Overview: Ultra Saw Palmetto (Jarrow) Saw Palmetto with Pygeum (Jarrow) Each bottle, 60 softgels. Each softgel contains 150 mg of Saw Palmetto berry extract, 50 mg of the bark of Pygeum africanum, 200 mg of lecithin and 2.5 mg of gamma tocopherol. Suggested use is 2 softgels twice per day with meals. .

Saw Palmetto (Serona repens) A significant amount of clinical data suggests that this species of saw palmetto (S. repens) has good effect at reducing an enlarged prostate. The prostate gland surrounds men's bladders and when it enlarges, can cause constriction and difficulty in urinating. This problem arises due to difficulties in metabolizing testosterone. Several controlled studies have shown that supplementation with extracts of the berries resulted in significant improvement (such as reduced urinary frequency and prostate size). Note that the S. officinalis often found in stores is the wrong species. Make sure to get a definitive diagnosis of an enlarged prostate.

There is evidence to suggest that Pygeum (Prunus africana) is good for reducing an enlarged prostate (see, e.g., Urologe A. 2002 Sep;41(5):447-451 and J Urol. 2004 Nov;172(5 Pt 1):1792-1799). This African evergreen tree has been pretty well characterized and shows activity. One study showed that it helped to reduce urinary frequency, urgency and flow rate. These herbs appear to work partly by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. There is one proposed study of the combination being investigated by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). There are other data suggesting these herbs, along with nettle root extract, might have synergistic effects in managing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Further research will tell. (Along with these two herbs, essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, may be a good idea to help treat BPH).

A recent review noted that “Based on the information available today, […] botanical therapies can be used for treatment of a number of objective and subjective symptoms in patients with BPH, stages I and II” (see Ann Pharmacother. 2002 Sep;36(9):1443-1452). The particular herbs referred to in the article include Saw Palmetto, Pygeum, Urtica dioica and Cucurbita peponis seeds.