Is Saw Palmetto a natural treatment for hair loss?
Many popular and expensive hair loss treatment options today such as Provillus, and Procerin, contain the “active” ingredient saw palmetto. But the age old question of whether or not it can effectively treat baldness in men and women with alopecia is still heavily debated. By taking a look at the scientific evidence available we are able to draw some conclusions as to its potential benefit for those with thinning hair.
What is Saw Palmetto?
Dietary supplement. Hexane Free. Supports prostate health. Native to the Southern Atlantic coast of the United States, the saw palmetto berry was used by Native Americans for a variety of different health concerns, and was found especially useful for older men. Numerous studies have shown that the berry contains fatty acids, which may inhibit the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone within the prostate. Source Naturals Saw Palmetto Extract is highly concentrated for maximum potency and convenience. Each softgel contains the exact amount (320 mg) and concentration of saw palmetto fatty acids (85-95%) administered in clinical trails. (These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.)(more…)
Saw Palmetto Hair Loss Study:
Studies have shown that saw palmetto is an effective anti-androgen. It acts in a similar way that propecia does. Firstly it lowers levels of DHT in the body by Blocking 5 alpha-reductase. Secondly Saw Palmetto block receptor sites on cell membranes required for cells to absorb DHT. Although no studies have been carried out on saw palmetto and its relation to hair growth. Studies have been performed on the use of Saw palmetto in the treatment of benign prostatic disease which similar to Androgenetic Alopecia also depends on the production of dihydrotestosterone(DHT). All of the studies that have been performed to date show that Saw palmetto is an effective anti-androgen and has shown conclusively to be effective in the treatment of benign prostate disease.
Some studies also have shown that saw palmetto may have the same effect as the drug finasteride in treating hair loss and prostate enlargement diseases. It has been suggested that both hair loss and prostate disease are related to the hormone DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) which is formed when the enzyme 5-alpha reductase interacts with the male hormone testosterone.
Since both hair loss and prostatic disease are related to DHT, many suggest that Saw Palmetto will also be effective in treating people with hair loss by reducing the amount of DHT in our body and around the hair follicles. Although there is no formal study or testing to confirm the effectiveness of Saw Palmetto in treating hair loss, many companies are already preparing topical hair lotions that are formulated with Saw Palmetto.
Side Effects and Warnings:
Like most other herbal supplements, saw palmetto has potential side effects. The most common side effects associated with saw palmetto use are mild stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and bad breath. Some men taking saw palmetto have reported erectile dysfunction, breast tenderness or enlargement, and changes in sexual desire.
The Dosage:
But if there are no current standards on dosages of herbal medications in the United States, how do these popular hair loss treatments produce an appropriate dosage? Clinical studies on Benign Prostrate Hyperplasia (BPH) have used a dosage of 320mg of the berry extract daily (either one 320mg pill or 2 X 160 mg pill). A daily dosage of 480 mg of saw palmetto berry extract was not found to be any more effective in a six-month study. If the entire berry was used, up to 1000mg or 2000mg would be required to reach the same goal.
Conclusions:
At the present time, there is no known cure for male pattern baldness. Both conventional and natural treatments can help control the hair loss as long as one maintains the treatment, though it will often recur once the treatment is discontinued. Given the safety of saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol, they seem a reasonable first line of treatment for mild to moderate male pattern baldness before considering conventional medications.
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Understanding and Prevent Your Hair Loss
At any one time, 10 percent of our hair is at a resting phase while the other 90 percent grows at about 1 cm a month. After about two or three months, the rested hair will fall out to be replaced by new hair.
The most usual type of hair loss alopecia affects a majority of men and a smaller percentage of women from age 35. In men, the typical hair loss can be seen by receding hairlines towards the back of the head. Subsequently large patches of hair loss may leave a horseshoe-shaped tuft of hair.
In women, typical alopecia hair loss is seen in the thinning of hair all over the scalp, but more visibly over the top of the head. Hair loss in children are not usual, but a majority cases of alopecia in children will see restoration over time.
About 50~150 strands of hair drop daily is quite common. Taking into account that we have about 100,000 strands of hair on our head, this amount is not a great loss. But disproportionate hair loss without being replaced as quickly may cause some concerns. When this happens, we should best sit up and take notice and do something about it.
Causes of Hair Loss
The causes of hair loss aren’t well defined; however, researchers have uncovered that men with male pattern hair loss have increased levels of DHT in the balding area of their scalps. Individual hair usually follows a cycle of expansion, falling out, and new expansion. However increased levels of DHT are believed to contribute to the shortening of the expansion phase and a shortening of the time it takes for the hair to fall out. This results in thinning of the hair on the scalp.
Other common cause of hair loss is lack of certain essential fatty acids, proper essential nutrition over a prolonged period, especially iron, vitamin B, C and an amino acid called lysine which can found in many common beans.
Months that follow after a trauma, a surgery or a major illness may also cause loss of a large amount of hair. This kind of hair loss is temporary and will be restored when your health is restored. Proper nutrition can help expedite recovery.
An over or under-active thyroid gland can cause excessive hair loss. Hormonal imbalance and hormonal changes after a woman’s pregnancy may see plenty of hair loss too.
Another culprit is drugs or prescribed medication. These include use of anti-coagulants, drugs used in chemotherapy to treat cancer, anti-depressants, contraceptive pills and overdose of vitamin A.
Hair are usually restored when medications are stopped and proper nutrition takes over.
Other causes are fungal infections and various diseases. In fact, hair loss could also be a symptom of underlying diseases. So, seek medical attention if you cannot easily realize the cause of your hair loss.
Other hair problems: Oily hair occurs because of vitamin B deficiency. Dry or brittle hair other than caused by too much chemical put on the hair?is a sign of essential fats deficiency. Poor hair growth and loss of color is a result of zinc deficiency.
Prevention Suggestions
Some medical treatment like provillus blocks DHT (dihydrotestostrone) from getting to your body, which is 1 of the major causes of hair loss.
The Breakthrough formula of Provillus was designed to block DHT and supply the proper foods to your body specifically tailored to block hair loss and to help you regrow hair naturally. Strong, sound hair begins with the proper nutritional building blocks. You do not have to hold off until there’s a problem to end it! Provillus supplements your body’s natural supply of these vitamins and lets the tiny follicles below your scalp receive exactly what they want to manufacture beautiful, full-bodied hair.
There are a few things you can do externally to improve the blood circulation to the scalp. Massaging the scalp, hanging upside down or doing headstands all can contribute somewhat to lessen hair loss. But of course, it would be absurd to be hanging upside down and doing headstands all the time!
Other measures you can take is to wash your hair with high-quality shampoo suitable for your hair type, reduce use of hair dryer, heated rollers and curling wands.
To prevent more hair loss, cut back on processed foods and carbonated drinks which can acidify the blood, causing mineral loss from your hair. Avoid unhealthy diet fads that make you lose weight too quickly. For, along with the loss of weight, you lose your precious hair.
Sulfur is a necessary mineral for beautiful hair growth. This mineral can be found in high protein foods like fish, legumes, nuts, eggs, beans, and most vegetables. When cooking, add in onion and garlic where possible. But don’t just use them for cooking, eat them!
And finally, the wrong kinds of fats that cause hair loss needs to be eliminated and replaced with sufficient amounts of EFAs like omega 3.
There are many more possible reasons why you are losing hair excessively. In fact, almost every system in your body can affect the health of your hair. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to consult a specialist to detect the cause so that it can be treated at an early stage.
Read MoreRogaine- Unscented Hair Loss Treatment.
The major cause of Male Pattern Baldness is directly related to hormonal issues and also established that a bad scalp environment (inflammation, itching, and flaking) is another major byproduct of DHT and Androgen activities, and can be incredibly detrimental to the success of any hair loss treatment regimen if not brought under control.
One of clinically proven treatments on the market today for men and women, are some custom formulations of Minoxidil such as rogaine.
Men’s Rogaine® Extra Strength is for men who have a general thinning of hair on the top of the scalp (vertex only, as shown on the package). Not intended for frontal baldness or a receding hairline. Men’s Rogaine® Extra Strength has been shown to regrow hair in men with the degrees of thinning hair or hair loss as shown on the side of the package (see box for details). If men have more hair loss than shown on package examples, Men’s Rogaine® Extra Strength may not work.
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Hair Loss Cure Based On Norwood Scale
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The Hamilton Norwood ScaleThe standard scale to assess how advanced a man’s hair loss is defined by the Hamilton/Norwood Scale. The higher the number, the more advanced the loss. The rate at which guys lose hair is very independent. There are guys that lose very rapidly in their 20’s up to a Scale 3 or Scale 4 and stay at that point for the rest of their lives. Other guys can have no detectable amount of hair loss until they are in their 50’s, only to advance to a Scale 6 or Scale 7 in just a few short years. |
| Typically, if the individual begins to thin early in life there is a very good chance that he is destined for a great deal of hair loss. | |
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First, the Norwood Scale is categorized from Stage 1 – 7. So grab a mirror now and compare your hair loss condition to the scale in front of you and we will discuss each level together.One very important indicator that most men can study to possibly help determine how far their hair loss will advance is their family history. Look at any older males in your family. The notion that the balding gene comes from just your mother’s side is an old wives’ tale. Look at both sides: your father, brothers, grandfathers, uncles, etc. |
| STAGE 1 In this stage where you have no hair loss. STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 6 STAGE 7 So what should you do ? 1. For stage 2 and 3 Recommendations .
2. For stage 4 and 5 Recommendations .
3. For stage 6 and 7 Recommendations .
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Hope for best options for hair loss
What are the best options for hair loss? Nothing can be more embarrassing for a man than hair loss, especially now when we have become so obsessed with our appearance and the media has made it such an important part of our lives. There are many different formulas on the market today, that claim to treat or prevent hair loss, but how many of them really work? There are certainly drugs, hair piece, wigs, and holistic hair restoration , but the best solution is possibly medical hair transplant.
Medical hair restoration, or what is sometimes called hair transplants will work for both men and women in many cases. It usually can produce a very natural and real head of hair. Many say that medical hair restoration is actually the best method for getting your pre hair loss look back. The process of medical hair transplant begins with a consultation with a surgeon. He or she will look at the healthy hair on the sides and back of your head to make sure you have enough to actually make the treatment successful. This part of the procedure is why it is most effective for those losing their hair, not those who have already lost most of it.
Once the surgeon has decided that medical hair restoration will work for you, the procedure is pretty simple in idea. The surgeon will take tissue-containing hair follicles from the healthy hair (hormone-resistant hairs selected from donor site) on the sides and back of your head. Those will then be grafted on the bald section of your scalp. The surgeon will place the grafts at various angles to create a very natural looking hair line for you.
The actual surgical removal and transplanting of the hair follicles has become a simple outpatient procedure. Most men and women doing this hair loss treatment return to work in the next day or two. The idea is to keep in mind hair transplant can be a great answer, but that you must take the time to research your option. Medical hair transplant is one of those options that is very effective, so it may just be in your best interest to look into it.
Read MoreHope for Free Product
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