Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is a small tree that grows to a height of 6 to 10 feet. Saw Palmetto is used for Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and Male-pattern hair loss.
Also called: Pure Encapsulations (United States)
Pronunciation: pronunciation varies by local usage.
- Generic name
- saw palmetto
- Drug class
- Herbal product marketed as a dietary supplement; not an FDA-approved drug
- Form
- Sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants (general description of herbal medicines from MedlinePlus; the supplied notes do not list a specific product form for saw palmetto)
- Route
- Oral; topical use (applied to the scalp) has also been studied for male-pattern hair loss in a few small studies
- Legal status
- Marketed as a dietary supplement in the United States; dietary supplements are not approved by the US FDA for safety or effectiveness before they are sold to the public
Availability and supply rules vary by country
Trade names by country: United States
Australia: · Full directory
What saw palmetto is and how it works
Saw palmetto is a small tree that grows to a height of 6 to 10 feet. It is native to the West Indies and the southeast coast of North America. Its berries have been used for health purposes. Saw palmetto is promoted as a dietary supplement for urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate gland (also called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), as well as for male pattern baldness, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (a frequently painful condition involving inflammation of the prostate), and other conditions. (1) (2) (3)
Many studies have been conducted on the usefulness of saw palmetto for urinary tract symptoms associated with prostate enlargement in men. We know enough to conclude that saw palmetto is probably not helpful for this purpose. There is not enough evidence to determine whether saw palmetto is useful for other health purposes. More studies are needed before definitive conclusions can be made. The scientific evidence also does not support using the dietary supplement saw palmetto for any health condition. Saw palmetto is well tolerated, but it may be unsafe for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Talk with your health care provider about any herbal medicine you are taking.
Mechanism of action: how saw palmetto works
The supplied sources do not describe the pharmacology of saw palmetto. Berries of the small tree Serenoa repens (synonyms Serenoa serrulata, Sabal serrulata) have been used for health purposes. (1) (3)
What is Saw palmetto used for?
Urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH)
Saw palmetto is promoted for urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate gland (BPH). The evidence does not support this use: a 2023 review of 27 studies on saw palmetto in men with BPH found that this herb, when administered alone, provides little or no benefit for BPH symptoms. We know enough to conclude that saw palmetto is probably not helpful for this purpose. Two NIH-funded clinical trials of saw palmetto alone—one testing a standard dose and one testing increasing doses up to three times the usual dose—found no improvement in BPH symptoms. Reviewers analysed hexane-extracted products and other products separately and found no difference in their effects on BPH symptoms. Definite conclusions could not be reached about the effects of combinations of herbs that include saw palmetto. (1) (2)
Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome
Saw palmetto is promoted for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. A 2022 review of five studies did not find a significant benefit of the herb in patients with this condition. (1)
Male-pattern hair loss
A few small studies have tested saw palmetto, used orally or topically (applied to the scalp), for male-pattern hair loss. The evidence is too limited to allow conclusions to be reached. (1)
Other health purposes
There is not enough evidence to determine whether saw palmetto is useful for other health purposes. More studies are needed before definitive conclusions can be made. (1)
Before taking saw palmetto
Do not take / not appropriate for
- Saw palmetto may be unsafe for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding, discuss this with your health care provider before using any herbal product. (pregnancy and breastfeeding) (1)
- If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using any herbal product; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. The supplied sources do not list specific interactions for saw palmetto. (all medicines) (1) (3)
Tell your clinician about
- Any complementary health approaches you use, including herbal products and dietary supplements, so that you and your health care providers can make shared, well-informed decisions.
- Any prescription or over-the-counter medicines you take; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways.
- If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
- Any symptoms you are using saw palmetto for, including urinary symptoms, so that a clinician can assess and diagnose the cause rather than relying on a supplement.
- If you are considering saw palmetto for prostate-related symptoms, so that prostate assessment and PSA monitoring remain with your clinician.
Saw palmetto dosage and how to take it
- The supplied sources do not give a dose, schedule, or administration instruction for saw palmetto. No dose should be inferred from this page.
- Saw palmetto is promoted and sold as a dietary supplement; unlike drugs, dietary supplements are not approved by the US FDA before they are sold to the public.
- If you are thinking about using an herbal medicine, first get information on it from reliable sources.
- Make sure to tell your health care provider about any herbal medicines you are taking.
- Talk with your health care provider before using any herbal product if you take any type of medicine, because some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways.
- Do not change any prescription medicine or prostate treatment on your own because of a supplement; discuss any change with the prescriber.
Procedures and treatment changes
Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1) (2) (3)
Missed dose
The supplied sources do not provide missed-dose guidance for saw palmetto. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for advice about your own supplement schedule; do not take extra doses to make up for a missed one.
Overdose
The supplied sources do not provide overdose amounts, toxicity thresholds, or overdose management for saw palmetto. If you think you have taken too much of any supplement or you feel unwell after taking it, contact a poison-information service or seek medical care. (3)
Saw palmetto side effects
Saw palmetto is well tolerated. It has been used safely in research studies for up to 3 years. Adverse effects are mild and infrequent. Saw palmetto does not appear to affect readings of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, even when taken in higher-than-usual amounts.
Digestive symptoms
What to notice: Adverse effects of saw palmetto are mild and infrequent; they may include digestive symptoms.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with your health care provider. Do not stop or change any prescription medicine yourself; let the clinician you see advise on what to continue or stop. (1)
Dizziness
What to notice: Adverse effects of saw palmetto are mild and infrequent; they may include dizziness.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with your health care provider. (1)
Headache
What to notice: Adverse effects of saw palmetto are mild and infrequent; they may include headache.
What to do: Discuss persistent or troublesome symptoms with your health care provider. (1)
Serious warnings
PSA monitoring and prostate cancer assessment — monitor
Symptoms: PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland; PSA levels have been used to screen for prostate cancer and are also used to monitor patients who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Action: Saw palmetto does not appear to affect readings of PSA levels, even when taken in higher-than-usual amounts. Keep prostate assessment and PSA testing with your clinician, and tell your clinician that you use saw palmetto. (1)
Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding — caution
Symptoms: The supplied sources state that saw palmetto may be unsafe for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding; specific symptoms are not described.
Action: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, discuss saw palmetto with your health care provider before using it. (1)
Interactions with medicines — caution
Symptoms: Some herbs can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medicines; the supplied sources do not list specific saw palmetto interactions.
Action: If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using any herbal product. Tell your clinician and pharmacist about every supplement and medicine you take. (1) (3)
Interactions
| Medicine or test | Effect | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription medicines and over-the-counter medicines | Some herbs can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medicines. If you take any type of medicine, some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. The supplied sources do not identify specific medicines or specific saw palmetto interactions. | Talk with your health care provider before using any herbal product, and tell your clinician and pharmacist about all supplements and medicines you take. (1) (3) |
| PSA testing | Saw palmetto does not appear to affect readings of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, even when taken in higher-than-usual amounts. | Continue PSA screening or monitoring as advised by your clinician, and tell your clinician that you use saw palmetto. (1) |
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Saw palmetto may be unsafe for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Discuss this with your health care provider before using it. (1)
Men with urinary symptoms, prostate disease, or prostate cancer monitoring
Urinary symptoms associated with prostate enlargement and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome need clinical assessment and diagnosis. Saw palmetto is probably not helpful for urinary symptoms of prostate enlargement and did not show significant benefit in a review of studies in chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Saw palmetto does not appear to affect PSA readings, but tell your clinician you use it. (1) (2)
Children
The supplied sources do not establish the safety or usefulness of saw palmetto in children. Ask a paediatric clinician before giving any herbal product to a child. (3)
Monitoring
Before starting
- Get information about saw palmetto from reliable sources before deciding whether to use it.
- Tell your health care provider about any herbal medicines you are taking or considering.
- If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using any herbal product.
- Confirm the clinical cause of any urinary symptoms, prostate-related symptoms, or hair loss with a clinician rather than relying on a supplement.
- If pregnant or breastfeeding, discuss saw palmetto with your health care provider before use.
During treatment
- Tell your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use so you can make shared, well-informed decisions.
- Report digestive symptoms, dizziness, or headache that are persistent or troublesome.
- Continue PSA testing or prostate cancer monitoring as advised by your clinician, since these sources state saw palmetto does not appear to affect PSA readings.
- Reassess whether the supplement is needed at all, given that these sources state saw palmetto is probably not helpful for BPH urinary symptoms and that there is not enough evidence for other uses.
Storage
The supplied sources do not provide storage instructions for saw palmetto products. Follow the storage directions on the product label that you receive, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure.
Professional information
Clinician-facing context only. Use current local product labelling and guideline documents. The supplied sources provide no dosing, pharmacokinetic, or regulatory-approval information for saw palmetto as a drug.
United States
Indication: Any saw palmetto use
Dose summary: No dose, schedule, or preparation is established by the supplied sources. Saw palmetto is marketed as a dietary supplement; unlike drugs, dietary supplements are not approved by the US FDA before they are sold to the public. Dosing should not be inferred from this page.
Renal context: The supplied sources do not provide renal or hepatic dosing guidance for saw palmetto. (1) (3)
Hepatic guidance
The supplied sources do not provide hepatic impairment guidance for saw palmetto.
Overdose note
The supplied sources do not describe overdose amounts or management for saw palmetto. If excessive intake is suspected, use poison-information or local clinical pathways. (1) (3)
Frequently asked questions
Is saw palmetto effective for urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH)?
Probably not. Many studies have been conducted on the usefulness of saw palmetto for urinary tract symptoms associated with prostate enlargement in men, and we know enough to conclude that saw palmetto is probably not helpful for this purpose. A 2023 review of 27 studies found that this herb, when administered alone, provides little or no benefit for BPH symptoms. (1) (2)
Is saw palmetto effective for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome?
A 2022 review of five studies on saw palmetto for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome did not find a significant benefit of the herb in patients with this condition. (1)
Is saw palmetto effective for male-pattern hair loss?
A few small studies have tested saw palmetto, used orally or topically (applied to the scalp), for male-pattern hair loss. The evidence is too limited to allow conclusions to be reached. (1)
What side effects can saw palmetto cause?
Saw palmetto is well tolerated. It has been used safely in research studies for up to 3 years. Adverse effects are mild and infrequent; they may include digestive symptoms, dizziness, and headache. (1)
Does saw palmetto affect PSA test results?
Saw palmetto does not appear to affect readings of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, even when taken in higher-than-usual amounts. PSA levels have been used to screen for prostate cancer and are also used to monitor patients who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. (1)
Can I take saw palmetto while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Saw palmetto may be unsafe for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Discuss this with your health care provider before using it. (1)
Can saw palmetto interact with my medicines?
If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using any herbal product; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. Some herbs can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medicines. The supplied sources do not list specific saw palmetto interactions. (1) (3)
Is saw palmetto an FDA-approved medicine?
No. Saw palmetto is marketed as a dietary supplement. Unlike drugs, dietary supplements are not approved by the US FDA before they are sold to the public. Manufacturers and distributors of supplements are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all regulatory requirements. (1) (3)
References
- Saw Palmetto: Usefulness and SafetyNIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health · United States · dated 2025-04 · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 1
- Men's HealthNIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health · United States · dated 2019-06 · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 2
- Herbal Medicine (health topic)MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine · United States · accessed 2026-10-13 · source 3
Brand names by country
Single-ingredient saw palmetto names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.
Priority countries
United States
- Pure EncapsulationsPure Encapsulationsregulator source
- Genestra BrandsGenestra Brandsregulator source
- Nature's AnswerNature's Answerregulator source
- Herbal TerraHerbal Terraregulator source
- MetagenicsMetagenicsregulator source
- Wise Woman HerbalsWise Woman Herbalsregulator source
- PerquePerqueregulator source
- Beyond HealthBeyond Healthregulator source
- SuperSmartSuperSmartregulator source
- SuperiorLabsSuperiorLabsregulator source