Prostate

A man’s prostate gland, which is about the size of a walnut, helps make seminal fluid (semen). 

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is very common among men as they get older, happens when that gland gets larger than it should be. 

That can start to block the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of a man’s body, and cause trouble with urination, like starting or stopping, peeing too often, or having to pee during the night.

Saw palmetto is a dietary supplement that might help ease the symptoms of BPH. 

Some studies show that the supplement might shrink the prostate gland. 

Other possibilities are that it eases inflammation or keeps your body from changing the hormone testosterone into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which may play a role in BPH.

Some studies in animals have shown that saw palmetto may help keep tumor cells from growing, raising hopes about its potential as a treatment for prostate cancer.

References:

Konrad, L., Müller, H. H., Lenz, C., Laubinger, H., Aumüller, G., & Lichius, J. J. (2000). Antiproliferative effect on human prostate cancer cells by a stinging nettle root (Urtica dioica) extract. Planta medica, 66(01), 44-47.

Wilt, T. J., Ishani, A., Stark, G., MacDonald, R., Lau, J., & Mulrow, C. (1998). Saw palmetto extracts for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review. Jama, 280(18), 1604-1609.