The Truth About Saw Palmetto for Hair Loss
Finding the truth about saw palmetto for hair loss is filled with a number of twists and turns. It is also complicated by the number of boisterous advocates of hair regrowth products who want you to believe that taking a couple of saw palmetto tablets every day will make your hair immediately start to grow like crazy. In this article titled "The Truth About Saw Palmetto for Hair Loss" we first learn more about the herb itself and then attempt to separate fact from fiction as it applies to hair loss (balding).
Saw palmetto was first used by Native Americans to treat stomachache and dysentery. Today it is considered by most natural health advocates an effective way to treat prostate disease and improve urinary flow without affecting prostate size. It is also one of the only herbs thought to be effective against male pattern baldness. This popular herb is used in both France and Germany to treat prostate disorders, and is widely available in most countries.
Saw palmetto for hair loss - Androgenetic alopecia (MPB)
Saw palmetto for hair loss is primarily used to treat adrogenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) in men. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of balding accounting for well over half of all instances of hair loss and is a genetically predisposed condition involving three androgen hormones; testosterone, androsteinedione, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). For those men genetically susceptible to the condition DHT seems to be the primary androgen hormone at work.
Over several hair cycles DHT causes hair to become finer and shorter. It also interrupts the growth phase and accelerates the number of hairs that enter the resting phase.
What makes male pattern baldness such a concern is that it is a progressive condition that unless successfully treated will in fact lead to balding over time, with hair loss beginning at the forehead or on the top of the head toward the back. Some men lose only a small amount of hair and have a receding hair line or a small bald spot in the back. Others whose balding began at an early age are not so lucky and will tend to lose all the hair on the top of the head but retain hair on the sides and back of the scalp.
Saw palmetto for hair loss - Does it work?
There is good evidence to suggest that it does. The mechanism involves blocking the enzyme responsible for producing DHT.
Saw palmetto is one of the few natural substances that have been approved by the FDA for use in hair loss programs.
Saw palmetto for hair loss - Are there any side effects?
While saw palmetto is generally considered safe there have been reports of mild stomach pain, bad breath, constipation and nausea. At least two case reports have linked saw palmetto with severe bleeding. Individual who are taking blood thinners should talk with their doctors before taking this herb. The safety of saw palmetto for people with kidney or liver disease has not been established.
In summary, saw palmetto for hair loss is not for everyone. But for those who are able to use this herb it could prove to be a valuable tool especially when used in combination with other ingredients know to stimulate hair growth. There are currently a number of affordable hair regrowth products [http://purchaseremedies.com/hair-loss.html] containing saw palmetto which have shown to be effective in slowing and possibly reversing androgenetic alopecia and are treatment options worth considering.
Saw palmetto was first used by Native Americans to treat stomachache and dysentery. Today it is considered by most natural health advocates an effective way to treat prostate disease and improve urinary flow without affecting prostate size. It is also one of the only herbs thought to be effective against male pattern baldness. This popular herb is used in both France and Germany to treat prostate disorders, and is widely available in most countries.
Saw palmetto for hair loss - Androgenetic alopecia (MPB)
Saw palmetto for hair loss is primarily used to treat adrogenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) in men. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of balding accounting for well over half of all instances of hair loss and is a genetically predisposed condition involving three androgen hormones; testosterone, androsteinedione, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). For those men genetically susceptible to the condition DHT seems to be the primary androgen hormone at work.
Over several hair cycles DHT causes hair to become finer and shorter. It also interrupts the growth phase and accelerates the number of hairs that enter the resting phase.
What makes male pattern baldness such a concern is that it is a progressive condition that unless successfully treated will in fact lead to balding over time, with hair loss beginning at the forehead or on the top of the head toward the back. Some men lose only a small amount of hair and have a receding hair line or a small bald spot in the back. Others whose balding began at an early age are not so lucky and will tend to lose all the hair on the top of the head but retain hair on the sides and back of the scalp.
Saw palmetto for hair loss - Does it work?
There is good evidence to suggest that it does. The mechanism involves blocking the enzyme responsible for producing DHT.
Saw palmetto is one of the few natural substances that have been approved by the FDA for use in hair loss programs.
Saw palmetto for hair loss - Are there any side effects?
While saw palmetto is generally considered safe there have been reports of mild stomach pain, bad breath, constipation and nausea. At least two case reports have linked saw palmetto with severe bleeding. Individual who are taking blood thinners should talk with their doctors before taking this herb. The safety of saw palmetto for people with kidney or liver disease has not been established.
In summary, saw palmetto for hair loss is not for everyone. But for those who are able to use this herb it could prove to be a valuable tool especially when used in combination with other ingredients know to stimulate hair growth. There are currently a number of affordable hair regrowth products [http://purchaseremedies.com/hair-loss.html] containing saw palmetto which have shown to be effective in slowing and possibly reversing androgenetic alopecia and are treatment options worth considering.
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