#Sawpalmetto

For centuries, saw palmetto has been cherished as both food and medicine by native cultures in the southeastern United States. Today, this small palm, Serenoa repens, stands at the crossroads of ancient wisdom and scientific research, its berries transformed into remedies found on supplement shelves worldwide. As interest in herbal medicine grows, saw palmetto’s journey from tribal tradition to clinical study offers a fascinating window onto the dialogue between ancestral knowledge and modern healthcare. In this exploration, we uncover the plant’s rich cultural legacy, examine its role in traditional healing, and untangle what contemporary scientific inquiry reveals about its potential benefits and safety.

Saw palmetto, the small Serenoa repens palm, has long been valued by Native American communities for food and healing. Today, its berries appear on supplement shelves worldwide as researchers examine how traditional use stacks up against modern science. This piece revisits the plant’s cultural roots, its traditional healing roles, and what current studies say about benefits and safety.

Historically, saw palmetto’s significance goes beyond its prickly fronds and dark berries. In Florida and along the Gulf Coast, Indigenous communities used the fruit fresh or dried to address urinary issues, reproductive health, and inflammation. Some tribes viewed the plant as a vitality tonic, a belief that persisted after colonization and influenced 19th-century eclectic medical practice in the United States. The berries also featured prominently in material culture, symbolizing resilience in landscapes where resources could be scarce.