|
Saw
Palmetto - A Natural Remedy for the Symptoms of an
Enlarged Prostate
An
enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia
(BPH), is the most common prostate disorder in aging
men. Symptoms of BPH include difficulty urinating,
a sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder
and frequent nighttime urination. Men not only find
these problems to be inconvenient, but they often
pose embarrassment. Fortunately, there are natural
and very effective ways to find relief from these
symptoms.
One
herb, saw palmetto, has been shown in numerous studies
to be an effective remedy for the symptoms of BPH.
Until recently, the exact mechanism by which saw palmetto
works has remained unclear. Now a study from the journal
Urology helps clarify that mechanism.
Researchers
collected prostate tissue specimens from two groups
of men with symptoms of prostate enlargement. One
group was given a saw palmetto extract while the other
group received a placebo. The prostate tissue samples
collected from the saw palmetto group showed a marked
reduction in levels of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone
(DHT) compared to tissue samples from the placebo
group. This is significant because DHT (a relative
of testosterone) is believed to be responsible for
many of the symptoms of BPH. This study shows saw
palmetto may work by blocking the production of DHT
in the prostate gland.
|
