The History of Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto through the years
This unassuming, salt and draught tolerant, slow growing palm is one of Nature’s splendid gifts to humanity. A Florida Native, also known as Silver Saw Palmetto or American Dwarf Palm Tree, with it’s green, fan-shaped leaves and stems that have saw like teeth, has become known through history as a powerhouse medicinal. Not only do the white-yellow flowers grow in dense clusters and produce a delicious honey, but the oval berries have drawn great interest and health conscious curiosity to this plant. Ninety five percent of the berries are grown in Florida, in southern Georgia and Alabama.
Used by Mayans
This special berry was used by the Mayans who crushed the berries to make tonifying medicinal remedies. The berries range in color from light green when they are unripe, to yellow as they grow to sunset orange and deep purple when fully ripe. Native cultures discovered the berries, recognized their value, and made use of their sweet scented oils and tangy flesh for nourishment. In fact, the Seminole Indians used them for wound healing and cleaning. Most of the indigenous cultures from this part of the world used Saw Palmetto as a potent aphrodisiac.
Used Today
In modern culture, Saw Palmetto’s most common “claim to fame” is in the treatment of BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy) and male uro-genital issues. The berries active components have shown to decrease the activity of 5-Alpha Reductase, an enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and preserves testosterone in the body. This is the mechanism that scientific research claims causes BPH. In one study of 40 men, after 6 months of ingesting Saw Palmetto, their DHT levels decreased by 32 percent. The effect of maintaining testosterone levels has implications of use for treatment of BPH for men, particularly over 45, and for hormone related hair loss in both men and women.
That being said, many people are not familiar with the beauty-enhancing properties of this lovely berry. Due to their high antioxidant content, the berries are not only beneficial for inflammatory conditions but are also hair protective and skin-beautifying making it a potent ally for women and men that seek to enhance their appearance and sense of well-being. Saw Palmetto berries are also currently being studied to validate their beneficial effect in helping treat certain cancers.
There are no known side effects from the ingestion of Saw Palmetto giving it an excellent safety profile. Ongoing studies are being done on this wonderful berry’s ability to reduce inflammation and its role in reducing the loss of hair in both men and women. It is no wonder that this special berry has been revered through time, it has so many beneficial effects.
At Saw Palmetto Florida, LLC, we source the wild-grown berries from our own farm as well as working directly with other farmers that pick and supply berries to us. We listen to the echo of the ancients and ascertain that they are fresh, wild and the best quality our native Floridian berries can be. All of our berries are processed in our facility in Naples, Florida until we arrive at the golden oil that radiates the sunshine that ripened the berries. We strongly believe in putting quality first and delivering the very best to our valued customers.
