Palmetto® Info

Basic Facts
Effects
Indications
Composition
Dosage
Side Effects/Contraindications
Instructions

BASIC FACTS

The saw palmetto (Latin: Serenoa repens) is a plant native to North America having fan-like serrated leaves and numerous berries. It was used by the natives of North America already many years ago for the treatment of urinary tract diseases in men and diseases of the breast in women. The North American Indians used the berries as a food and to increase the appetite, but also in case of bed wetting, impotency, low libido and prostatic inflammation. In women they used the natural remedy in case of infertility, painful menstruation and for milk production. After the possibilities of the plant especially regarding the benign prostatic hypertrophy had been realized in Europe as well, a concentrate was obtained from the oily extract of the berries in order to be able to increase the effectivity and to have standardized dosages.

EFFECTS

The oil that is obtained from the berries of the saw palmetto consists of a great number of free fatty acids (between 85 and 95 %) and phytosteroles. Among others it also contains the so-called Omega-6 fatty acids which, in addition, have a cholesterol-lowering effect. The fat-soluble extract of the berry can prevent the transformation of testosterones, which are made responsible for the enlargement of the prostate.

More than 20 placebo-controlled double-blind studies showed that the fat-soluble extract of the saw palmetto berries is very effective in reducing the symptoms of a benign prostatic hypertrophy such as nocturia (the most unpleasant symptom of this disease). A study carried out in 1984 with 110 patients suffering from the above-mentioned disease showed that these patients had significantly fewer symptoms over a follow-up examination period of 14.5 to more than 30 months than the control group. This was measured not only by subjective criteria like pain when urinating but predominantly also by objective criteria such as bed wetting during the night, the urinary output and the residual urine. Moreover, the preparation was excellently tolerated and had hardly any side effects.

What is a prostatic hypertrophy? The prostate is a chestnut-size, firm organ that surrounds the base of the male urethra. It secretes a liquid, milky secrete which is added to the seminal fluid and has a triggering effect on the movement of sperms.

In a benign prostatic hypertrophy (prostatic adenoma, prostatic hyperplasia), the number of the cells and the glands increases, which then leads to a stenosis of the urethra. The ensuing symptoms are a thin urinary stream, pain when urinating, problems when starting to urinate, nocturia, frequent urge to urinate, problems caused by incomplete emptying, etc.

Prostatic hpyerplasia is the most frequent cause of bladder emptying disturbances in men. It is commonly seen between the ages 40 and 50 and takes a slow, intermittent course.

The etiology of this disease is not yet fully known. It is assumed, however, that it is caused by an accumulation of testosterone, the male sexual hormone, or by a redistribution in the hormone balance of the female and male sexual hormones. To find out whether an individual has such a disease, the doctor will make a rectal examination to determine the consistency, size and condition, etc. of the prostate. As a next step one can make a so-called uroflowmetry, a determination of the residual urine or an ultrasound examination.

From a therapeutic viewpoint there exist, apart from the operation (adenectomy of the prostate), which is proposed only after all conservative types of therapy have failed, several medical treatments. In Austria and Germany the means of choice for the medical treatment is the oil of the saw palmetto, which not only alleviates the symptoms but also leads to a small yet noticeable decrease of the prostate.

INDICATIONS

Benign prostatic hypertrophy: the main indication for administering Palmetto^® is the benign prostatic hypertrophy (prostatic hyperplasia). In this disease, the plant extract is already the «golden standard» in many European countries like France, Germany, Austria, Italy or Spain. The typical symptoms of this disease are problems starting to urinate, a thin urinary stream, urinary frequency, dribbling after urinating as well as frequent nocturia.

Investigations have shown that in all these symptoms the saw palmetto extract has excellent efficacy. If the prostate enlargement is not treated, the organ grows continuously. The saw palmetto extract not only causes an improvement of the symptoms but also a small yet clear reduction of the size of the prostate.

COMPOSITION

One capsule contains 500 mg pure pharmaceutical saw palmetto extract from controlled organic cultivation in a hypoallergenic rice starch base.

DOSAGE

In normal cases take 1 to 2 capsules 1 to 3 times a day with plenty of fluid.

SIDE EFFECTS/CONTRAINDICATIONS

The purely plant-based saw palmetto extract has practically no side effects. In a 3-year study, 34 out of 435 patients reported mild gastro-intestinal symptoms. There are no interactions with other preparations.

INSTRUCTIONS

It may take four to six weeks to observe the effects of Palmetto^® in BPH. In case the symptoms improve, Palmetto^® should be taken as a long-term medication. Palmetto^® does not impair the exact measurement of the PSA (prostate-specific antigen – an important cancer marker). Please keep in mind that only a doctor can make the diagnosis «benign prostatic hyperplasia». Therefore, Palmetto^® therapy should not be commenced on your own authority but only after thorough examination by a doctor.

This product is available at pharmacies or via Pharmatrans Inc.

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