The hair undergoes different cycles – growing, resting and shedding. Thus the reason why there are times when one sees some amount of hair falling out. Hair falls out at an average of 100 per day. As it is a cycle, one would expect that eventually those hairs that were lost would eventually be replaced.

Unfortunately, not all things wished upon happens. So as in hair regrowth, there are instances when an individual begins to see his scalp through the hair – a sign that either the hair is thinning or replacement hairs have not grown to replace those that have fell off in the course of the cycle.

Saw Palmetto for Hair Growth – Worthy of Consideration

This is where saw palmetto for hair regrowth becomes an option. The saw palmetto herb is known to do well in helping one regrow hair. It should be clear that the studies backing up this herb show that it aids in re-growing hair not because it directly stimulates it to grow, but because it hinders the effects of DHT on hair loss.

DHT is dihydrotestosterone - formed with the interaction of testosterone and the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. This DHT attaches to hair follicle receptors – making it shrink through time. The growth cycle becomes shortened with less hair growing – and thus the thinning hair and hair loss eventually.

Saw Palmetto for Hair Regrowth – How It Helps

Saw palmetto, though not an active ingredient to actually stimulate hair to grow, can help in the process of letting the growth of hair take its natural cycle.

Saw palmetto for hair regrowth claims to work by blocking the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme. Doing so will help prevent the formation of DHT. Also, it blocks the receptors so that DHT could not attach in the hair follicles – and hopefully prevent hair loss from occurring.

Saw Palmetto for Hair Regrowth – How Real Is It?

Saw palmetto was popularized by its use on BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). There were claims of its effectiveness in giving remedy to the symptoms associated with BPH. Saw palmetto is believed to address the Type II 5-alpha-reductase enzyme found mainly in the prostate.

Saw palmetto for hair regrowth addresses the Type I 5-alpha-reductase enzyme found in the skin and scalp. It is said to block this enzyme to interact with testosterone – which if left to do so would mean the formation of DHT.

A lot has still to be learned about saw palmetto and its effects over a longer period. But some studies have shown positive effects for this herb, and some personal testimonials have been available claiming for the healing effects it has – saw palmetto for hair regrowth is one such area where the herb seems to hold promise.

The problem starts when testosterone levels drop and another body hormone, estrogen is left in a much higher amount - this causes hormonal imbalance. The imbalance is another theory subscribed by some to affect the emergence of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). This is in difference to the more popular theory that focuses on the conversion of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), and thus developing BPH.

Saw Palmetto and Testosterone Control

Either way, testosterone plays a part in both theories. The use of saw palmetto and testosterone levels seem to have a direct relation. The herb inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha reductase enzyme, which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

Administering saw palmetto and testosterone effect resulting with such use treats the symptoms of BPH – and as claimed by some, on male pattern baldness. As hair loss is believed to have been caused in the same manner as BPH, and by the action of saw palmetto and testosterone controlled as claimed - many have concluded even without significant medical studies, the efficacy of the said herb in alopecia treatment.

Workings of Saw Palmetto and Testosterone Effects

How saw palmetto exactly works is still not determined. And while it has been known that its active ingredients include the fatty acids, sterols and flavonoids – it has been thought that these are not the only substances that give a healing effect on one’s illnesses.

One such finding is the presence of high-molecular-weight polysaccharides in the berries, which are deemed to give saw palmetto its anti-inflammatory effect. More in-depth medical studies are necessary to determine all these – but while such has not yet been done – one can still take advantage of the healing powers of this amazing herb.

Saw palmetto, much like finasteride, is used for treating BPH and male pattern baldness. For BPH, finasteride may take several months before one can see positive results; for male pattern baldness – in around 3 months, one can already see its effect. Finasteride works by decreasing the active form of testosterone.

Saw palmetto supplements, as compared to the drug finasteride - with brand names as Propecia® and Proscar® - are believed to pose minimal side effects. Under the supervision of a qualified health care provider, saw palmetto may seem to be the better choice.

One of the herbs to get a partial nod from science is saw palmetto. The original uses of saw palmetto dates back many centuries ago to the Native Americans who considered its fruits a staple and treatment of diseases associated with the bladder and urinary tract. Clinical trials, including specially controlled double-blinded trials, on saw palmetto began flourishing in the mid-1980's. Many European countries like Germany, Austria, Ireland, etc. are accepting saw palmetto as treatment for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition of an enlarged prostate affecting 50-60% of men above 50 years.

Saw palmetto for fertility

Saw palmetto grows in southeastern United States. Its popularity in treating symptoms of BPH can be attributed to its active constituents concentrated in its berries, which includes essential fatty acids (lauric acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid, and oleic acid) and phytosterols (or plant sterols). Whilst some studies agree with centuries-old tradition, how saw palmetto works is yet to be explained. Aside from its so-claimed effectiveness in treating symptomatic BPH, patients having fertility problems are finding an alternative out of saw palmetto for fertility.

The use of herbs particularly saw palmetto for fertility has been in practice for hundreds of years. However, clinical trials on saw palmetto are confined only to BPH. Saw palmetto seemingly do not set off adverse side effects although gastrointestinal distress was reported in patients taking 320mg daily in divided doses for at least 6 weeks. This mild reaction to saw palmetto can be alleviated when taking food along. For the purpose of comparison, not all clinical trials favor admonitions for saw palmetto. A 2006 study co-funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) on 225 men with moderate to severe BPH, who took 160mg twice daily for one year, reported no significant improvement in their conditions.

Consumers must be given stern warning on the use of herbs in general. Herbs like saw palmetto are potent so that it's important to discuss this matter with a medical practitioner. Moreover, patients wanting to lift the odds of becoming fertile are better off seeking a physician's advice than resorting to saw palmetto for fertility.

High blood pressure has been referred to as a silent killer since it normally do not have symptoms. Several people may not know they have high blood pressure until they start having trouble with their brain, kidneys, or heart. This is actually a very serious condition because if undiagnosed and untreated can lead to heart failure, small bulges, kidney failure, stroke, or heart attack.

People have been finding herbal or natural options to treating high blood pressure, and Saw Palmetto has not been an exception. The products popularity has reached traditional or scientific “theories” of it being effectual for high blood pressure as well. However, it should be noted that these theories of Saw Palmetto for high blood pressure has not been thoroughly tested, and it still remains under the category of “uses based on tradition or theory”, therefore the effectiveness and safety of using Saw Palmetto for high blood pressure has never been proven.

The exact mechanism of why and how Saw Palmetto functions in the body is not yet completely understood scientifically, and further studies for its other uses such as Saw Palmetto for high blood pressure are still being conducted. It should also be noted that Saw Palmetto in the US as a dietary supplement is not regulated by the FDA, and there is no assurance of the purity, strength, or safety of the product, and its effects may significantly vary; much more for using it as a therapy for a condition “assumed” to be one of its useful benefits. Saw Palmetto also comes in different brands, which means that its additional components may vary from different companies. Be sure to check labels for the presence of eighty percent to ninety percent (standardized measurement) of Saw Palmetto extract in the product.

High blood pressure is a condition not to be taken lightly and so professional diagnosis by a qualified healthcare provider should be sought out; if one is intending to use Saw Palmetto for high blood pressure, then it is necessary to discuss the matter first with their physician, before starting any self-diagnosis treatment using the product.

Long-time before, ingesting saw palmetto and weight gain effects because of it were already noticed. Along with the recent observations by some who claims of the gain in weight brought about by this herb, the stronger the belief of more people that perhaps saw palmetto may play an active role on this.

As a general tonic, it nourishes the body. Saw Palmetto berries contain oils with a variety of fatty acids. These fatty acids are said to include capric, caprylic, caproic, palmitic, oleic and lauric acids. Said oil is high in phytosterols – beta-sitosterol, cycloartenol, stigmasterol, lupeol, etc. This composition of its fruit is exactly the reason why saw palmetto has become very effective in alternative medicine.

Many have espoused that these saw palmetto berries may have more than just the substances mentioned above – other more substances may be at play that act to provide the medicinal benefits it currently offers now.

Only more extensive and intensive medical studies will prove that to be so – and its healing wonders would then become a mystery no more. The doubts will be erased and the claims will be supported. As is applied to saw palmetto and weight gain effects with such use - will be provided with evidences showing direct links, or perhaps invalidated if found to be of no direct connection.

Taking saw palmetto and weight gain as a result can be traced to the stimulation of one’s appetite. The use of the herb is said to increase one’s craving for food, and encourages the desire to eat – and eventually satisfy said yearnings.

The use of saw palmetto and weight gain associated with such intake, is becoming a belief many start to share. Even without the basis of a formal medical study that gives credit to such claims, it is an information commonly shared in the field of alternative medicine. Saw palmetto has also been claimed to improve digestion – thereby enabling the body to better make use of the nutrients from the food eaten. This is another reason that could be attributed to the herb’s weight gain effect on those who take such supplements. Saw palmetto and weight gain may indeed have a direct connection – and perhaps the theories behind its relation really do hold water.

The amplified reputation of Saw Palmetto may have been due to its use by health practitioners as treatment for various ailments in men, such as respiratory congestion, testicular inflammation, coughs, and urinary tract infection. Other uses have been to balance metabolism, aid digestion, stimulate appetite, and reinforce thyroid glands. The majority of proof that supports these Saw Palmetto uses is subjective and hasn’t been confirmed through controlled clinical studies.

On the other hand, there is a great deal of scientific documentation that outlines the effectiveness of this herb for treating irritated bladder, as well as urinary conditions in men that have benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Saw Palmetto and kidney health relationship has been established in the herbs use for BPH treatment. BPH is a prostate gland swelling that result to the urethra being obstructed, causing painful urination, and lessened urine flow, trouble in starting or stopping urine flow, frequent urination during the night, and dripping after urination.

On top of BPH causing embarrassment and pain, it can also result to serious kidney troubles if untreated or undiagnosed. The correlation of Saw Palmetto and kidney health has been deemed essential for treating one of the possible risks for kidney problems, BPH. The problem is common in men over forty-years old; an estimate of fifty to sixty percent of all men has a risk in developing BPH. An estimated 6 million men with the age range of fifty to seventy-nine have BPH that is severe enough to necessitate therapy; yet only half seek treatment.

Lately, some clinical trials have proved Saw Palmetto’s effectiveness in the treatment of BPH; a lot of these studies have revealed Saw Palmetto working better than the majority of common prescription drugs used for the condition. Consequently, establishing a strong relationship between Saw Palmetto and kidney health, that has made it popular among BPH sufferers.

Saw Palmetto and kidney health nowadays have rather gone hand in hand, with the increasing complaints of BPH and kidney problems, Saw Palmetto has had a say in the betterment of these ailments which has made a big impact on the BPH patient populace.

On the other hand, researchers have established that the major cause of acne is hormonal change in the system, as well as heredity being a huge factor in the severity and type of acne a person may have. So how does Saw Palmetto and acne relate? It all goes back to the “hormones”. As have been pointed out, one of the major causes of acne is the changing hormones of the body, particularly testosterone.

Conversely, Saw Palmetto is a strong hormonal modulator, which inhibits the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone or DHT. For short, these “sagas”, “assumptions”, or “theories” that Saw Palmetto can reduce or eliminate acne have originated from its being a “DHT inhibitor”, but factually the relationship between Saw Palmetto and acne have not been established nor backed up by scientific studies, so the product is still not recommended for this purpose.

Saw Palmetto’s proven efficacy supported by controlled scientific studies is its use for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), where it has been shown to significantly reduce the symptoms of BPH, through inhibiting testosterone conversion into DHT. People have made several assumptions on Saw Palmetto and acne, and the product’s being effective in reducing acne because of its function as a potent hormonal-inhibitor; however, taking the product under these assumptions should be carefully reconsidered as it may not be effective, and one may just be exposing themselves to more health risks.

It should be kept in mind, that although Saw Palmetto has built a reputation for its beneficial components, it has not been clinically tested for acne. Furthermore, its being categorized as a “dietary supplement” means that it is not “regulated”, therefore the more reason to be cautious in using it for other purposes other than what it has been scientifically confirmed to treat.

Saw Palmetto and acne are only linked through anecdotes and probabilities which have not been supported; it is always important to remember that the complete mechanism of how Saw Palmetto functions in the body is not yet fully understood. It is always essential to consult a physician before taking the product for treating acne or any other purpose that the product has not been suggested for.

The idea and presumption that Saw Palmetto can treat baldness or hair loss in men probably aroused with its connection to treating BPH. In 1998, ads started to show up endorsing Saw Palmetto use for stimulating men’s hair re-growth. The claim was obviously based on an uncalled-for assumption because of Saw Palmetto’s utilization as a treatment for BPH condition, which was compared to another prescription medication called finasteride (propecia) that was useful in the treatment of both hair loss and BPH; thus, Saw Palmetto on baldness or hair loss would also be effective.

Although Saw Palmetto has been suggested to block some testosterone effects, therefore reducing male-pattern hair loss, comparable to finasteride, further studies are still required before it can be recommended for the use. The assumption of Saw Palmetto on baldness has completely no clinical proof that would support Saw Palmetto as an effective treatment for promoting hair re-growth or preventing hair loss.

It is however, commonly recommended by urologists in Italy, Germany, and France for the helpful BPH treatment. Using the product for unsupervised treatment or self-diagnosis is highly discouraged; consumers planning to take Saw Palmetto on baldness treatment, whether in the dietary supplement form or other forms is strongly encouraged to discuss the subject with a physician.

The only proven effectiveness that Saw Palmetto has been associated to is its berry extracts being better than placebo to treat the symptoms of BPH. At least seven studies have showed that it is almost as effectual as that of Minipress, a prescription medication for controlling the symptoms of BPH. In other studies, it has reportedly been better than Proscar, a prostate medicine, in diminishing symptoms. Research with the use of ultrasound has showed that berry extracts of Saw Palmetto can reduce enlarged prostate tissue.

Finally, although both prostatic disease and hair loss are connected to DHT, and a lot suggest Saw Palmetto on baldness or reducing hair loss in people through lessening the quantity of DHT in the body, particularly surrounding the hair follicles, these suggestions have no professional studies or testing to verify Saw Palmetto’s effectiveness in hair loss or baldness treatment; a lot of companies are by now preparing Saw Palmetto-formulated topical hair lotions.

Hirsutism in women can be quite an embarrassing condition; hirsutism is believed to be caused by excessive androgenic-hormone levels that cause the growing of too much hair, often in the wrong places for women. The main androgenic hormone that is involved in hirsutism is testosterone; a large number of testosterone is normal for men but not for women; this testosterone in both women and men, are changed into a stronger hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that motivates hirsutism. When women have plenty of them, they tend to grow hair in unwanted places like the face, particularly man-like hair above the lip; this can be unsightly when you’re a woman.

Saw Palmetto’s benefits for women with hirsutism condition have not been confirmed, but it is “assumed” to block these testosterone conversion and inhibit DHT, thus reducing hirsutism in women; these assumptions however, are only based on how Saw Palmetto works for BPH, there has been no confirmed clinical studies of its use for hirsutism nor its effectiveness; still some women have used the product for this treatment.

Another anecdote of Saw Palmetto’s benefits for women is breast enlargement. Again, this use of Saw Palmetto has not been verified yet although newest studies are still on the process of linking Saw Palmetto benefits in repairing the mammory cells of women and promoting bust enlargement. Caution should still be taken when using the product for this purpose, as certain side effects may be probable.

Saw Palmetto’s benefits for women have not yet been scientifically established, although some women have tried it for the aforementioned purposes. Its effectiveness and safety however, has not been really proven. It still needs further comprehensive scientific investigations for the product to be truly recommended for these uses. Women planning to take Saw Palmetto for hirsutism or breast enlargement should consult their physician and discuss the issue before beginning the therapy.