Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto, a common palm tree found in the southeastern United States, is best known as the source of a popular treatment for prostate problems. The active ingredient comes from an extract of the tree's berries. Uses: Available as dried berries, teas, tinctures, fluids, gelatin capsules and tablets, saw palmetto is taken by some men to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition that affects many men after age 30. The risk increases with age.

More than 2 million American men have turned to saw palmetto extract to help alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms of having an enlarged prostate. It remains a popular herbal remedy despite the fact that a spate of clinical trials in the past 10 years have found its benefits to be limited at best. That may change once men learn about the results of a new trial published in Wednesday's edition of the Journal of the American Medical Assn. First, a primer on enlarged prostates.

More than 2 million American men have turned to saw palmetto extract to help alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms of having an enlarged prostate. It remains a popular herbal remedy despite the fact that a spate of clinical trials in the past 10 years have found its benefits to be limited at best. That may change once men learn about the results of a new trial published in Wednesday's edition of the Journal of the American Medical Assn. First, a primer on enlarged prostates.

Saw palmetto, a common palm tree found in the southeastern United States, is best known as the source of a popular treatment for prostate problems. The active ingredient comes from an extract of the tree's berries. Uses: Available as dried berries, teas, tinctures, fluids, gelatin capsules and tablets, saw palmetto is taken by some men to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition that affects many men after age 30. The risk increases with age.

A secret to sexual prowess, some in the Far East believe, is the berry of the saw palmetto. This year's berry crop was not, however, satisfying. So an uncommon urgency has besieged South Florida. Even though the plant grows in abundance from South Florida to southern Georgia, there haven't been enough berries to meet demand.

Some people toss them in the trash. Others roast them for a snack. The most ambitious among us collect them and press them to produce pumpkin seed oil ? an increasingly popular culinary oil that's also used in supplements for prostate health. Over a century ago, American farmers noted that when their livestock munched on pumpkin seeds, they seemed to urinate more often. They weren't the first to notice the seeds' effects. The Iroquois had long used pumpkin seed as a diuretic, and the Cherokee gave it to children to control bed-wetting, since it seemed to help empty the bladder before falling asleep.

Candy hearts and fancy chocolate boxes are showing up in stores, which means many couples are starting to look forward to a special day of ... something other than candy. But even on a holiday devoted to the cause, sexual desire can be hard to come by. Whether it's because of age, illness, stress or distractions, many people feel their spark isn't sparking like it should. Not surprisingly, a lot of would-be romantics turn to herbal remedies for help. "We sell a lot of libido products throughout the year, but we definitely see a spike around Valentine's Day," says Bill Chioffi, director of education for Gaia Herbs, a company in Brevard, N.C., that makes two supplements for the occasion: Women's Libido and Male Libido.

Often without realizing it, consumers who buy vitamins, minerals and herbs at the pharmacy or health-food store may be taking a leap of faith. Studies have shown that the vitamins and herbs we buy do not always contain the ingredients listed on the products' labels--and there is no regulatory system in place to ensure accuracy in labeling.

SAW PALMETTO has been touted as an aid for hair loss, poor libido and male reproductive issues. Sex drive and hair may still be up for grabs, but new findings suggest the supplement won't help men's prostate problems. A large study has found that the popular herbal supplement doesn't help relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a non-cancerous swelling of the prostate gland.

This used to be the dead season, a time between citrus and tomato harvests when idle farm workers had little to do but wait for towering afternoon thunderstorms to rumble in from the Everglades and clear the air of dust. But no more.

A secret to sexual prowess, some in the Far East believe, is the berry of the saw palmetto. This year's berry crop was not, however, satisfying. So an uncommon urgency has besieged South Florida. Even though the plant grows in abundance from South Florida to southern Georgia, there haven't been enough berries to meet demand.

The Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center will host a lecture on herbal remedies at 12:30 p.m. Monday. Dr. John Guzman will discuss the effectiveness and safety of several commonly used herbs such as St. John's wort, saw palmetto and echinacea. Guzman will also address the quality of available herbs and how they interact with prescription medications. The center is at 24932 Veterans Way. Reservations: (949) 364-1770.

PharmaPrint sees an opportunity to cash in on growing demand for herbal remedies sold over the counter as dietary supplements. The tiny Irvine company, which develops pharmaceutical drugs based on plant materials, said health care giant American Home Products agreed to invest about $43.5 million to license and launch over-the-counter products made by PharmaPrint over the next two years. PharmaPrint also will receive royalties on sales.