If your doctor recommended saw palmetto for your prostate problem, you should've gotten the recommended dosage from your doctor.  Otherwise, you can follow the following dosage recommendations.

For Enlarged Prostate

320 mg daily in one dose or two divided doses

For BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy)

640 mg daily

Other Suggestions

1 to 2 grams of ground, dried, or whole berries daily

As I said at the beginning, you should consult with your doctor if you are not sure about the right dosage.  When you order saw palmetto in a bottle, it will give you general guile lines on how much to take daily.  So read the label carefully.

Otherwise known as Serenoa repens, Saw Palmetto is popularly used in Europe for diminishing symptoms connected with benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, a condition of enlarged prostate. In the US, it has not yet been deemed as a standard of care and has been marketed as a dietary supplement, but it is also very accepted as an herbal treatment for BPH.

Numerous methods of achievement have been suggested, and Saw Palmetto shows to possess 5-alpha-reductase inhibitory action, which prevents testosterone conversion into dihydrotestosterone. Estrogenic/hormonal effects of Saw Palmetto have also been accounted, as well as anti-inflammatory properties and immediate inhibitory effects.

Other uses of Saw Palmetto such as acne, breast enlargement, cancer, cough, diabetes, high blood pressure, migraine, and others are based on traditional theories and have not been completely tested for people, its effectiveness and safety for these purposes have also never been proven. It is always important to have potentially serious conditions evaluated by professional healthcare provider.

Saw Palmetto dosage is often based on traditional use, scientific research, expert opinion, or publications. Like any other herbal supplements, Saw Palmetto as a dietary supplement may not have been completely tested, and its efficacy and safety may no be established. Saw Palmetto dosage may vary with different brands, with variable components, and even with similar brand. The following Saw Palmetto dosage may not apply to every product; it is vital to read labels of products, and talk to a qualified physician for Saw Palmetto dosage before beginning therapy:

Adults 18 years old and older - Oral/by mouth
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) A Saw Palmetto dosage of 320 milligrams per day, either in one dose or into two spilt doses (eighty to ninety percent liposterolic content), has been utilized in several studies. Reports reveal that 160 milligrams taken once every day may be as effectual as used twice daily. Other suggested or conventional doses that have not been thoroughly studied include: one to two grams of fried, ground, or whole berried per day; two to four milliliters of tincture (1:4) taken thrice a day.

There are limited research accounts on Saw Palmetto dosage in using rectal/suppositories for BPH, but have been given in dosages of 640 milligrams once a day. Extracts have shown to be much effective taken orally four times a day in 160 milligrams. There is no sufficient information of Saw Palmetto dosage administered to children younger than eighteen years old to recommend the product. Again, it is always very essential to use Saw Palmetto with a doctor’s advice and instructions.

Here are the most commonly asked questions on saw palmetto. These are a compiled list of search terms submitted by actual visitors.

• Does saw palmetto help breast development?
• Does saw palmetto help slow baldness?
• Does saw palmetto prevent hair loss?
• Does saw palmetto stop hair loss?
• Does saw palmetto lower psa?
• Does saw palmetto work?
• Can I eat saw palmetto berries?
• Can I start saw palmettos from seed?
• Can women take saw palmetto?

Many of them are already addressed on my blog already, but I will try to answer these questions as we go. Thanks for your questions!

The popularity of Saw Palmetto as an effective initial treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia or BPH has resulted to its widespread use, particularly in Europe. The use of Saw Palmetto for treating symptoms of BPH in European countries such as Germany and Italy has been through recommendations of urologists; this has been backed up by controlled scientific investigation that have shown the efficacy of Saw Palmetto. In the US however, its use has not been as extensive and it has been marketed as a “dietary supplement”; dietary supplements in the US are not “regulated”.

The use of the product through self-diagnosis is not amenable, and it is always advisable to discuss the matter with a health care provider for whatever purpose one wants to use the product. Although there have not been reported cases of Saw Palmetto overdose, its administration should be through a doctor, for proper dosage and instructions. The risk of Saw Palmetto overdose may be greater for those who are taking the product without proper advice by a physician or taking the product in abusive dosage to strengthen or hasten its effects.

To avoid Saw Palmetto overdose or other health risks, it is essential that one informs his or her doctor if they have the following conditions: breast cancer, prostate cancer, or any other disease or disorder related to sex-hormones. Taking Saw Palmetto if one has any of these conditions may be dangerous as the product affects hormonal levels in the body. Keep in mind that Saw Palmetto has not been FDA evaluated for effectiveness, purity, and safety, and so all possible risks and/or advantages of the product, including how Saw Palmetto overdose can occur, may not be identified.

Saw Palmetto usage in the traditional and cultural settings may vary from accepted concepts of present Western medicine. If considering the use of this herbal supplement, consulting a primary health care expert is advisable. In addition, consulting a practitioner skilled in the uses of health/herbal supplements can be beneficial, as well as coordinating the treatment among every health care provider involved, is much advantageous.

If decided on taking Saw Palmetto, using the product as directed on its package or as instructed by the doctor or pharmacist is very essential to avoid Saw Palmetto overdose and health risks. If by any chance, one experiences Saw Palmetto overdose (no reported symptoms yet), seeking emergency medical attention should be the first step. Like any other medication taken, avoiding its overdose is always through following the recommended dosage and most importantly as advised by the doctor.

A Potent Combination

Saw palmetto and zinc seem to complement each other, if not create a potent formula in providing for better health – especially for males that is. Saw palmetto and zinc substances are usually combined together in a preparation - to better combat prostate diseases and provide for a better prostate health at that. These two together, also provide for other health benefits that have been sought of by many.

Saw palmetto and zinc seems to exhibit the same properties and actions in one’s body. They both inhibit the 5-alpha reductase enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT is the culprit behind the prostate problems commonly experienced by men. That is why substances that prevent formations of DHT are used to treat such health condition – and saw palmetto & zinc are reckoned to have answered these needs.

Hair loss has also been attributed to the workings of DHT. As a comprehensive approach to hair loss remedy, saw palmetto and zinc can also be found on the list. Together with folic acid, B-complex vitamins and green tea – these provide one with a more complete approach to regaining hair back.

The combination of saw palmetto and zinc is deemed to be the perfect one. Both works to strengthen the immune system – making the one’s body less prone to infections and making it stronger to resist any form of sickness. Saw palmetto is believed to have a tonic effect, and zinc has some antioxidant properties – just imagine what the two together can do for the body.

Both saw palmetto and zinc are considered to have an effect on one’s appetite. Saw palmetto is believed to enhance one’s craving for food, and zinc plays a part in appetite regulation. And while saw palmetto has been attributed with its weight gain or tissue building effect, zinc is essential for one’s growth and normal development. With the appropriate dosage of each, one is aided in attaining his or her ideal weight.

Not contented with the many benefits these have already offered, saw palmetto and zinc also has influences on one’s sexual drive. Saw palmetto is said to be an aphrodisiac, while zinc is essential for normal reproduction for both men and women. Both can help in giving one a healthier and happier sex life.

For one to get the right dosage and to be sure of the safety in taking saw palmetto and zinc together – in consideration of other factors in play, as well as taking into account other medications you may be currently taking – your doctor can better advise you on this. In essence though, saw palmetto and zinc offers one a combination to contend with, in addressing the many health problems faced – especially by men.

A famous fruit of a fan palm local to the southeastern part of the US, Saw Palmetto berries act to diminish inflammation, lessen muscle spasms, and boost urine flow. Europe has been known to use extracts of saw palmetto berries extensively for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a swelling of the prostate gland. In the US, Saw Palmetto berries in the form of dietary supplements are among the leading ten when it comes to sales.

In the olden times, Saw Palmetto berries were an edible food among the Native Americans on the US’s southeastern region, also using them as a treatment for genitourinary inflammation, digestive problems, libido deficiency, and dysentery. Near the beginning of the 20th century, Saw Palmetto berries extract was listed as an efficient remedy for prostate gland enlargement or the BPH condition, breast disorders, urinary tract swelling, bronchitis, cystitis, and laryngitis.

Saw Palmetto berries’ active components include plant sterols, flavonoids, and fatty acids. However, these are probably not the only substances present contained by the berries that have an effect on hormone production, which will take additional scientific studies to exactly establish how the Saw Palmetto functions. Saw Palmetto berries also hold high-molecular-weight polysaccharides that are normally linked to either immune-stimulant or anti-inflammatory effects.

There are different forms of Saw Palmetto berries that can be bought in the market today such as tablets, tea, dried berries, liquid tinctures, powdered capsules, liposterolic extracts, and tablets. When buying these products, make sure to check that the product has been labeled indicating that the contents are standardized, as well as containing eighty-five to ninety-five percent sterols and fatty acids. In an evaluation done by ConsumerLab.com, it was found out that about sixty-three percent of Saw Palmetto leading brands were standardized to the said amount; however, it indicates that as numerous as thirty-seven percent did not. Again, it is very important to read labels to cautiously make sure that the products contain the required standard of fatty acids and sterols, and to buy from trustworthy companies.

Due to the possible side effects and contacts with Saw Palmetto medications, they should only be in use under the direction of a well-informed healthcare provider. As Saw Palmetto have been categorized by The American Herbal Products Association as an especially mild herb of class 1 safety rating, which signifies that it’s safe when taken as directed.

The several benefits of Saw Palmetto berries have been significantly noted, and are still under further studies for more uses. Although it has been found to treat certain conditions, using the product with caution and under a health professional’s advice is still the best option.

For thousands of years, herbal teas have been recognized to promote overall health and well-being. Herbal teas contain antioxidants that combat free radicals in our system and help the body purge toxins to achieve cellular renewal. There are hundreds of known herbal teas, many of which are commercially prepared and ready-to-drink.

One of the most widely accepted herbal plants and prepared as tea is saw palmetto. While the saw palmetto tea is considered a tonic drink in itself, other manufacturers in the natural/organic pharmaceutical business make herbal teas with saw palmetto.

What is saw palmetto?
Saw palmetto is a palm like low-lying shrub that grows in the continents of Europe, Africa and along the coasts of southeastern North America. Its fruits are around the size of olives, which turn purple black when ripe, and form clusters. It is the saw palmetto berry extracts that contain herbal benefits and used for medicinal treatments, among those is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The medical benefits of saw palmetto in BPH for some people have been backed up by research.

Herbal Teas with saw palmetto
Natural/organic manufacturers mix herbal teas with saw palmetto for the drink to provide additional rejuvenating effects than saw palmetto alone. Whilst saw palmetto is known to relieve symptoms of BPH, data have been inconclusive as to saw palmetto tea's ability to shrink the prostate's size, and since most of its components are insoluble in water. Nonetheless, it's better to put more weight on the combined health benefits of herbal teas with saw palmetto. Since there are hundreds of herbal plants, manufacturers may differ in the usage of herbal teas with saw palmetto.

Happy Man Tea, available in www.mountainroseherbs.com is a decoction of various well-known herbal plants including saw palmetto intended to improve men's general health. The herbal plants used in this tea are all organic such as eleuthero root, dandelion root, nettle root, marshmallow root, burdock root, hawthorn berry, saw palmetto berry, fennel seed, oatstraw, as well as a pinch of stevia.

Male Energy Tea with Black Cumin Seed is an energizing tea made with a blend of herbs like ginseng, yohimbe, ginkgo, black (cumin seed), green tea, damiana, echinacea, mint, rose hips, and saw palmetto. Available at www.herbalremedies.com.

The featured herbal teas with saw palmetto are just some of the products that are a combination of saw palmetto and herbs. However, herbs also have medicinal values and although the possibility of having an overdose is thin, the FDA warns that these combinations may lead to internal bleeding. Hence, consulting a physician is advised prior to the use of herbal teas with saw palmetto.

Saw Palmetto trees develop on broad diversity of places, ranging from open and dry to seasonally semi-shady and wet. Throughout this wide variety of habitats, it often crops up on sand ridges, coastal dunes, islands close to marshes, and flatwood forests. Saw Palmetto trees are dominant land cover in several pine forests on the southeastern part of the US, at times even wrapping hundreds of acres. It frequently grows in bunches of twenty-feet or more in length.

Saw Palmetto trees are native to most of the coastal plains of the southeast, between Florida and Louisiana in the south, to South Carolina in the north. Animals such as white-tailed deer, feral hogs, and black bears sustain from the Saw Palmetto trees’ fruits. Even Native Americans have also utilized its fruits for food.

Today, the fruits (berries) are gathered for herbal medications that might aid in preventing certain types of cancers; although it has already been effectively used for treating benign prostate hyperplasia. The Saw Palmetto trees’ flowers are also an essential source for honey, as well as clusters of the palm being favorite hiding spots for the Florida panther, wasps, and rattlesnakes.

Saw Palmetto may sometimes be mistaken with dwarf palmetto or Sabal minor, as they have a similarity with leaf shape and size. The dwarf palmetto’s leaves are blue-green in color, has no spine on its leaf stems, and the fruits are circular that are approximately ½ -inch in width. The Saw Palmetto tree on the other hand, has leaves that spiral around its stem; with a circular outline about two to three feet across, which are deeply separated into a lot of dagger-shaped segments. The stems of the leaves are about two to three feet and are sharply saw-toothed, thus being name Saw Palmetto.

As a whole, Saw Palmetto is a branched, strong, fan palm, measuring 2-9 feet tall, and its stem normally remains underground or horizontally runs alongside the surface; in some instances, the stems develop in an arching or upright position. Its fruits are drupe-like and ovoid, which are ½ “wide, and matures from green into black on a split bunch shorter than its leaves.

The increasing popularity of Saw Palmetto in Europe, particularly its berries which are used for health medicinal purposes, has resulted to the Saw Palmetto being commercially grown. At present, it has become one of the big industries with more than twenty thousand tons being delivered to Europe alone to meet the market’s need.

Serenoa Repens is its binomial name, and is presently the only species categorized in the Serenoa genus, Saw Palmetto is a little palm, which usually reaches a height of about two to four meters. Its trunk sprawls, and it develops in bunches or dense thickets within sandy coastal grounds, or as bushes in hardwood hammocks or pine woods. Straight trunks or stems are hardly ever produced but are frequently found in a number of populations. It is widespread towards the southeastern part of the United States, most usually along the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains, as well as farther inland as southern Arkansas.

A fan-like palm having leaves with a bare petiole that finishes into a rounded fan of approximately twenty leaflets, Saw Palmetto in bunches is a beautiful sight to see. The petiole has fine, sharp spine or teeth, giving the palm its general name. The Saw Palmetto’s leaves are one to two meters in length, while the leaflets are fifty to hundred centimeters long. The leaves are comparable to that of the palmetto leaves of Sabal genus. Its flowers have a yellowish-white color which is about five millimeters across, and is produced in thick compound panicles that reach up to sixty centimeters long; the fruits are huge reddish-black drupe, which is an essential wildlife food source.

Saw Palmetto has been recognized in several synonyms such as Sabal Serrulatum, for which this name still frequently shows up in alternative medicine; it has been used by Native Americans as fruit for food, as well as the treatment of various genital and urinary problems. The colonists, particularly European, learned the use of this palm; for two-hundred years, it was utilized as a crude extract for a variety of conditions including urogenital problems, asthenia or weakness, and recovery from main illness.

In recent times, a lot of research has been made on the fruit extracts of Saw Palmetto, which has been found to be highly enriched with phytosterols and fatty acids. This study has been the issue of careful meta-analysis published in JAMA medical journal, and has been revealed to be effective for treating men who have indicative benign prostatic hyperplasia, a swelling of the prostate, in contrast to the placebo and two other major kinds of drugs used for the same condition in men. More studies are being done on the medical benefits of Saw Palmetto with the hope of finding significant uses for the herb.

Saw Palmetto is another one of nature’s remedies that still needs to be explored; nevertheless its health treatment findings have opened the doors to another solution to some of man’s ailments.

What is Saw Palmetto?

Saw palmetto has been introduced in the market as a herb that treats those with BPH or Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. The symptom for this includes problems with urination that affects one’s overall quality of life. It has also been considered to be of some help to many other illnesses or diseases.

What is saw palmetto? What is its history?

The human race has benefited from saw palmetto for over a long time already. Way back in history saw palmetto fruits were part of the diet of the aborigines of the Florida peninsula. It was then considered a staple food. These aborigines or Indians on that time stored their dried saw palmetto fruits to serve as their food source for longer periods of time.

It has also been believed that the Mayans took saw palmetto as a tonic. The Seminoles made use of the berries as antiseptic. It clearly had evidences of health benefits even during these earlier parts of history.

What is saw palmetto - What are its health benefits?

Aside from BPH, saw palmetto has been shown to have some positive effects with those having an under-active bladder, chronic pelvic pain syndrome and hair loss. There are even more claims of saw palmetto’s healing wonders but have not been conclusively shown through formal medical studies.

What is saw palmetto - What are its side effects?

Saw palmetto, like any other medicine – either it be official prescription medicine or alternative medicine – have side effects that result from such use. The side effects though are found to occur very rarely and of minor types. These side effects are usually associated with the stomach & intestines. There have also been complaints on allergies, decline in sexual desire and tender breasts.

If one should experience any of these side effects or any other condition that may have resulted with one’s intake of saw palmetto – stop the use of it and refer your condition to your doctor.

What is saw palmetto - How much dosage is necessary?

Saw palmetto is taken in orally. There are saw palmetto products in the market that has a specific strength and purity that would fit your case.

As to the dosage, the correct answer for this one, as always is – it depends. And this is true. Each individual or patient for that matter is in a different and unique condition as compared to another, it is thus only logical that each requires different dosages to remedy one’s illness in consideration of the severity of one’s health condition.

The usual dosage though is 1 to 2 grams of crushed berries, or 320 milligrams of its extract. It is advised that one checks the manufacturer’s instructions and consult a doctor as well prior actually taking such herb on a specific dosage.

What is saw palmetto - Is it for me?

Again, it depends. First, if you believe about the effectiveness of alternative medicine, and if you believe on the claims of saw palmetto as a wonder herb – then it may be for you. Second, if your doctor approves of your use with such, and finds no constraints for your case – then go and let saw palmetto’s wonders work for you.

At least, the next time somebody asks: “What is saw palmetto?” – you then can answer back with authority & with ease, and hopefully say – that it is a wonder herb that worked well for you – and that it comes with your highest recommendations.