Everyone experiences some degree of hair shedding as part of the natural cycle of hair growth. But if you’re losing an excessive amount of hair (more than 100 strands a day), there could be an underlying issue. Thankfully, there is natural support like saw palmetto for hair health. This palm-like plant has many health benefits.
What is Saw Palmetto and What Does it Do?
Saw palmetto is a plant that has long, saw-toothed leaves. It can grow as a small shrub or reach 10 feet high in some climates. The plant has white flowers and yellow berries that turn black when ripe. This plant has quite a rich history: Native Americans used saw palmetto berries as food and natural medicine for hundreds of years. Then, in the early 20th century, men took the berries for urinary tract problems, to increase sperm production, and even boost libido.
Best of all, saw palmetto contains plant-based extracts that can naturally support healthy DHT levels in the body, which in turn may help support hair growth. The active ingredients of saw palmetto include fatty acids, plant sterols, and sugars. It is available as pills, dried berries, liquid, or powdered capsules.
Saw Palmetto Benefits for Hair
Taking saw palmetto for hair health has gained a lot of popularity during recent years, as the plant contains components that prevent the conversion of testosterone into DHT, a naturally occurring hormone in the body that contributes to hair thinning by shrinking hair follicles.
In a 2002 study on 10 men with androgenic alopecia male pattern baldness, there was an improvement in 60% of the participants. And then in a study conducted in 2004, 34 men and 28 women received topically applied saw palmetto extract on the scalp. Sixty-seven percent of the participants saw a reduction in scalp sebum production, while 35% experienced increased hair density, demonstrating the benefits of saw palmetto for women as well as men.
Other Benefits of Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is an attractive option to support hair health. In some cases, saw palmetto has been used as a form of treatment for conditions including low sex drive, low sperm count, diabetes, prostate cancer, bronchitis, and more.
Saw Palmetto in Supplements
If you’d like to try saw palmetto for hair regrowth, you might benefit from a hair supplement containing natural ingredients. Nutrafol contains a mixture of standardized, patented, and clinically tested botanicals, including saw palmetto, to support healthier hair.