Saw Palmetto
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Saw palmetto is a herbal treatment that is used for symptoms associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement of the prostate) such as urgent or frequent urination or urinary leaking. It is reported to have hormonal/estrogenic effects, as well as inhibit androgen receptors and is anti-inflammatory.
Saw palmetto may block some of the effects of testosterone and therefore reduce male pattern hair loss. (To read about male pattern hair loss, click here and here.) It has been used as an aphrodisiac, as well as for breast enlargement or reduction. It is used for hormonal imbalances (estrogen or testerone), acne and excess hair growth. It is also used to improve the immune system.
Saw palmetto is not recommended for children, and pregnant or breastfeeding women, or women who are at risk of hormone-related cancers.
Saw palmetto may make oral contraceptives less effective, therefore increasing the risk of unplanned pregnancy.
Saw palmetto may interfere with the absorption of iron.
Saw palmetto may affect blood clotting, so might interfere with blood-thinning drugs you are taking.
Have you used Saw palmetto? - please tell our readers about your experiences. Comment on and rate this tip below.
Source: All4women
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cathy
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12 March, 2010 05:14:28
Emily
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12 March, 2010 02:16:40
Gillian Slater
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12 March, 2010 01:33:11
joyce
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12 March, 2010 01:20:47
Billie M. Robinson
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12 March, 2010 01:14:39
You can get saw palmetto from solgar Vitamin and Herb and their number is 011 462 1652
Here is some info about side effects:
"Side Effects and Warnings
Few severe side effects of saw palmetto are noted in the published scientific literature. The most common complaints involve the stomach and intestines, and include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, bad breath, constipation, and diarrhea. Stomach upset caused by saw palmetto may be reduced by taking it with food. Some reports suggest that there may be less abdominal discomfort with the preparation lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens (LSESR). A small number of reports describe ulcers or liver damage and yellowing of the skin (jaundice), but the role of saw palmetto is not clear in these cases. Similarly, reports of headache, dizziness, insomnia, depression, breathing difficulties, muscle pain, high blood pressure, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythm, and heart disease have been reported, but are not clearly caused by saw palmetto. People with health conditions involving the stomach, liver, heart, or lungs should use caution.
Caution is advised in people scheduled to undergo some surgeries or dental work, who have bleeding disorders, or who are taking drugs that may increase the risk of bleeding. Dosing adjustments may be necessary.
Some men using saw palmetto report difficulty with erections, testicular discomfort, breast tenderness or enlargement, and changes in sexual desire. Saw palmetto may have effects on the body's response to the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone, but no specific effect has been well demonstrated in humans. Men or women taking hormonal medications (such as finasteride/Proscar®/Propecia® or birth control pills) or who have hormone-sensitive conditions should use caution. Tinctures may contain high levels of alcohol and should be avoided when driving or operating heavy machinery.
In theory, PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels may be artificially lowered by saw palmetto, based on a proposed mechanism of action of saw palmetto (inhibition of 5-?-reductase). Therefore, there may be a delay in diagnosis of prostate cancer or interference with following PSA levels during treatment or monitoring in men with known prostate cancer.
The combination product PC-SPES®, which contains saw palmetto and seven other herbs, has been found to contain prescription drugs including warfarin, a blood thinner. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning not to use PC-SPES® for this reason, and it is no longer commercially available. "
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-sawpalmetto.html
Wendy
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