Overview

Date palm is a plant. The fruit and pollen of the plant are used as medicine.

People use juice from the date palm for coughs and breathing problems. The pollen from date palm is used for swelling (inflammation) and sores inside the mouth (oral mucositis) and for conditions in a man that prevent him from getting a woman pregnant within a year of trying to conceive (male infertility).

The kernel from date palm is used in a cream for aging skin.

Date palm fruit contains fiber and other chemicals that might help with digestion. The pollen contains chemicals that might act like hormones.

How does it work ?

Date palm fruit contains fiber and other chemicals that might help with digestion. The pollen contains chemicals that might act like hormones.

Uses & Effectiveness

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Aging skin. Early research suggests that applying a cream containing 5% date palm seed extract around the eyes for 5 weeks reduces the depth and improves the appearance of wrinkles.
  • Conditions in a man that prevent him from getting a woman pregnant within a year of trying to conceive (male infertility). Early research suggests that taking date palm pollen by mouth increases the number of sperm and the movement of sperm in infertile men.
  • Swelling (inflammation) and sores inside the mouth (oral mucositis). Receiving chemotherapy and radiation for head and neck cancer can cause sores in the mouth. Early research shows that swishing a solution of date palm pollen around the mouth before swallowing helps to prevent the formation of these sores during cancer treatment.
  • Breathing problems.
  • Coughs.
  • Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of date palm for these uses.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Date palm pollen is POSSIBLY SAFE when used at doses of about 2-4 grams each day for 6-8 weeks. Date palm fruit is LIKELY SAFE for most people in food amounts. But there isn't enough information to know if date palm fruit is safe or what the possible side effects might be when it is used in larger amounts as a medicine.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough information to know if date palm is safe to use on the skin or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Date palm pollen is POSSIBLY SAFE when used at doses of about 2-4 grams each day for 6-8 weeks. Date palm fruit is LIKELY SAFE for most people in food amounts. But there isn't enough information to know if date palm fruit is safe or what the possible side effects might be when it is used in larger amounts as a medicine.

When applied to the skin: There isn't enough information to know if date palm is safe to use on the skin or what the side effects might be.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: When taken by mouth, date palm is safe in the amounts commonly found in food. But there isn't enough information to know if it is safe in the larger amounts that are used as medicine or when used on the skin. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Date Palm overview.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of date palm depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for date palm. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
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