Saw Palmetto

Treatment Overview

Saw palmetto is a type of palm tree that grows in the southeastern United States.

The berry of the saw palmetto plant contains a compound that may reduce the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include dribbling after urination and getting up many times during the night to urinate. Some people also use it for chronic pelvic pain, hair loss, migraine, and other conditions.

From the 1870s until 1950, saw palmetto was a common treatment for prostate and other urinary problems. After 1950, saw palmetto was no longer recognized as a drug in the United States. It is still used in Europe as a treatment for BPH.

In the United States, saw palmetto is available as a dietary supplement.