Saw palmetto extract comes from berries of the palm tree Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) which is indigenous to the Atlantic Southeast coast of North America.

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 Sae palmetto is an effective anti-androgen and has shown conclusively to be effective in the treatment of benign prostate disease.

One may assume from this that since Saw palmetto is an effective antiandrogen and is used in the treatment of prostatic disease then it may also be effective in the treatment of Androgenetic alopecia.

More and more people around the globe are starting to use Saw palmetto in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasma and in the treatment of Androgenetic alopecia

Crinagen is a topical lotion, which has been formulated by Raztec Enterprises in New York and contains Saw palmetto extract. Crinagen is one of the few topical lotions available for androgenetic alopecia, which contains Saw palmetto extract.

Saw palmetto either by itself or combined with other products such as zinc and vitamin b6 which have also shown to reduce DHT by inhibiting the enzyme 5 alpha reductase is also available in tablet form and can be purchased from most health stores and chemists. Saw palmetto tablets are used by many in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasma and more recently has been used in the treatment of Androgenetic alopecia.

Article
Title: Saw palmetto: herbal prevention for common male health concerns.

Patent containing Saw palmetto
Title: Hair treatment system and kit for invigorating hair growth

Studies related to Saw Palmetto

STUDY: Comparison of finasteride (Proscar), a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor, and various commercial plant extracts in in vitro and in vivo 5 alpha reductase inhibition.

STUDY: The effect of Permixon on androgen receptors.

STUDY: Lack of effects of a lyposterolic extract of Serenoa repens on plasma levels of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone.

STUDY: Inhibition of the activity of 'basic' 5 alpha-reductase (type 1) detected in DU 145 cells and expressed in insect cells.

STUDY: Research indicates herbals make sense; herbal medicine

STUDY: Benign prostatic hyperplasia -- treatment with sabal fruit extract. A treatment study of 1,334 patients]

STUDY: Enzyme activities in tissue of human benign prostatic hyperplasia after three months' treatment with the Sabal serrulata extract IDS 89 (Strogen) or placebo.

STUDY: Comparison of finasteride (Proscar) and Serenoa repens (Permixon) in the inhibition of 5-alpha reductase in healthy male volunteers.