Saw Palmetto Cancer Cure

Saw palmetto other names include American dwarf palm tree, cabbage palm, palmetto scrub fan palm and scrub palm.Saw palmetto is an herb used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In vitro studies have found that saw palmetto inhibits growth of prostatic cancer cells and may induce apoptosis.

Saw Palmetto Historical Medical Usage
Saw palmetto was used in several forms of traditional medicine. Aboriginal Americans used the fruit for food and in the treatment of a variety of urinary and reproductive system problems.The Mayans drank saw palmetto as tonic, and the Seminoles used the berries as an expectorant and antiseptic.

The taste of saw palmetto fruit is reported to be repugnant. A book by Susan Hales (1898) describes the saw palmetto fruit as a staple food item for the Seminole Indians. The aboriginal American medicine man also kept a medicine bag of saw palmetto around to treat illness and to nourish the body. Other historical uses have included the treatment of infertility in women, treatment of underdeveloped breasts, increased lactation, painful menstruation cycles, reduce prostate, appetite stimulant, and as a tonic.

Saw Palmetto Health Benefits

Some people use saw palmetto for colds and coughs, sore throat, asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and migraine headache. Saw palmetto is used to increase urine flow (as a diuretic), to promote relaxation (as a sedative), and to enhance sexual drive (as an aphrodisiac). Saw palmetto is use to treat bladder inflammation, chronic bronchitis, among other conditions. Consider saw palmetto in treating acne. The fatty acids in saw palmetto are thought to have testosterone inhibiting effects on the prostate. The fatty acids of the saw palmetto includes lauric acid, oleic acid, myristic acid, and palmitic acid, phytosterols(plant sterols) and polysaccharides.

Saw Palmetto, Cure For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Saw palmetto is theorized to work by preventing the breakdown of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is responsible for stimulating prostate gland cells to grow and multiply excessively. Saw palmetto reportedly has the same effect as Proscar (finasteride) in treating prostatitis, but saw palmetto treatment has fewer side effects.

The part of the saw palmetto is used for medicinal purposes is the berries, which are harvested, dried, and ground for preparation as a tea or in capsules. Saw palmetto berries are often prescribed for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or as an anti-inflammatory. Interestingly, saw palmetto berries do not seem to reduce the size of an enlarged prostate, but rather relieve the symptoms associated with BPH such as frequent urination. Saw palmetto is not believed to interfere with accurate measuring of prostate specific antigen, or PSA (a marker for prostate cancer).

Saw Palmetto Cure For Cancer

The dried ripe fruit of saw palmetto from is used as an alternative therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer. Saw palmetto is used to alleviate the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate, either benign or malignant. Saw palmetto reduces inflammation, swelling and the absorption of the male hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in prostate tissue. These results act to relieve bladder obstruction and improve urinary flow. Other studies show that Saw Palmetto extract selectively antagonizes 52% of the dihydrotestosterone receptors in the prostate, thus inhibiting the hormone from binding to them, and therefore minimizing its stimulation of cell growth. Saw Palmetto is quickly gaining a reputation in the west as a possible anticarcinogen. Used for years in China, a popular cancer treatment, called PC-SPES which contains saw palmetto, is making its way into the North American market.

Saw Palmetto Common Dosage

The correct dosage of saw palmetto is somewhere around 320 mg per day. Saw palmetto can be taken in a single dose, or broke up into two separate doses in one 24 hour period. However, this is just a general figure. Other studies have shown the most effective dosage of saw palmetto comes from consuming 4 ounces of saw palmetto tea up to three times a day, as well as the consumption of up to 2 grams of dried berries in the same time frame.

Saw Palmetto Precaution

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider. Side effects are very rare, although mild stomach complaints and minor headaches may occur.

Saw Palmetto Products

Saw palmetto can be bought in supplement forms. Search for saw palmetto products in Google.

Saw Palmetto Research Links

Evidence is mixed about whether saw palmetto works to treat BPH. A number of studies suggest that the herb is effective for treating symptoms, including too-frequent urination, having trouble starting or maintaining urination, and needing to urinate during the night.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/saw-palmetto-000272.htm

A study shows that Saw Palmetto Berry Extract (SPBE) on inhibits prostate cancer cell growth and traction.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19059205