictory results have been witnessed regarding saw palmetto's effect in stimulating the sex drive. It has been observed that, as against the popularity of saw palmetto as an aphrodisiac herb, the use of its extract has been reported to produce erectile dysfunction and impotency in some individuals. Besides these, the compound beta-sitosterol found in saw palmetto extract is similar to cholesterol, and so, a rise in its level can increase severity of heart diseases, especially among individuals who already have suffered from heart attacks.

In addition to these side effects, saw palmetto can produce several other complications for women, especially if they are taking birth control pills and estrogen replacement medications. One of the most common saw palmetto side effects for women is weight gain, as has been reported by many women who have used it for breast enlargement. Men using testosterone or any other type of anabolic steroid should also avoid the use of saw palmetto without consulting an expert or physician.

To sum up, saw palmetto extract should be taken only under the guidance of a physician or expert health practitioner in order to minimize the risk or side effects. Saw palmetto side effects, whether major or minor, should also be immediately reported and consulted with a physician. This herbal extract is best avoided by individuals with liver disease, asthma or other breathing disorders, stomach ulcer and heart diseases.