Black berries of a sabal palm in North America were also treated by the tribes of the Indians. They consumed its fruits. Official medicine has successfully applied the healing properties of this plant for about two centuries. In total there are 16 species of these palm trees, all belong to the palm family, the genus of monocotyledonous plants. They are both tall trees, growing up to 30 meters in height, and undersized, having an underground trunk.
Sabal in many countries is a popular ornamental plant, used in indoor floriculture. Sabal palm extract is part of many homeopathic remedies designed to treat prostatitis and normalize the functioning of the prostate gland.
Plant description
Tall palm trees of this family grow up to 30 meters and have a trunk with a diameter of more than 60 cm, undersized representatives of the genus have an underground trunk that grows at an angle down and then rises above the ground.
Fan-shaped evergreen leaves of sabal palm are split into feathers (segments) almost to the base of the plate. Segments have bifid ends. Often they are grooved, with long white threads located in the corners. A smooth, without spikes, grooved petiole of the leaf, with a short axis and triangular edges, is directed upward. A petiole of leaves in the form of a stem continues in the leaf plate. Sometimes he reaches the top, bending the plate, and forms a median ridge.
Sabal palm forms panicle inflorescences up to 60 cm long, with small (up to 5 mm in diameter) bisexual flowers with a pleasant aroma. Perianth consists of six petals with three sepals and three petals. The cup is cup-shaped, the corolla at the base is tubular.
Sabal palm fruits are black or dark blue spherical drupes with fleshy pericarp. Seeds are round and shiny, slightly compressed.
Spread
Sabal palm is widespread in the southeastern United States (Arkansas, Florida, Texas). Prefers pine forests or coasts. Significantly less often, family representatives are found on the islands of the Caribbean Sea and the Yucatan Peninsula. The life expectancy of this species exceeds 700 years. The plant is resistant to fires, drought, and insect attacks.
Chemical composition
Creeping sulfur (Sabal palm) is rich in phytosterols, polysaccharides, fatty acids. In addition, essential oils, sitosterol, enzymes, plant sterols, tannins, carotene, starch, etc. were found in it.
The composition of the oil obtained from sabal drupe includes laurel, myristicin and oleic acid. Caprylic, caproic and palmitic acids are present in a small amount. The oil emits a characteristic odor due to the presence of ethyl esters in the fruit.
Today, the Sabal palm fruit extract has been well studied. The benefits and harms of this substance are explained by its composition, including:
- ethyl, methyl esters;
- fatty acid;
- campesterol;
- stigmasterol;
- carotenoids;
- lupeol;
- flavonoids;
- cycloartenol.
This drug is harmful to children and pregnant women, can be used with caution by people suffering from stomach ulcers and gastritis. At high dosages, it can cause vomiting, nausea, dizziness, indigestion, and diarrhea. Very rarely causes allergic reactions.
The water extract of sabal palm fruits contains polysaccharide fractions that have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects.
Indications for use
Sabal fruits have sedative, anti-inflammatory, restorative, antiseptic properties. The extract is prescribed as an adjuvant for the treatment of a number of diseases:
- difficulty urinating;
- diseases of the genitourinary system;
- impotence;
- prostate adenomas;
- prostatitis;
- endocrine system;
- Bladder;
- uterine inflammation;
- polycystic ovary;
- inflammation of the lungs and bronchi;
- abnormal hair growth on the body;
- colds.
Useful properties of Sabal palm for men
The fruits of this species of the family are a powerful aphrodisiac, which even today is of interest to physicians. During the experiments, it was proved that the active components of the saber reduce the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. The fruit extract of this palm variety blocks BPH receptors (dihydrotestosterone), as a result, the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone is slowed, which is responsible for an enlarged prostate.
According to the results of clinical studies conducted in Germany, England and the United States, Sabal palm extract eliminates the manifestations of BPH in almost 90% of recorded cases. In addition, the anti-inflammatory property of the plant, the ability to reduce swelling of prostate tissues and improve the permeability of blood vessels, have been confirmed. It is important that when taking drugs based on serenium, no hormonal changes were noted.
Palm fruits are actively used in many countries for the manufacture of medicines: ProstOptima, Prostamol Uno, Prostasabal, Prostagut. They help men to solve the following problems:
- treatment of prostate prostate gland and adenoma;
- genitourinary system;
- impotence;
- decrease in frequent urge to urinate;
- the development of prostatitis after forty years;
- baldness prophylaxis.
Useful properties of the palm for the female body
The function of the endocrine system is beneficially influenced by the sabal palm. For women, the use of drugs based on it for polycystic ovary is justified. It is scientifically proven that the use of creeping selenium allows you to block the estrogen hormone receptors. In this case, the hormonal background is not disturbed. Sabal palm extract is able to solve many problems in the female body:
- inflammatory processes in the uterus;
- increased lactation;
- polycystic ovary;
- excessive hair growth on the body;
- urinary incontinence.
Use in cosmetology
The extract and extracts from this palm are widely used in cosmetology due to the pronounced anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. Sabal-based drugs are effective in treating acne and acne, normalize the function of the sebaceous glands, after which the skin becomes less oily, swelling disappears, and the pores are narrowed significantly.
Sabal palm extract has another important quality for women - it activates the production of collagen, thereby increasing the elasticity of the skin, eliminating dryness, gives elasticity, moisturizing the skin. Using the extract, you can reduce the risk of pigmentation, including age.
An extract from palm fruits is capable of absorbing ultraviolet rays, which is why it is used in the manufacture of natural sunscreens.
Hair treatment
The extract has been successfully used in solving the problem of baldness. Two methods are applied. In the first case, the composition interferes with the formation of dihydrotestosterone, since it inhibits the production of an enzyme that promotes the conversion of testosterone to DHT.
In the second case, the uptake of DHT by hair follicles is reduced by half. Usually a two-month course of treatment with palm extract is enough to restore hair growth.
Sabal palm extract perfectly copes with the problem that excites many women - stretch marks on the skin. Scientists at the German pharmaceutical company BASF have proven that the extract synthesizes elastin and collagen in the affected areas.