Saw Palmetto

This plant originates from North America, more particularly South Carolina, Florida, and southern California. It is a palm which grows to about three meters (9 ft), with large fanned-out leaves. The flowers are pale, and the fruit a deep reddish-brown. The Native Americans have a long history of usage of this and related species for medicinal purposes, while the Mayas used Sabal Japa extensively. The inner bark was made into a decoction and then used to treat dysentery, abdominal pains,and snake and insect bites. In addition, a poultice of the bark was used topically for ulcers. The Houma Indians apparently drank the decoction for kidney problems, while the dried root was used for high blood pressure. As the early settlers discovered, saw palmetto is a tonic which bu View the rest of this article