Saw Palmetto
(Serenoa repens)

What is St. Saw Palmetto?
A nice review by students from the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy

Saw Palmetto: Effective BPH Symptom Relief
Nutrition Science News (September
Could the fruit of a plant many consider a weed ease the symptoms of a painful condition that affects so many older men? Native Americans have used saw palmetto (Serenoa repens, S. serrulata and Sabal serrulatum) berries for hundreds of years as a nutritive tonic and a reproductive strengthener. They also used the herb to flush kidney stones, increase male fertility and treat breast disorders, urinary tract irritations and weakened urine flow. While many of these historical applications have yet to be studied, saw palmetto is touted today for its ability to reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Analytical Accuracy and Reliability of Commonly Used Nutritional
Supplements in Prostate Disease
J Urol 2002 (Jul); 168 (1): 150-154
Commonly used nutritional supplements for prostate disease vary widely in measured dose. Saw palmetto demonstrated tremendous variability with some samples containing virtually no active ingredients. In contrast, the more regulated substances we measured, such as vitamins and minerals, demonstrated less variation.

Saw Palmetto Extracts for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia:
A Systematic Review
JAMA 1998 (Nov 11); 280 (18): 1604–1609
The existing literature on S repens for treatment of BPH is limited in terms of the short duration of studies and variability in study design, use of phytotherapeutic preparations, and reports of outcomes. However, the evidence suggests that S repens improves urologic symptoms and flow measures.

Saw Palmetto Monograph (Serenoa repens)
Alternative Medicine Review 1998 (Jun); 3 (3): 227–229 ~ FULL TEXT
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is one of the most common medical conditions in middle-aged and elderly males, with an incidence of approximately 50-60 percent in men age 40-60, and greater than 90 percent in men over 80. The disease process leading to symptomatology in older males probably begins as early as the late 20s, and may have an incidence rate of 10 percent at that age. Rarely a fatal disease, BPH affects the patients' lifestyle and comfort.