Saw Palmetto and Hair Loss - Does it Work?
There has been a lot of interest around the natural product saw palmetto for preventing hair loss. This is a small palm that bears berries that have been used in herbal remedies for many years. Native Americans have used the plants for food and for treating a variety of conditions of the reproductive system. It also shows promise in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). But does saw palmetto prevent hair loss as well?
How it works
There are a number of different products that contain saw palmetto in them which claim to prevent the lose of hair or even reverse this process. It works by preventing the accumulation of DHT (Dihydrotestosterone). DHT is thought to play a role in the development of male pattern baldness.
DHT is formed when the male sex hormone testosterone reacts with an enzyme (5-alpha-reductase). It is this reaction that is believed to be blocked by saw palmetto.
Evidence from laboratory studies show that it does indeed inhibit 5-alpha-reductase. But there have not been any good quality studies that have looked at its effect in humans. There are however, many men who continue to take this product on a regular basis and believe that it is working for them.
Side effects
There have not been widespread reported side effects to this product but it is worth knowing what the potential risks are. Erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and nausea are potential side effects from using saw palmetto. If you are taking any prescription medicines to 'thin the blood' (such as warfarin), you should contact your doctor first.
If you wish to try saw palmetto to prevent hair loss, there are a number of ways that you can get it. The easiest way is to buy a supplement. Companies that sell it in this form can easily be found on the Internet. There are also a number of mail order companies that supply specialist herbal remedies. The product is also available as an herbal tincture. There are also supplements, such as Procerin, produced specially for hair loss that contain saw palmetto along with a mixture of other herbs.