The end of Saw Palmetto as a Viable Solution for BPH?

In older times, indigenous groups of the Americas would use Saw palmetto as a traditional herbal medicine. The indications included treatment for urinary symptoms and as a tonic, expectorant and antiseptic according to medical study sites. In the beginning, research seemed to indicate Saw palmetto could support urinary health and help men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, as more studies were conducted, this seemed to be less and less accepted. When compared to placebos, there were little to no significant results produced.

One could argue that is is because the Saw palmetto supplements on the market are all differently produced and mixed with other ingredients, which makes the treatment less reliable and effective. The American Urological Association has called for the U.S. FDA to ensure that proper studies are conducted moving forward to produce reliable results, and until then it seems to hesitate on advocating for Saw palmetto as a viable option for men with BPH.

What are men to do in this case? When men are seeking natural treatment, the best of both worlds would be to find ingredients that have had proper research conducted with positive clinical results and minimal side effect profiles. After all, the marriage of science and traditional medicine doesn't have to be a pipe dream. However, it seems like commercialized Saw palmetto supplements, for all the buzz they have generated on the shelves of our supplement aisles and positive sentiment customers have given it over the years, might consider taking a bow from the world of men's health until proper studies can confirm and re-confirm its efficacy.