Scientists investigating a popular herbal treatment for enlarged prostate, saw palmetto, have concluded it is no more effective than a placebo.
That conclusion comes from a study which included hundreds of men in their forties and older.
As men age, the prostate gland often gets larger. The prostate surrounds the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder to the penis. An enlarged prostate can impede the flow of urine, causing a variety of symptoms.
There are prescription drugs which can ease symptoms, but many men prefer the "natural" alternative: an extract from the saw palmetto tree, native to the American Southeast.
