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Saw Palmetto and Hair

Saw palmetto, technically known as serenoa repens, is a plant that has long been used as a food source among native Americans in the southern U.S.A. It is a small palm which grows wild in warmer climates and its fruit is known to have a positive effect on the prostate gland. It is also said to have a positive effect in cases of androgenetic hair loss as it has an inhibiting effect on DHT, ( dihydrotestosterone) the enzyme which causes hair follicles to shrink and die. Research has shown that it has the same effects as Finasteride in the treatment of benign prostate enlargement. This has led to investigation of it as a possible hair restorer, preventing DHT from acting upon the hair follicles. DHT is formed when 5-alpha reductase interacts with testosterone. Hair follicles that are sensitive to the action of DHT will gradually cease production in its presence and produce the well known pattern of male of female androgenetic alopecia. Saw palmetto interferes with this action. Those with male pattern baldness may increase hair growth by taking a preparation containing saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and beta-sitosterol (a compound found in many edible plants), according to a study in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, August 2002:pages143–52). Unlike other treatments such as Propecia and Minoxidil there are no known side effects. 60% of men in the study reported an improvement as opposed to only 11% taking a placebo. The journal suggests that a wider study be made in order to confirm these results and adds that it is not suitable fro women of child bearing age. For men though it is considered a very safe method to try.