Saw Palmetto

 An Agent for Good Health, Saw Palmetto

The beauty of this palm is renowned and the juices of these lovely purple berries provide a variety of health benefits. The Saw Palmetto is native to coastal regions in the southern half of the United States, especially in southern California. This herb is beneficial to both men and women and is used by holistic practitioners. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration are in the act of evaluating this herbal product. The herb would have the honor of being the first herbal supplement to be licensed by this agency as a medical treatment for a specific condition. 

Culinary uses: Eaten as a berry

Medical Use: The fruit of the plant is what provides the beneficial properties that are used to treat a long list of ailments. Some of the ailments that are treated with Saw Palmetto are:

· Testicular inflammation 
· Urinary tract inflammation,
· Coughs and respiratory congestion
· Strengthen the thyroid gland
· Balance the metabolism

As with all herbal supplements, consult your physician before taking. Women who are pregnant, breast feeding, using hormone related drugs or are taking a drug named Warfarin should most definitely consult their doctor prior to ingesting Saw Palmetto supplements.

An interesting note: The Saw Palmetto berry juice has been used as an aphrodisiac for many years in native Indian culture. They knew secrets about this plant long before science did and kept their love lives vibrant by drinking the juice of the berries.

Growing Information

This short palm grows quite slowly and needs about four to six feet to spread out in. In southern states this palm is quite easy to grow. Hybrid varieties have been developed to be grown as house plants, but remember, this palm will grow to a height of four to six feet. The stout stems that crawl across the ground will produce green, fan shaped fronds. One variety has beautiful silver foliage and is called ‘Cinerea’. Saw Palmetto is often used for back drop plantings and foundation plantings. The palm should not be planted next to walkways or in a children’s play area due to the very sharp leaf stems. As with most palms, the palmetto likes full sun and will benefit from being watered often when young. As the palm gets older, it becomes very drought tolerant. 

The palm is especially adaptable to coastal areas because that is its natural habitat. This is an advantage to those who are having difficulty finding large plants that will do well in salty areas and low water areas. 

This beautiful addition to a southern yard will enhance your landscape. Wildlife loves this plant because of the berries and the foliage. The birds know what is good for them and as it turns out, what is good for humans as well.

Medical Use

The fruit of the plant is what provides the beneficial properties that are used to treat a long list of ailments. Some of the ailments that are treated with Saw Palmetto are:

· Testicular inflammation 
· Urinary tract inflammation,
· Coughs and respiratory congestion
· Strengthen the thyroid gland
· Balance the metabolism

As with all herbal supplements, consult your physician before taking. Women who are pregnant, breast feeding, using hormone related drugs or are taking a drug named Warfarin should most definitely consult their doctor prior to ingesting Saw Palmetto supplements.

An interesting note: The Saw Palmetto berry juice has been used as an aphrodisiac for many years in native Indian culture. They knew secrets about this plant long before science did and kept their love lives vibrant by drinking the juice of the berries.