Nature’s Tonic for Men’s HealthSaw palmetto is a shrub-like palm prized for men’s health.* Each fan-shaped cluster of leaves is attached to the stem of the plant by a stalk covered in spines. These saw-like teeth lining the stalk give the Serenoa repens plant its common name, Saw Palmetto.Native to the southeastern United States, Saw Palmetto can be found growing from South Carolina to southern Mississippi and throughout Florida. The plant bears brownish-black berries that have a long history of traditional use by Native Americans.The earliest mention of saw palmetto’s health potential in the scientific literature is found in an 1879 issue of the American Journal of Pharmacy.1 Within the next two decades, saw palmetto began to earn recognition for having properties that provided benefits to men’s reproductive health.*Saw Palmetto – Uses and BenefitsTraditional use claims are based on historical or traditional practices. Saw palmetto has been used for prostate and urinary health dating back to Native Americans and the American Eclectics in the early part of the twentieth century.The Eclectics were a group of American physicians organized in the 1800s. They called themselves Eclectics after the Greek word for ‘select.’ They believed in selecting the appropriate regimen based on each individual person’s needs. The Eclectics utilized the beneficial properties of locally available herbs mainly from Native American traditions to create health-promoting tonics.3 They created teas and tinctures from the berries of the saw palmetto tree to promote prostate health.Spotlight on Prostate HealthThe prostate is a male gland roughly the size of a chestnut. It is located at the neck of the bladder and the urethra. The word prostate comes from a Greek expression meaning, “one who stands before” describing its placement directly below the bladder.4 As such, the health of the prostate can impact the nearby bladder and urinary flow.The prostate has three main functions1FLUID PRODUCTIONThe prostate produces one of the fluids found in semen that is important for sperm motility and overall male fertility.42REGULATION FLOWThe prostate directs the flow of fluids through the urethra and seminal ducts.43HORMONE METABOLISMTestosterone is transformed to its more potent form, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prostate.4