Saw Palmetto to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Saw Palmetto, whose botanical name is Serenoa repens, is marketed to the general public mainly as a treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH. It is rich in fatty acids and phytosterols

The use of saw palmetto in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

Saw palmetto is also known as sabal, serenoa, American dwarf palm tree, and cabbage palm.

Saw palmetto has been used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), which is an enlargement of the prostate gland (not due to cancer). Saw palmetto has also been used to relieve difficult urination that may be associated with BPH and to relieve the symptoms of an irritable bladder.

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. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination. And of course, herbscafe.com has the safest and proven effective saw palmetto.

Extracted from: http://health.yahoo.com