Is Saw Palmetto Dangerous?

Saw Palmetto is an herb created by the fruits and berries of a Sebal Palm tree.  It’s most commonly used to help with an enlarged prostate.  People have also used Saw Palmetto for anything from hormonal imbalances and pelvic pain to a sore throat or hair loss.  While such a wide range of possible applications seems a bit fishy from the outset, possible problems in relation to Saw Palmetto include:

• Pancreatitis.  
  
  Research has shown the inflammation in the pancreas can occur in those taking Saw Palmetto even in intermittent and small doses.
• Liver damage.  If you have a history of your liver being compromised in any way, it’s not recommended that you use Saw Palmetto, as the liver’s condition could worsen.
• Blood thinning. Saw Palmetto thins blood in a similar way as aspirin.  As a blood thinner, it can cause prolonged bleeding and easy bruising.  If you have stomach ulcers or any bleeding diseases, Saw Palmetto could increase those problems.
• Breastfeeding interaction. Saw Palmetto acts similar to a hormone and is therefore unsafe for pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding.
• As an herb that slows blood-clotting and also acts a hormone, Saw Palmetto can also have complicated interactions with other hormones and herbs:
• Saw Palmetto can decrease the effectiveness of birth control through the way it interacts with estrogen levels in the body.
• Aside from blood-thinning medications, there are also herbs that work to thin blood.  Taking Saw Palmetto with garlic, clove, gingko, angelica, danshen, or ginger, red clover, turmeric, and others can cause increased bleeding.

The potential hazards of this herb seem to outweigh its possible benefits, especially when there are other herbs available for use with fewer risks.  We choose herbs that interact effectively and safely with one another, and we our chemists don’t include Saw Palmetto.