HAIR TRANSPLANT FORUM

Dear All,

I was wondering if these is a scientific basis for the claim that only saw palmetto concentrated to a level where its EFA's and sterols are in exess of 85% "works" for male pattern baldness.

I have seen this claim a number of times, and I think the first time was in the "Bald Truth" book. That said I have never heard of a study which corroborates it.

50% formulas are much cheaper! And in terms of the raw quantaty of EFA's & sterols would give more bang for the buck. Are there good reasons to think they would be inferior?

Any suggestions for an appropriate dose are also welcome!!

Many thanks


NV

Saw Palmetto is a potent natural inhibitor of DHT production. It is part of the new product line we looking to promote for post-surgical and maintainance therapy to our patients that comes for surgery. Of course other important ingredients include nitrous oxide and anagen stimulators or growth stimulating ingredients. the product line contains all natural ingredients.

One study evaluated the efficacy of saw palmetto compared to proscar in the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and urinary retention. this study showed that saw palmetto was just as effective as proscar in the treatment of BPH. Neither is outstanding for the treatment of BPH. No study has been done to date that compares saw palmetto to finasteride in the treatment of hair loss sufferers.

Thanks for that, I think I had heard that saw palmetto has some fair evidence in its favor regarding the prosate and as an inhibitor. I beleve it is used in Germany with medical backing?

Anyhow did the study you refer to have a standardised strngth of Saw Palmetto? Or is there any reason to assume that they had it at the 85% level?

NV

^^^ who works with us on the studies is going to answer you with more details...stay tuned.
BTW: what about sending me your photos from FIT?
Send here if you like to: webmaster@forhair.com

Great thanks for that. Your site will soon be the best on the web with quality outsorcing like this!

Re Photos, I have a £10 digital camera which is not the best tool to show the more delicate aspects of Dr Coles work! Maybe we can do some photos in the summer?

NV

accupuncture?

In the "patients guide to sugical hair restoration" or similar, by Cole, Rose & ^^^, ^^^ III(?) resume cites a number of research papers on the use of accupuncture, not for hair loss necessarily but an interest non the less.

But are we talking about the same ^^^? I guessed we were as, if ^^^ III has co-written a paper together then they are already collaborators etc! But a guess is a guess!!!!

NV

Hi ^^^ (2), A very interesting post for both for its medical and cultural insights!

I guess we see less of the fixing of numbers to prodgny in the UK as it does kind of imply that you think your kids should inherit the throne, I think its a nice tradition though, it pays to remember your roots after all.

On the subject of roots then (Sorry!) you prefer Saw Palmetto as a topical. How easy is it to get it to penetrate the skin and compete with androgens in the hair follicle? (I'm assuming thats how you see it working? In a very localised way), would an alcohol based extract like you can get at a few health food stores be ok to use? If so any idea how to start to fix a dose?

Also is there any point at all in eating saw palmetto? Presumably you think the effect will be too disapated to be effective?


With thanks

NV

[/quote]

Well thanks for the info and the tease!

In relation to easting saw palmetto can I ask you another couple of things? Are any of the sytemic side effects bad?

Also there is a much quoted figure of saw palmetto needing to be standardized to 85% to be effecticve, I read it first in the "Bald Truth" and have seen it repeated in other forums, but I have never seen it corroborated?

Can I get get away with eating a lower dose of saw palmetto in greater bulk for the same effect?

Many thanks

NV

Thanks again TB, nice to get a bit of science on the subject of herbs. I've taken SP for years now with no real problems, but no obvious benefits either, I take the view that if a pill is cheap and may save the need for more invasive treatment its worth writing off £20 a year to keep on it.

Its in that light that I take quite a few vitamins & herbs, can I ask you about these too?

I take 25 mg of zinc pincolrite (?) Any point in taking zinc if your diets already good?
I drink mad amounts of green tea (8 mugs a day)
And I eat bee pollen in the morning 20 mins before breakfast due to an anecdotal report of spontaneous hair growth in 'some people' who did the same for a year or so.

Again I see no obvious or dramatic benefit but zinc is so cheap and if I din't drink green tea I would only spend my cash on something I liked the taste of.

Thanks again for your time.

NV

Thanks TB, you have been a great help, your joining Dr Cole on my "permanently welcome to dinner list" if ever make it to the north of England!

NV

PS- Are there any hair loss herbs that you think are worth a try that we haven't covered? (I already take kelp /alfalfa, yeast & efa's in modest amounts to support

Goodness TB your quick!

I have to admit that HGH does make a lot of sense, assuming a good medium to get the HGH though the scalp to the follicles, surely it would be performing a mindoxil type function of speeding growth and presumably increasing cell division?? Unlike minoxidil there would be some sort of explanation of why it works too! The down side is that I might have to start visiting quite disreputable gyms to get hold of this stuff.

I think I have convinced myself that topical spirolactone is a worthwhile topical treatment.

My Spiro comes in a 5% cream which is a pain to apply but dosnt't smell as bad as oftern claimed, a few drips of lavender in the pot and I think the problems largley masked, even if lavender is a bit camp, maybe I will move onto sage!

I think I will be taking a rain check on taking a hyperdermic of HGH to my scalp on a regular basis! I mean I'm as keen to help the balding comminute but there are limits!

Thanks TB!

NV