Herbal helpers
Welcome to the herbal helpers page! My plan is to slowly but surely build a database of some of my favourite herbs that I often find myself using time and time again in clinical practice. Click on the name of the herb to read the info. I hope you find it useful!
Saw Palmetto |
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), is the only surviving member of the serenoa species. It grows along the Atlantic coast of north America. It is a shrub that grows up to 3 meters in height, with fan shaped, palm-like leaves. It bears white flowers and deep red oblong berries. Saw palmetto has a long history of use as both a food and a medicine amongst early north American settlers. It was frequently used to treat conditions of the bladder, urethra, prostate, flagging reproductive function, and general debility and senility in men. Today, medical herbalists most frequently prescribe Saw palmetto for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
This condition is present in around 20% of men at around the age of 40, increasing to 70% by age 60, and 90% by age 70. This condition arises due to the presence of an androgen called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This is the end product of an enzyme catalysed reaction, that involves regular testosterone being metabolised into this particular androgen. DHT actually mediates growth of the prostate gland, which is a hollow gland, through the centre of which the urethra threads. Growth of the prostate can affect the function of this upper portion of the urinary tract.
When enlargement occurs, it does so in a nodular fashion. Growing nodules can project directly into the lumen of the urethra and partially occlude it. This can lead to the classic signs and symptoms of BPH. These include:
- Urinary frequency, nocturia, and difficulty starting and stopping the stream of urine.
- Acute urinary retention
- Chronic urinary stasis, which results in bacterial overgrowth and infections of the urinary tract.
- Hypertrophy of the urinary bladder
- Urinary bladder diverticular
- Hydronephrosis
Fatty acids: lauric acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, capric acid, caproic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid.
Phytosterols: beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol.
Alcohols: docosanol, hexacosanol, octacosanol, triacontanol
Misc: carotenes, lipase, tannins
Activity of Saw palmetto
The largest volume of research on saw palmetto has been on its effects in the treatment of BPH.
This herb is known to act as an androgen receptor blocker. DHT, the androgen that instigates prostatic enlargement in BPH, is less able to bind to receptors within the prostate, as substances in saw palmetto compete for binding space.
Saw palmetto is also known to inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. This enzyme metabolises testosterone into the problematic DHT. It is believed that this activity is mainly attributable to the lipid fraction of this herb.
It is also apparent that there is a disruption of the archidonic acid pathway. There is interuption of both the cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways, which provides a generalised anti-inflammatory action. Back