You might have heard all about Saw Palmetto being good for men's reproductive health, but did you know it is also very useful for women's reproductive health as well? WHAT?!! No way! Yes, way! Come explore more below.
The common name for this herb is Saw Palmetto. It has gained a lot of popularity, even in the modern medicine community, for its ability to help me with prostate issues, reproductive issues, and more. The Latin binomial is Serenoa repens. This herb is found growing wild throughout North America. When using it for medicinal purposes, one uses the berries. The active constituents (the chemicals in the plant that lend to its healing properties) in Saw Palmetto are phytosterols, polysaccharides, fatty acids, and resins. The therapeutic actions (those actions for which we tend to reach for Saw Palmetto) that are most prominant are antiandrogenic, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic, nutritivie, decongestant, demulcent, immunostimulant, and aphrodisiac. In this case, the decongestant is referring to its ability to decongest the urinary tract system and the kidneys, especially when one is suffering from a UTI. (urinary tract infection.) Traditionally, Saw Palmetto was used by the Native American communities to help with erectile dysfunction, impotence, infertility, and urinary tract infections. They would also dry the berries out and grind them into a powder which they then used to make cakes to be eaten and help with dysentery and stomachaches. As you see, it was used in a very versatile way. How do I use Saw Palmetto in my practice? Well, as mentioned above, it is very well known for helping to regulate testosterone levels and protect the health of the prostate in the process. It keeps the prostate from enlarging. So, since I treat women, how does this help? Saw Palmetto works very well in women suffering from PCOS and acne caused by imbalanced hormones. PCOS is a condition where the body creates way too many cysts on the ovaries and this impairs their normal function. The ovaries are responsible for regulating the amount of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in the bloodstream. Well, when this gets impaired by so many cysts, it means that estrogen is not produced as well and testosterone levels increase. This is why so many women who suffer from PCOS start developing facial hair and acne. Its like you are becoming a teenage male! Fuck that. Saw Palmetto can therefore be given to women to help regulate the levels of testosterone down to where they are supposed to be. This in turn can help with infertility issues that are occurring from PCOS, as it decreases excess androgens. How cool is that?? It is also very useful in the treatment of UTI's, as it is an anti-inflammatory and will soothe an inflamed urinary tract from infection. As women are more prone to UTI's, you can imagine, this herb sees a lot of use here at The Nomad Apothecary. Saw Palmetto can also be used for other systems of the body. It can help increase appetite when one is having a poor appetite caused by different issues. It is used to calm the body and the mind as a calming adaptogen. It is also used when someone has lost a significant amount of weight from disease or health issues and have become weak and debilitated. It helps strengthen the constitution. So, how in the hell does one take this herb? You will see the most common form in natural food stores and supplement shops, which is capsules. Capsules are an easy way to get it in for sure. I recommend getting your capsules from a Master Herbalist as you can then guarantee you are getting exactly what is advertised and not something cut with a different herb. Commercial manufacturers are not required to mention if they add other herbs in or not and make them a blend. There is no real oversight on their process. If you choose this method, proceed with caution. If you notice it isn't helping after a month or you are having adverse reactions, contact myself or another Master Herbalist and obtain your supply from them. The other way to take it is via a water extraction. In this case, a decoction. The what? Good question. A decoction is where one boils the herb in the water, instead of just boiling water alone and then pouring it over the herbs. A decoction is used when you are using the dried berries, fruits, or roots of a herb/plant. It really helps get through the tough outer skin/layer and pull the active constituents out into the water. In this case you will take 2-4 teaspoons of the dried berries to 8 ounces (240 ml) of water. Place all in a pan and bring to a gentle boil. Once at a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes. You can drink up to 3 cups a day. The other way to take Saw Palmetto, and also one of the easiest. is via tincture, an alcohol based extraction. You will want to take 1-2 ml/cc of a 1:5 tincture up to 3 times a day. As always, check the bottle for the extraction ratio used, if you choose a commercial tincture. If the number after the 1 is less than 5, this requires special dosing as it is stronger. Please contact me or another Master Herbalist for dosing. The only know contraindication (reason you cannot take this) is that one should not take it if they are currently lactating. And, as always, before starting any new herb please consult either myself, another Master Herbalist, or your medical doctor to make sure it will not interfere with any prescribed medicines you may be taking. So, in conclusion, Saw Palmetto is an invaluable herb in my practice and for you. Its ability to assist in the reproductive system is above and beyond almost any other herb used for this body system. It is a herb that definitely pulls it weight. Have you tried Saw Palmetto? How has it helped you? Comment below and let me know. I love hearing how herbs have helped my readers and clients. Blessed Be, Shannon
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AuthorShannon, master herbalist, shares her thoughts, educational information, and more. Archives
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