HairlossTalk
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The facts on Saw Palmetto:
Zero Clinical Data
There hasn't been a single reputable study done showing that Saw Palmetto has any effect on treating hair loss. One study can be found in PubMed, but it was run by Geno Marcovici, maker of a saw palmetto product, and was publicly labeled as "Bunk" on 20/20 in January 2003 on nationwide television because it only included 10 participants and lasted only 6 months. Insufficient test group, insufficient test period, and run by someone standing to gain financially from it.
It's Not About Money
The lack of Saw Palmetto clinical data has absolutely NOTHING to do with its status as an "herb" or an inability to patent or market it. There is no secret anti-herbal mafia trying to squelch the amazing powers of Saw Palmetto on hair loss. Want proof? You can find over 100 clinical studies and mountains of scientific data showing Saw Palmetto's effectiveness in treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Zero for hair loss.
Its not an Alternative to Propecia
Saw Palmetto is not a "natural alternative to Propecia". There are two types of 5 alpha reductase that combine with Testosterone to form DHT. Supplements of Saw Palmetto given to test subjects had no effect on their serum DHT levels, so apparently Saw Palmetto works for the prostate by some other mechanism than DHT reduction. Saw Palmetto has shown no results for hair loss in trials. Propecia has many many studies on its effectiveness for hair loss. The two are similar in general, but very different where it matters the most. As such, they should never be considered "alternatives" to eachother.
It's not Safer than Propecia
Saw Palmetto is not "safer" nor does it cause "fewer side effects". People report just as many, if not more side effects, extending not only into the hormonal region but also emotional and other areas of their physiology when taking Saw Palmetto. SP is a very potent hormonal system modulator, and can cause MANY side effects. We advise caution in using any hormonal modulator, and strongly advise against using one that isn't even going to help your hair loss.
Its Widely Used in Snake Oils
"But Saw Palmetto is found in nearly every product..." Saw Palmetto and a host of other herbs are the hallmark for nearly every snake oil on the market today. Products with ingredients that actually have been proven to help inhibit the correct type of DHT (like Revivogen) openly admit that they only included Saw Palmetto because so many people have misconceptions about it, and expect it to be there. It is not included in reputable products because of its effectiveness, however it is WIDELY used by people trying to rip the public off, taking full advantage of people's incomplete understanding on it.
Absolutely No Assurances
We can't tell you if Saw Palmetto will work because there are no studies on it for hair loss. We can't tell you why you've been shedding nonstop since starting Saw Palmetto because there are no studies on it. We can't tell you if you will or wont have side effects. We can't tell you why you shed after you stopped taking it. We can't tell you what dose you should take either ... why ? Because nobody knows. There is no data. Science checked it out, found it to be useless for hair loss, and didn't bother investing the time or money to find the answers to these questions.
But it's your choice.
If you, as a thinking individual, opt to use Saw Palmetto, we request that you discuss and post about it in the "Unproven and Experimental Treatments" section of this website.
Our Advice?
If you're going to mess with your hormones, at least use something proven to work in 83% of men. To do anything else just makes absolutely no sense to us. The unexplained shedding, the unexplained side effects, the months of wondering if it will work .. just doesn't seem worth it when there is a completely viable alternative.
HairLossTalk.com
Zero Clinical Data
There hasn't been a single reputable study done showing that Saw Palmetto has any effect on treating hair loss. One study can be found in PubMed, but it was run by Geno Marcovici, maker of a saw palmetto product, and was publicly labeled as "Bunk" on 20/20 in January 2003 on nationwide television because it only included 10 participants and lasted only 6 months. Insufficient test group, insufficient test period, and run by someone standing to gain financially from it.
It's Not About Money
The lack of Saw Palmetto clinical data has absolutely NOTHING to do with its status as an "herb" or an inability to patent or market it. There is no secret anti-herbal mafia trying to squelch the amazing powers of Saw Palmetto on hair loss. Want proof? You can find over 100 clinical studies and mountains of scientific data showing Saw Palmetto's effectiveness in treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Zero for hair loss.
Its not an Alternative to Propecia
Saw Palmetto is not a "natural alternative to Propecia". There are two types of 5 alpha reductase that combine with Testosterone to form DHT. Supplements of Saw Palmetto given to test subjects had no effect on their serum DHT levels, so apparently Saw Palmetto works for the prostate by some other mechanism than DHT reduction. Saw Palmetto has shown no results for hair loss in trials. Propecia has many many studies on its effectiveness for hair loss. The two are similar in general, but very different where it matters the most. As such, they should never be considered "alternatives" to eachother.
It's not Safer than Propecia
Saw Palmetto is not "safer" nor does it cause "fewer side effects". People report just as many, if not more side effects, extending not only into the hormonal region but also emotional and other areas of their physiology when taking Saw Palmetto. SP is a very potent hormonal system modulator, and can cause MANY side effects. We advise caution in using any hormonal modulator, and strongly advise against using one that isn't even going to help your hair loss.
Its Widely Used in Snake Oils
"But Saw Palmetto is found in nearly every product..." Saw Palmetto and a host of other herbs are the hallmark for nearly every snake oil on the market today. Products with ingredients that actually have been proven to help inhibit the correct type of DHT (like Revivogen) openly admit that they only included Saw Palmetto because so many people have misconceptions about it, and expect it to be there. It is not included in reputable products because of its effectiveness, however it is WIDELY used by people trying to rip the public off, taking full advantage of people's incomplete understanding on it.
Absolutely No Assurances
We can't tell you if Saw Palmetto will work because there are no studies on it for hair loss. We can't tell you why you've been shedding nonstop since starting Saw Palmetto because there are no studies on it. We can't tell you if you will or wont have side effects. We can't tell you why you shed after you stopped taking it. We can't tell you what dose you should take either ... why ? Because nobody knows. There is no data. Science checked it out, found it to be useless for hair loss, and didn't bother investing the time or money to find the answers to these questions.
But it's your choice.
If you, as a thinking individual, opt to use Saw Palmetto, we request that you discuss and post about it in the "Unproven and Experimental Treatments" section of this website.
Our Advice?
If you're going to mess with your hormones, at least use something proven to work in 83% of men. To do anything else just makes absolutely no sense to us. The unexplained shedding, the unexplained side effects, the months of wondering if it will work .. just doesn't seem worth it when there is a completely viable alternative.
HairLossTalk.com