Saw palmetto, known botanically as Serenoa repens, is a small palm that grows along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the US. Saw palmetto may have been used as a medicinal herb and food by indigenous Americans. Today, saw palmetto is used in supplement form to promote prostate and urinary tract health in men
Saw palmetto supplements are available in capsule, tablet and liquid form in extract and non-extracted form. Choose an extract, standardized for at least 80% fatty acids and sterols. Capsule forms are preferable to liquids because of saw palmetto's strong taste. A typical dose is 160 mg of extract taken twice a day, although some users take a higher amount. Saw palmetto is often combined with other prostate-supporting nutrients like zinc, lycopene, green tea extract.
Saw palmetto shouldn't be used as a treatment for prostate disease or urinary tract problems without the supervision of your physician. Saw palmetto supplements may produce nausea when taken with an insufficient amount of solid food.
References:1. Rev Urol. 2001 Summer;3(3):134-8.