Saw palmetto User Reviews & Ratings

• Pau...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 30, 2016

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I've been taking saw palmetto for 16 years. I started with Nature's Sunshine (the very best) but now take Swanson just because it is cheaper. It works for me as well, despite the negative reviews. I take two capsules with breakfast and two capsules late in the evening with a snack. It does wonders for urinary stream size and for diminishing the feeling that you need to urinate. From experience, and from research, I can vouch that it does four other things as well. 1) It increases circulation, and like all herbs that increase circulation, it does thin the blood slightly so do not take it if you are on a blood thinner unless the doctor gives you permission to take saw palmetto and less blood thinner. 2) It is a diuretic. 3) It helps prevent baldness by hindering testosterone from turning into dihydrotestosterone. 4) Believe it or not, it also helps with sleep."

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2020

For Herbal Supplementation "I started taking saw palmetto supplements for hair loss problems. I read that it improved a lot in this domain and saw videos before deciding to try. After a week, I started to have major anxiety, lost sleep and appetite. I feel extremely tired due to the permanent stress and panic, and I don't feel like myself again. I stopped immediately and recommend to anyone who wants to take it to talk with their doctor beforehand."

• Jup...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2020

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Two weeks ago, I began Saw Palmetto 500 mg a day. Within 24 hours, there was progressive improvement in EVERYTHING urinary.... so that in one week: urine volume increased, stream further, no terminal dribbling, no longer waking up at night to pee, no double voiding. BUT, I developed burping and an ache in the pit of my stomach. There was also an ill-defined near-nausea and fatigue. I stopped the Saw Palmetto and was much better in four days, but my obstructive urinary symptoms returned."

• bpt...
• July 29, 2015

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I believe that the people having side effects from saw palmetto are actually having side effects from the solvents used in extracting the active ingredients in manufacturing. Solvents such as hexane leave residue and are extremely toxic. Only saw palmetto extracted using high-pressure carbon dioxide should be consumed. This is the safest method known."

• Cdu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2020

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Please do not take saw palmetto. After a month of taking it, I completely lost my libido, got decreased penile sensation to the grade that I put a piece of ice from the freezer onto my penis and feel absolutely nothing. No morning erections anymore, penis has lost the full size, no arousal, watching porn is like watching news. I’m in constant strong pelvic pain. It’s been a year and seems like things are getting even worse. Since then, I suffer anxiety and severe anhedonia. After I did research, I found out thousands of men affected in the same way after taking this supplement. Saw palmetto is also used for chemical castration. All 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are nasty drugs. The condition is called PFS (Post Finasteride Syndrome) as the mechanism of action and side effects are the same. When I found a forum with PFS-affected men, I was shocked at how severe this can be. Do not take saw palmetto."

• CJa...
• November 6, 2019

For Herbal Supplementation "I have been using saw palmetto for a year and four months. When starting saw palmetto, my hair loss has reversed, and new hairs are appearing, and I do believe saw palmetto has really helped. But if I didn't improve the blood flow to my scalp by massaging daily, I don't think it would have done anything because if you have poor blood flow to the hairs that are thinning, the hairs will not be able to grow, and the DHT blocking effect of saw palmetto would not take place. I have gone from a Norwood 3 to a Norwood 2.5. It is huge-the difference when I compared a year-and-after photos. The only side effects I have sometimes are joint aches. I did a half marathon four months ago, and the aches and joint pain were worse because of the saw palmetto, I believe. And it made my depression I had back then two times worse. But I have picked myself up since then, and I feel fine. I think with time, your body adapts to the herb. Make sure you research the risks of saw palmetto before you start taking it daily."

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2009

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I tried Saw Palmetto for approximately 2 years for a mild urinary problem - slow start, weak, intermittent stream, up 2-3 times per night. It didn't take care of the problem, but seemed to help some. As time went on, I increased the dose from 1,000 to 2,000 mg/day to achieve the same amount of relief. I tried stopping altogether and my problem got worse. Overall, I would say Saw Palmetto helps a little and may be worth a try - at least there are no side effects."

• pjc...
• June 5, 2011

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I actually had really good results with 1000 mg of saw palmetto once a day. My hair loss appeared to reverse itself noticeably. My somewhat swollen prostate issue decreased. I didn't have any sexual side effects. But about 3 weeks into the use, I developed a horrible rash on my belly and my back. It stayed with me until I stopped using saw palmetto and then it disappeared within about 3 days. I kept using the saw palmetto for an additional 2 months before stopping it."

• Max...
• October 18, 2022

For Herbal Supplementation "Any 5AR drug (for blocking DHT) I have tried, including saw palmetto, seems to give me anxiety and cause dizziness. I thought saw palmetto being natural would not cause these symptoms, but it did. I am not going to be taking it anymore."

• Ric...
• September 7, 2020

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I have had prostate problems for a couple of years. I can say all the best when it comes to using saw palmetto for prostate problems. I was taking Prostasan for a year and later switched to Regen50 strong. I am still taking the same supplement. The biggest problem for me was my nighttime troubles with frequent urination, and with taking supplements containing saw palmetto, that were significantly improved."

• Anonymous
• January 15, 2011

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Saw Palmetto works well, but has an unfortunate and often unrecognized side effect. The recommended dose will cause very painful finger joints with extended use. Most users think it is simply their arthritis getting worse, as most patients are older men who are subject to arthritis anyway. A blend containing stinging nettle seems to cause fewer problems, in this respect."

• ted...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2019

For Herbal Supplementation "I took saw palmetto for SSRI sexual dysfunction. I had been having difficulty maintaining an erection after a little over 1 month on sertraline when my dose was increased from 50-100 mg. This supplement helped me get harder in a dosage of 160-320 mg."

• Bis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 16, 2022

For Herbal Supplementation "I'm 43. I don't have any prostate issues. I read about the benefits of supplementing with it as a preventive measure against future prostate issues. I've now been taking saw palmetto for around 5 years. I currently take a 3000 mg capsule once a day. I can report that I have no side effects whatsoever from taking this. I have ulcerative colitis and believe this works fine along with other medications and supplements I take daily. I had recommended it to an older friend who was having troubles with the need to urinate a lot or had the urge to go but a dry run. He was extremely happy with it and reported that after 3 days of use, it had cut his toilet runs by over half."

• dst...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2021

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I had taken Saw Palmetto before, but I am older now and had unexpected side effects. I had trouble sleeping and anxiety. I began to analyze what had changed and didn't suspect Saw Palmetto because I had taken it before, but after stopping, the problems went away."

• Zor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 15, 2021

For Herbal Supplementation "My hair was thinning, and I believed it was because of DHT. Turns out it was a circulation problem that was solved with arginine, but that was a year later, and I had been taking 450 mg of saw palmetto daily since. I mistakenly tried stopping saw palmetto cold turkey - I suffered depressive symptoms that became worse every day I skipped the med: no motivation, apathetic, exhausted, bouts of rage and irritability, and, of course, steadily decreasing sex drive. I also missed my period that month, something that hasn’t happened in almost five years when I ditched the birth control pills for good. Once I figured it out and started taking saw palmetto again, my symptoms improved almost overnight. Currently, I am weaning off of it - tapering the dose down every month - but it has to be done very slowly or my symptoms return with a vengeance. I figure I’ll be on saw palmetto for at least another six months."

• arv...
• August 29, 2017

For Urinary Frequency "I took this for 1 week and stopped. After 5 days, my knees were in severe pain, then, my elbows were extremely sore. Now, my wrists are so sore I can barely even pick up a cup of coffee. Since stopping it, the only pain I currently have is my wrists, I'm only hoping the pain will soon go away also. I am over 60 and should have read about possible side effects before buying it."

• Del...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2020

For Herbal Supplementation "To give this supplement, saw palmetto, the benefit of doubt, I have given it 3 goes. Each time, had to stop taking after 5 days: chronic stomach burning pains and constipation, total agony. Needless to say, I will never take it again."

• 193...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2023

For Herbal Supplementation "I have been taking saw palmetto now for 2 months, must say it makes you more sleepy. I end up sleeping more, which is a bad thing, I guess. I used to sleep less, now I am sleeping more and don’t want to get up sometimes. And also, I had some diarrhea at the beginning, which I think my body is slowly adapting to the herb. Haven’t seen any difference yet to my hair, but some light shedding. Maybe I need to wait for another 5 months to see a difference."

• sp2...
• October 29, 2016

For Herbal Supplementation "Please don't use saw palmetto. It is not a treatment. It is a poison. After using for a few months, I got very sick, like hitting a strong flu. My whole body aches, my joints ache, my appetite is gone. I am 100% impotent and have got gynecomastia. Due to the damage to my body, I have lost my job too. Many years have passed by, but I am suffering like the day one."

• mel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 22, 2022

For Herbal Supplementation "I have been taking it for over 2 years, forget to take it occasionally. Female, 75 years, female pattern hair loss, my hair loss seems to have stopped. At one time, I did feel as if I had some stubbly hair growing, maybe wishful thinking. Hair loss started after the menopause. Can't say I have had any side effects, at 75, you get the odd ache and pain. I take 1, 3,000 mg tab a day plus a multivitamin and mineral tab. I only give it a six rating because I'm not sure if the stop in hair loss is due to saw palmetto."

• Use...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 30, 2022

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "My Dr. recommended I try saw palmetto for BPH. No side effects I noticed. Initially thought it helped and kept taking it, but I don't think it works, or at least not for me. If it did, there would be positive studies, and there are not. 'Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extract (SPE) efficacy was inconsistent, at least partly due to a lack of a standardized SPE formula. A hexane extract (free fatty acids, > 80%) provided more consistent results."

• Way...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 16, 2023

"I tried Heron-branded saw palmetto while waiting for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgery. Blackmores and Nature's Own did not work. Herons worked immediately, and I could pee freely. No side effects whatsoever."

• jac...
• May 9, 2020

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I have been using Saw Palmetto for 1 month. I can now urinate completely fine. I was taking a prescription prior to this and have completely stopped the Tamsulosin."

• Hel...
• January 25, 2010

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "A lot cheaper than Flomax. Works great if taken regularly."

• Lou...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 26, 2012

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Doing well on 450 mg capsules, and on a teaspoon of bulk powder in a 10 oz. cup of green tea with lemon juice added."