Saw Palmetto - History and Folklore

Your name: Your e-mail address: Your friend's e-mail addresses:

(separate multiple addresses with comma)
Indicates required field
Message (limit 100 characters)
Enter answer below:

(Why the math? It protects against spam)
=
Send
Cancel
Your message has been successfully sent!

Native American tribes used the seeds of the saw palmetto palm as part of their regular diet. It is unclear if they attributed any medicinal uses to the plant. European settlers observed that animals that consumed saw palmetto fruits appeared particularly healthy. The farmers used extracts from the berries and came to believe that the plant possessed diuretic properties and recommended it for a wide variety of ailments, including urinary problems resulting from enlarged prostate glands. Saw palmetto remained a common folk medicine in the U.S. through the middle of the twentieth century.