Saw Palmetto And Pygeum Extracts

Men past the golden age need to be extra cautious about the health of their prostates. A reduction in the production of the hormone testosterone and a rise in the hormone byproduct, dihydrotestosterone coupled with the degeneration of cells brought by old age are often the causes of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. The FDA accepted prescription drugs for both diseases are Terazosin HCL and finasteride. Both drugs are effective in the remission of the condition but are usually accompanied with side effects like dizziness, impotence and loss of sexual desire.

Three herbs have been supported by scientific research in the symptomatic treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Saw palmetto is an herb with a long tradition of maintaining a healthy prostate. Men with BPH reported improved urination after taking saw palmetto supplements for at least six weeks. Pygeum and stinging nettle also provide similar relief as the drugs mentioned earlier minus the side effects. The efficacy of saw palmetto and pygeum extract for BPH has been documented in European medical journals. The combination is often recommended as an inexpensive, effective, and safe herbs treatment for BPH in alternative medicine.

Both saw palmetto and pygeum extracts contain essential oils that actively shrink a prostate's size. Several people who took palmetto and pygeum extract supplements reported a significant improvement in their urinary flow. Most manufacturers today have blended saw palmetto and pygeum extract to make a more potent combination for the treatment of symptomatic BPH without complications.

Since the middle of the 80's, not less than 10 studies, including double-blinded studies, have affirmed the effectiveness of saw palmetto and pygeum extract. Not only is the combination effective in treating symptomatic BPH, a 1991 Italian study also indicated the value of pygeum in giving relief to urinary problems associated with BPH, as well as increasing sexual desires.

Some products of saw palmetto and pygeum extract include a formulation of 85% fatty acids and plant sterols in a 320mg saw palmetto extract and 100mg of pygeum extract, with Vitamin D3 and 15mg zinc. Vitamin D3, zinc and selenium are vitamins that help restore sexual functions and prevent prostate cancer.

Consumers must be warned though that the FDA does not yet recognize saw palmetto and pygeum extract supplements as drugs. The American Urological Association, a 9,500-member of urologist, also fears that saw palmetto might mask symptoms of prostate cancer by treating its symptoms. Invasive prostate cancer may not show evident symptoms until it has grown into a higher stage of cancer. For safety measures, medical advice must be sought first prior to taking saw palmetto and pygeum extract to assuage any possibility of prostate cancer.