Sao Palmetto cut fruit
Saw Palmetto - Serenoa Repens
The Sao Palmetto (Serenoa repens or Sabal serrulata) is a dwarf palm tree native to the southeastern regions of North America.
It grows in sandy soil and gets its name from the sharp, saw-like teeth on the petioles that attach the tree's leaves to its stem. The Serenoa repens tree produces dark colored fruits that contain large seeds.
The main active compounds in saw palmetto fruit consist of a combination of flavones, phytosterols and fatty acids. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that this plant contains a high concentration of polysaccharides that function in the body as anti-inflammatory agents and as factors that increase the resistance of the immune system.
Sao Palmetto fruits have long been used by Native Americans for their nutritive, diuretic, sedative, aphrodisiac and cough suppressant properties. Nowadays, the fruit is eaten whole or dried and then used to make tea. Saw palmetto is dried and ground for use as a dietary supplement in capsule or tablet form.
Sao Palmetto - benefits
In alternative medicine, saw palmetto is said to help treat conditions such as asthma, colds, coughs, hair loss, migraines, chronic pelvic pain and sore throats. Saw palmetto is also believed to increase libido (sexual desire) as well as relieve stress.
How to use Sao Palmetto cut fruit
Tea: Pour 1-2 tsp. fruits from Sao Palmetto with 250 ml. boiling water. Cover with a towel and leave for 5-10 min. Strain and serve warm. Consume 3 times a day.
You can use the fruits of the saw palmetto to make tinctures and alcoholic extracts.
Tincture: 1/2 tsp. Sao Palmetto fruit, 1 tsp. vodka or other alcohol.
Place the cut fruit in a container that can be tightly closed. Pour the vodka over it. Cover with a lid and store for 4-6 weeks, shaking the container occasionally. Strain well and place the resulting liquid in a dark glass bottle for storage. Take 1/4-1/2 tsp. of the tincture 2-3 times a day, mixed with water or tea.
Contraindications and side effects
Saw palmetto is generally well tolerated, but it can cause side effects in some people, especially with excessive use: headache, fatigue, dizziness, stomach upset, nausea, or constipation in some people. It should not be used in children, pregnant or lactating women, or those with hormone-sensitive cancers.
To be used with caution by people with hypothyroidism, cirrhosis and taking anticoagulants.
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