How to Use Saw Palmetto to Treat Enlarged Prostate Glands

Saw palmetto is believed to be an effective supplementary treatment for enlarged prostate glands. This dwarf palm, native to the southern Atlantic coast in the United States, is thought to affect the hormones which cause enlarged prostate glands.

Instructions

Understand How Saw Palmetto Treats Enlarged Prostate Glands

1. Use saw palmetto in the hopes of avoiding the surgery that is often required to unblock your urethra. Patients suffering from enlarged prostate glands often develop urinary tract disorders due to blockage.

2. Treat the enlarging effect that testosterone has on your prostate with saw palmetto. The extract is thought to inhibit testosterone's interaction with your prostate gland, thereby blocking its enlargement.

3. Expect improved flow of urine and a decrease in the frequency with which you must urinate when you use saw palmetto. Taking saw palmetto to treat enlarged prostate glands is also may soothe the sensation of urination urgency.

Use Saw Palmetto Safely

1. Make sure you have a proper diagnosis of your condition. Enlarged prostate glands, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, must be diagnosed by your regular physician.

2. Keep your expectations realistic. While many men suffering from BPH have reported positive effects after using saw palmetto to treat their conditions, the scientific jury is still out. Relatively few studies have been conducted in regards to saw palmetto's actual effects on the body.

3. Watch for side effects. While most patients report no side effects at all, some people who take it complain of stomach discomfort, nausea and vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, erectile dysfunction and enlarged breasts.

4. Be aware that while there is no evidence linking saw palmetto with serious side effects, there have been cases which seem to correlate its use with a variety of unpleasant conditions. These include insomnia, inflammation of the liver or pancreas, breathing issues, depression, irregular heartbeat, heightened blood pressure and chest pain.

5. Stop taking saw palmetto at once if you experience any of the serious side effects. Report any side effects to your doctor if these do not go away within a few days of starting your saw palmetto treatment.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not take saw palmetto if you're undergoing treatment for any other medical condition that affects your body's natural hormone balance. It may interfere with your other treatments and inhibit or nullify their effectiveness.