Connect with

Friday 5 June 2026

Peer Reviewed

Complementary medicine update

Saw palmetto and lower urinary tract symptoms in men

Charles Chabert, Ziv Maianski, Phillip D Stricker Ao

Recent articles on:
Prostate diseases

Benign prostatic enlargement and lower urinary tract symptoms: an update on treatment

Personalising prostate cancer care. Part 2. Current treatment options

Personalising prostate cancer care. Part 1. Advances in diagnosis

The role of MRI in prostate cancer: a changing paradigm

Lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia: old problems, new solutions

Recent articles on:
Complementary and alternative medicine

Complementary medicines and diabetes: benefits, safety and risk

The use of probiotics and supplements in children

Omega-3 fatty acids for managing mood disorders

Vitex agnus-castus and premenstrual syndrome

Herbal medicines, probiotics and functional foods for allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Herbal therapies aimed at treating lower urinary tract symptoms in men have increased in popularity. Despite this, evidence for their effectiveness is not conclusive.

Key Points

Approximately half of all men aged over 50 years experience lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There has been a dramatic increase in the popularity of herbal therapies targeting subjective improvement in mild to moderate LUTS, due to the impact on quality of life experienced by men with BPH. These natural products are also popular because they are perceived to be efficacious with minimal side effects.