Saw Palmetto Benefits, Uses, Side Effects According to Ayurveda

Metabolic Nature of Saw Palmetto

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.
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HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

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OILY

ABOUT OILY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

In Ayurveda, oily refers to anything moistening. More specifically, oily refers to building substances that increases fat, or are themselves fatty. For example, sugar is Oily.

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TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

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DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
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PACIFIES

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
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PACIFIES

CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

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MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

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PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

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AGGRAVATES

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

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Other

Subtaste:

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

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Affinity:

Kidney Bladder Urinary, Male Health, Muscle Health, Reproductive Health

Family:

Arecaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Saw Palmetto
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

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Digestion:

Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

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Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

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Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

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Energy Vitality:

Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

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Tonic

TONIC

A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.

SEE ALL 'TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:

Soothing

SOOTHING

Calms and alleviates irritation, discomfort or pain in a particular region.

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Respiratory-Health:

Soothes Throat

SOOTHES-THROAT

Soothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat.

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Expectorant

EXPECTORANT

Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract.

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Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

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Kidney & Urinary:

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

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Kidney Tonic

KIDNEY-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the kidneys.

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Urinary Tonic

URINARY-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the urinary system. These can be helpful for urinary incontinence or improving function after a urinary tract infection. They can also strengthen the bladder to ward off a urinary tract infection.

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Weight Loss:

Raises Thyroid

RAISES-THYROID

An herb that increases thyroid function.

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Reproductive Health:

Antiandrogen

STRONG ANTIANDROGEN

Reduces androgen (testosterone), which can reduce excess growth, drive, and libido. Reduces skin oiliness. Helpful for prostate enlargement.

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Aphrodisiac

APHRODISIAC

Herbs that increase sexual arousal through various actions including increased circulation, relaxation, stimulation, or tonics that strengthen glandular health.

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Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

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Progesteronic

PROGESTERONIC

Progeserone is the pregnancy hormone. It raises body temperature (Pitta), and suppresses menstruation. It is generally more extroverted.

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Promotes Fertility

PROMOTES-FERTILITY

An herb that promotes fertility. Generally used by women who wish to become pregnant. These herbs may also help with menstrual problems of deficiency, such as amenorrhea (lack of a period).

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Testosteronic

TESTOSTERONIC

Androgenic. Stimulates testosterone.

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Uterine Tonic

UTERINE-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the uterus. Helpful for menstrual difficulties and fertility. Often herbs that increase ojas, but also circulation to reproductive system.

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Strength, Muscle Health:

Muscle Tonic

MUSCLE-TONIC

Herbs that strengthen and tone muscle tissue. Helpful for people recovering from long term illness and debility, or after a sprain.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

5a Reductase Inhibitor, Tannins,

Aromatase Inhibitor

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.

SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

Phytosterols

PHYTOSTEROLS

The plant version of cholesterol. Often precursors to stress and sex hormones.

SEE ALL 'PHYTOSTEROLS' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Saw Palmetto

Stinging Nettles

Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common
Diuretic, Nutritive, Tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Galactagogue, Spleen-tonic, Urinary-tonic, Antiandrogen, Kidney-tonic, Testosteronic
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Fenugreek

Fenugreek has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Nervine, Testosteronic, Aphrodisiac, Expectorant, Nutritive, Digestive, Galactagogue, Spleen-tonic
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Dates (dried)

Dates (dried) has these Actions in Common
Aphrodisiac, Muscle-tonic, Tonic, Diuretic, Nutritive, Uterine-tonic, Galactagogue, Promotes-fertility
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Fennel Seeds

Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common
Antiandrogen, Expectorant, Spleen-tonic, Digestive, Galactagogue, Diuretic, Nervine
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Grape

Grape has these Actions in Common
Nervine, Uterine-tonic, Aphrodisiac, Nutritive, Diuretic, Tonic, Anti-inflammatory
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Saffron

Saffron has these Actions in Common
Nutritive, Aphrodisiac, Galactagogue, Spleen-tonic, Digestive, Nervine, Diuretic
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Basil

Basil has these Actions in Common
Antiandrogen, Galactagogue, Digestive, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic
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Cinnamon

Cinnamon has these Actions in Common
Aphrodisiac, Expectorant, Spleen-tonic, Digestive, Galactagogue, Diuretic, Soothes-throat
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Tofu

Tofu has these Actions in Common
Uterine-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Nutritive, Diuretic, Soothing, Galactagogue
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Dill

Dill has these Actions in Common
Digestive, Galactagogue, Diuretic, Nervine, Expectorant, Spleen-tonic
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Nigella (black cumin)

Nigella (black cumin) has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Galactagogue, Digestive, Nervine, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic
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Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Saw Palmetto

Vidari

Vidari has these Actions in Common
Muscle-tonic, Uterine-tonic, Nutritive, Promotes-fertility, Soothes-throat, Aphrodisiac, Soothing, Diuretic, Testosteronic, Expectorant, Tonic, Galactagogue, Urinary-tonic
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Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common
Muscle-tonic, Nervine, Nutritive, Progesteronic, Anti-inflammatory, Testosteronic, Aphrodisiac, Tonic, Diuretic, Urinary-tonic, Galactagogue, Uterine-tonic
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Shatavari

Shatavari has these Actions in Common
Aphrodisiac, Uterine-tonic, Galactagogue, Muscle-tonic, Nutritive, Progesteronic, Promotes-fertility, Soothes-throat, Anti-inflammatory, Tonic
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Gokshura

Gokshura has these Actions in Common
Promotes-fertility, Soothing, Testosteronic, Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Urinary-tonic, Diuretic, Uterine-tonic, Nervine, Nutritive
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Damiana

Damiana has these Actions in Common
Progesteronic, Promotes-fertility, Testosteronic, Urinary-tonic, Aphrodisiac, Digestive, Expectorant, Kidney-tonic, Nervine
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Shatavari Ghee

Shatavari Ghee has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Aphrodisiac, Galactagogue, Nutritive, Progesteronic, Promotes-fertility, Tonic, Uterine-tonic
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Bala

Bala has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Aphrodisiac, Muscle-tonic, Nervine, Nutritive, Promotes-fertility, Tonic, Urinary-tonic
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Chastetree Berry

Chastetree Berry has these Actions in Common
Progesteronic, Promotes-fertility, Uterine-tonic, Aphrodisiac, Digestive, Diuretic, Expectorant, Nervine
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Anantamul

Anantamul has these Actions in Common
Diuretic, Galactagogue, Kidney-tonic, Promotes-fertility, Tonic, Urinary-tonic, Uterine-tonic
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Chandraprabha Vati

Chandraprabha Vati has these Actions in Common
Digestive, Diuretic, Nervine, Promotes-fertility, Urinary-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Aphrodisiac
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Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Images of Saw Palmetto

Metabolic Nature of Saw Palmetto

Metabolic Nature

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

ABOUT OILY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

The 6 Tastes

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

The Three Doshas / Body Types

The Four Temperaments / Humors

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Other

AROMATIC

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Saw Palmetto Experiences are Personal Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

DIGESTIVE

SPLEEN-TONIC

NERVINE

NUTRITIVE

TONIC

SOOTHING

SOOTHES-THROAT

EXPECTORANT

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

DIURETIC

KIDNEY-TONIC

URINARY-TONIC

RAISES-THYROID

STRONG ANTIANDROGEN

APHRODISIAC

GALACTAGOGUE

PROGESTERONIC

PROMOTES-FERTILITY

TESTOSTERONIC

UTERINE-TONIC

MUSCLE-TONIC

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

PHYTOSTEROLS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Saw Palmetto

Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common

Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

Dates (dried) has these Actions in Common

Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

Grape has these Actions in Common

Saffron has these Actions in Common

Basil has these Actions in Common

Cinnamon has these Actions in Common

Tofu has these Actions in Common

Dill has these Actions in Common

Nigella (black cumin) has these Actions in Common

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Saw Palmetto

Vidari has these Actions in Common

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

Shatavari has these Actions in Common

Gokshura has these Actions in Common

Damiana has these Actions in Common

Shatavari Ghee has these Actions in Common

Bala has these Actions in Common

Chastetree Berry has these Actions in Common

Anantamul has these Actions in Common

Chandraprabha Vati has these Actions in Common

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Reproductive Health

Weight Loss

Respiratory, Lung, Throat & Sinus

Bones, Muscles & Tendons

Mind, Stress & Sleep

Skin Care

Diet

Kidney, Bladder & Urinary

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Saw Palmetto
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS