Alias: Blue Brown, Sabah Brown

Family: Palmae.

Movable equipment parts and main components:

The active plant part of saw palmetto is mature berry, which contains phytosterol (B- sitosterol). Other parts do not contain B- sitosterol, so they do not have the same therapeutic effect.

Preparatory work:

Saw palmetto can be used as tea preparation, tincture or powder.

History and medicine:

Saw palmetto is a classic herb, which is used to treat male benign prostatic hyperplasia and block the activity of 5-α- reductase, which is an enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. Studies have shown that sawtooth palm contains about 32% 5-α- reductase activity, while finasteride has about 80% 5-α- reductase activity.

Sawblade palm is a small fan-shaped palm with glossy green leaves and palm-like shape. It grows in the southeastern United States, especially in the swamps of Florida. Leaves are 3-6 feet long, and there is a flowering stem in the center to bear fruit. It can be used for treating benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and blocking the activity of 5-alpha-reductase. Saw palmetto also has anti-inflammatory effect, which is an ideal herb for treating mild inflammation of prostate and bladder.

Other considerations:

B- sitosterol is a phytosterol, which means that it is fat-soluble, and it is best to take it with foods containing dietary fat.

When the dose is too high, sawblade palm will cause slight gastrointestinal discomfort. The possibility of prostate cancer should be ruled out before using this herb to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. When combined with warfarin, the interaction between drugs should be considered.