Saw palmetto flunks prostate exam Nathan Seppa An herbal supplement used by 2.5 million men in the United States has failed to outperform a dummy capsule when taken for urinary problems. Some men treat themselves for enlarged prostate glands by taking saw palmetto extract, which is derived from the berries of the North American scrub palm (Serenoa repens). The condition, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), squeezes the urethra, making urination difficult and frequent. Symptoms include a need to get up at night to urinate. Several earlier studies showed that although saw palmetto didn't shrink the prostate, it eased urinary symptoms...