People mainly take Saw Palmetto for hormones, skin & hair, libido. Based on 22 first-hand reports and 24 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #687 of 1,974 overall.
Of reports that state an outcome, 49% are positive.
Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.
3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.
Conclusion: Numerous interactions between herbal medicines and conventional drugs have been documented. While the significance of many interactions is uncertain, several interactions, particularly those with St John's wort, may have serious clinical consequences.
PubMed 19719333 ↗Conclusion: Lifestyle changes, diet modification and certain nutritional supplements can favorably influence BPH symptoms.
PubMed 31451276 ↗Conclusion: Randomized studies of Serenoa repens, alone or in combination with other plant extracts, have provided the strongest evidence for efficacy and tolerability in treatment of BPH in comparison with other phytotherapies. Serenoa repens appears to be a useful option for improving lower urinary tract symptoms and flow measures. Hypoxis rooperi and Secale cereale also appear to improve BPH symptoms although the evidence is less strong for these products. Pygeum africanum has been studied extensively but inadequate reporting of outcomes limits the ability to conclusively recommend it. There is no conv
PubMed 11276294 ↗Conclusion: Dietary supplements have a positive impact on hair density, terminal hair density, and blind doctor evaluations in patients with androgenetic alopecia, with good tolerability. They may serve as beneficial adjuncts or alternatives to conventional treatments. Future large-scale, high-quality RCTs are needed to verify these findings.
PubMed 41561175 ↗As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.
How often each side effect came up across all reports.
Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.
“I’ve significantly dropped my testosterone using saw palmetto and some other supplements.”
“take 450mg of Saw Palmetto with it”
“Saw Palmetto, etc shampoos for off days; very marginal efficacy”
“Zn and saw palmetto inhibit the enzyme that converts T to DHT.”
“Saw palmetto moderately reduces DHT and improves hair density with fewer side effects than finasteride, but the results are generally milder and slower.”
User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate