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What
is saw palmetto
Saw palmetto is a small shrub sometimes known as the dwarf American
palm, "Sabal serrulata", or "Serenoa repens".
The plant can be found in its natural habitat of the South Western
United States, especially Southern California. The berries of this
plant have been used for a variety of ailments for centuries by
Native Americans and alternative medical practitioners. The berries
of the plant contain complex chemicals including inhibitors for
both type I and type II 5 alpha reductase. Saw palmetto berry extract
is widely available in Europe, the USA, and on the Internet. Saw
palmetto has been used by many people as an alternative treatment
for pattern baldness. No research as been officially conducted to
find its true value in treating hair loss but indirect evidence
suggests that saw palmetto may be effective for conditions induced
by steroidal hormones.
Saw palmetto has been under scientific investigation for many
years. The saw palmetto extract is known as the drug "Permixon"
in medical literature. Permixon is a saw palmetto berry extract.
The key important ingredient is an n-hexane lipidosterolic agent.
This might also be described as a phytosterol (plant sterol). Particular
attention has been focused on the potential for saw palmetto to
treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. That is prostate enlargement,
but not due to cancerous cells. The prostate is particularly sensitive
and responsive to estrogen and testosterone hormone concentrations.
What
is saw palmetto references
- Boyle
P, Robertson C, Lowe F, Roehrborn C. Meta-analysis of clinical
trials of Permixon in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic
hyperplasia. Urology. 2000 Apr;55(4):533-539.
- Wilt
TJ, Ishani A, Stark G, MacDonald R, Lau J, Mulrow C. Saw palmetto
extracts for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic
review. JAMA. 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1604-9.
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