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For years, European doctors have used saw palmetto to treat men’s enlarged prostates and benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.
However, because the research on this supplement in America has not reached the level of sophistication of that in Europe and the FDA has not followed the European developments, use of this dietary supplement for medical treatment is much less common in the United States. |
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Practicality of Saw Palmetto Treatment.
In truth, European researchers and physicians have extensively studied the saw palmetto side effects in treating prostate problems caused by inflammation and have found great success in applying the herb as a solution, especially in age related cases that have caused the prostate to swell. In fact, saw palmetto can give men suffering from the painful effects of an enlarged prostate much faster relief than most of the drugs prescribed by American doctors.
Prostate enlargement is a natural occurrence in men, with more than half of men over the age of 50 experiencing some form of prostate enlargement. The application of the supplement is a treatment that has been producing results for men in Europe for decades, while those in America have not received near the benefit due to skepticism in the market.
Finasteride, Treaxosin HCl, and Doxazosin mesylate tend to be the drugs of choice in the United States. However, most of these do not produce notable results in reduction of pain and other symptoms for over a month. With saw palmetto, most men find that they experience relief within the first 30 days.
In the United States, the largest producer of saw palmetto is in Florida, especially in the southern regions. It is also grown is smaller patches in areas running from Georgia to Mississippi. You will not find it cultivating naturally throughout the Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean regions. The herb has been given more than one scientific (Latin) name, but the researchers and producers in the industry have standardized with the name Serenoa repens. The berries are harvested, and the extract is used for treatment.
In 1994, Saw Palmetto Berries Co-op of Florida, Inc., became a large producer, harvesting more than three million pounds of these berries every year. This has led to an increase in treatment of the prostate with the herb.
While saw palmetto side effects are not reported, there are some precautions to take in using the herb. First of all, because of the lack of complete research information on the product, you should not use it alone to treat BPH. While symptoms may be reduced, there may be additional treatments and therapies required. In Europe, many people combine the use of this supplement with zinc supplements, high quantities of essential fatty acids (found in flax oil or in some fish), Pygeum africanum (another herb supplement), and a low-fat diet.
Some doctors and researchers believe that saw palmetto side effects may be experienced when combined with the consumption of alcohol. Before self-diagnosis and treatment, you should consult with your physician to schedule a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) and DRE (digital rectal exam) to rule out the possibility of prostate cancer, as saw palmetto is not an acceptable treatment for such a condition.
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