Does anyone have experience with the benefits of taking the herbal supplement, saw palmetto, for urinary frequency and small urinary output at each bathroom visit? How long is it necessary to take saw palmetto and in what amount? I’ve seen several urologists, had a big work-up with all the tests and all I’m told is that I have a small residual capacity, i.e. a small bladder. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, my sleep is disturbed almost every night by 2 - 3 trips to the bathroom for the usual urgent trips to the bathroom with only little results.
I’ve been taking saw palmetto for several years because of enlarged prostate. It promotes urinary tract health, and helps some with flow, but I’m not sure it would help with what you are describing. I asked my doctor about the herb and she encouraged its use, saying that she knew of no side effects from it (for men, anyway). I think the dosage, like with many herbal remedies, is whatever gives you benefit. I take two gelcaps per day. Check with your doc.
So you’ve been checked for diabetes, right? Frequent urination is one of the symptoms.
Thanks for your response. I’ve been tested for diabetes and don’t have it.
Saw palmetto berries contain phytosterols, plant compounds that may curb the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male hormone that stimulates prostate growth. A prescription drug, finasteride (Proscar) targets the same pathway. Finasteride is also one of the two drugs used to combat alopecia (baldness), by curbing the production of DHT. Saw palmetto may have that benefit also.
According to http://www.consumerslab.com/ the saw palmetto pills should contain at least 80% fatty acids. The ones I take say to take two in the morning and two at night, which I do. By using this, I avoid taking Flomax, which was the medicine prescribed by my urologist. (Flomax is prescribed for milder BPH than Proscar is.) However, for a small bladder problem, I don’t think it would be of much help.