saw palmetto: nature’s minoxidil?
During my journey through the annals of hair loss treatment, the one thing that I seem to keep coming across is the tropical plant saw palmetto (pictured above). This plant is listed as one of the proprietary ingredients in the Provillus. Aside from being a key ingredient in provillus, I have seen this plant mentioned elsewhere enough times to warrant further investigation into its supposed properties.
Used by the American Indians
Saw palmetto is a small palm that is native to the South East region of the United States, where it thrives in the warm climate. For centuries, the fruit of the Saw Palmetto plant had been used by the American Indians as a traditional medicine used to treat a plethora of physical ailments from urological problems to skin and hair care. When the European colonists arrived upon the shores, they quickly learned of this plant and used it for two centuries as a folk medicine with a large number of uses from expectorant to sedative.
Rich in fatty acids and phytosterols, Saw Palmetto extract has been examined in numerous scientific studies for its role in men’s prostate health. One study found that saw palmetto extract helped decrease the chances of an enlarged prostate in older men. Coincidentally, the role Saw Palmetto plays in men’s prostate health, is also the reason why it is effective for male pattern baldness.
Saw Palmetto and DHT
Saw palmetto is effective in inhibiting the 5 alpha reductase enzyme, thus lessening the amount of DHT the body produces. Saw Palmetto also works as an inhibitor to cell membrane’s DHT receptor sites. DHT, if you can recall, is the androgen derived hormone that is responsible for male pattern baldness. Besides causing hair loss, DHT is also thought to be responsible for the enlarging of prostates in older men. With its DHT zapping capabilities, it is almost a no brainer that Saw Palmetto has become one of the natural substances of choice for hair loss treatment.
Health and Environment
Unlike minoxidil and finasteride which both come with a long laundry list of possible side effects, Saw Palmetto extract is seen as a safe herbal alternative with almost no side effects. While some men taking Saw Palmetto have reported mild nausea and a lower libido, these occurrences are much lower than the statistics on other man made drugs. The trade off however, is that it may take a little bit longer to see any results when using saw palmetto.
Saw palmetto is also considered an environmentally friendly hair loss treatment. The adult saw palmetto plant is apparently extremely prolific, making the production of the extract environmentally sustainable. So, when you use hair loss products that contain saw palmetto; you are not only saving your hair, you are saving the earth too.
Al Gore will be so proud of you.
Minoxidil under the microscope
Minoxidil, that wonder drug that allows men and women regrow hair once thought to be lost forever. There is a lot to say about this drug and a lot of truths, half truths and outright tall tales surrounding its history and use. Let us take a look at this unique substance that happens to be the only thing on the market currently approved by the FDA to treat hair loss.
First, a little history
Minoxidil was first discovered by Peruvian high priests who claimed to have have been given the secret to stop hair loss by the god like figure whom they called Minoxidocal. Many researchers believe that Minoxidocal was really an interdimensional being from an advance civilization who had been stranded in precolumbian South America after his ship had crashed. The Inca high priests used the secrets of Minoxidocal to keep the dreaded fate of male pattern baldness from befalling them until it was lost after the conquistadors conquered their empire only to be rediscovered in the seventies by a rogue adventurer archeologist.
Now the real history
Okay, sorry about that alien conspiracy tall tale (sometimes I just cannot help myself). Minoxidil was actually discovered by researchers at Upjohn pharmaceuticals in the Eighties (the 1980’s). They were actually looking into minoxidil as a treatment for high blood pressure when they discovered that many of their test subjects were starting to regrow their hair. Putting two and two together, the company realized that the compound they had discovered could actually be marketed as a topical treatment for hair loss. Thus, Rogaine was born.
So how does it work?
Scientists are not really sure how minoxidil actually works in helping people grow new hair, but they do have their theories on why it does. Most believe that Minoxidil works by inhibiting the binding of DHT to the hair follicle, which it turns allows it to grow. DHT is a natural metabolite that forms when testosterone combines with the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. DHT is responsible for 95 percent of all hair loss and works by binding to the hair follicle and keeping it from receiving the vital protein and nutrients that it needs to stay healthy and grow. Minoxidil works as a DHT blocker, but whether or not this is due to Minoxidil’s role as a vasodilator (a vein and artery relaxer) is unclear.
Is Rogaine the only brand that contains Minoxidil?
While Rogaine was once the only source for minoxidil, its patent rights eventually thier course and minoxidil is now utilized by a large number of hairloss treatments. Most famous among them are brands such as Regaine (ooh-clever play on words) and also Provillus (my own hair loss drug of choice). Still we all should give Rogaine a big hardy round of applause for being the first to stumble upon Minoxidil.
Okay, enough clapping, what are the possible side effects of Minoxidil?
The most common side effect reported by users of minoxidil are itching and flaking of the scalp. Another side effect apparently is increased shedding of the hair upon initial use. This shedding is considered normal and should not dissuade you from using the product. Your hair will eventually grow back stronger and thicker as you continue with the program. Since Minoxidil was originally intended as a treatment for high blood pressure, there are concerns about the drug causing drops blood pressure. Since the topical treatment should not be finding its way into the bloodstream, this should not be a concern. However, contact a doctor immediately if began to experience: light-headedness, dizziness, chest pain, blurred vision, decrease in sexual desire, fainting, flushing, or swelling of the feet and hands.
Can I Stop taking Minoxidil and still keep my new hair?
Unfortunately, Minoxidil only works if you keep up the application. Once you stop treatment, your new found hair will eventually fall out after several months to a year.
Cuts for thinning hair
Having really thin hair makes going to a barber or hair stylist seem like a waste of time and money. However, just letting it grow will only make your hair seem even more thin and unhealthy looking. It is important for both men and women with thinning hair to choose the right kind of hairstyle which will help make their hair look thicker and fuller.
For Men
The general rule for men with thinning hair is to keep the cut as short as possible. Long hair looks weak and weedy and accentuates your true lack thereof. A closely cropped hairdo will make your hair seem fuller. Short hair will also put less strain upon your roots and allow the essential oils that your hair needs to make it all the way to the tip. Two styles that typify the short as possible rule are the Caesar cut and the crew cut. Both of these styles help clump hair closer together, giving the impression of a fuller head of hair.
For Women
While some women might be able to rock the crew cut ( Remember Susan Powter?) most will probably want to go in another direction with their hair. The general rule of keeping it short is still in effect, it just does not have to be as short as your typical man’s cut. A chin length cut that puts the focus on your face is the best way to go. For thin haired women who just must have it long, a good style might be an updo. What a good updo does, is help keep your hair together, forming a front that masks your overall thinness. Another suggested hairstyle is a simple braid for much of the same reason as the updo.
A cut above…
Choosing a good hairstylist whom you are comfortable with is also very important step when it comes to getting the right kind of cut. Your hairstylist will be sensitive to your particular needs as well as honest about what will work with your hair. Do not be afraid to discuss your thin hair with your barber or stylist and ways in which you can make your head look fuller. Trust me, they already know your thin hair problem, and many will be happy to do whatever they can to give you the right look.
Provillus vs Rogaine
While I love to blab away about the benefits of Provillus on the blog, I am also aware that another hair loss medication exists, which claims to do all the same things that Provillus does. I guess being a fan of daytime television, it is almost impossible for me to not to have heard of it. Let us take look at the product Rogaine and see how it stacks up with Provillus.
A little history…
Ok, so everybody and their cousin has heard about Rogaine, one of the most popular hair regrowth treatments that has ever seen the light of day. This highly touted formula has had the advantage of an intense promotional campaign since its introduction to the world in the late eighties. Rogaine has become synonymous with Minoxidil, the chemical within the topical solution which is responsible for new hair growth in men and women. While the researchers at Rogaine’s parent company, Pfizer, were the first ones to stumble upon the miracle of Minoxidil (which was originally being looked at to treat high blood pressure- the hair regrowth was just a side effect), they no longer own the exclusive patent rights to the chemical. This allows the people over at Provillus to add this miraculous little drug that inhibits DHT and enables new hair growth to their solution without having to spend billions on research, development, FDA approval and Marketing. It also has allowed them to tweak with the formula and include a few things that Rogaine never thought of.
What Provillus has…
Besides Minoxidil, Provillus also includes essential vitamins, minerals, and herbs that not only help you grow new hair, but also help fortify your scalp and feed your follicles. Provillus includes a daily supplement that includes essential B vitamins (B6 and Biotin) as well as the minerals Magnesium and Zinc which are essential to strong healthy hair. Also included are things such as Saw Palmetto, Nettle, Muira Puama and Urva Ursa which have been used for centuries to treat hairloss. The topical solution also contains Azelaic Acid which kills built up bacteria within the follicles. While Minoxidil is the new wonder drug, thses other added ingredients gives users of Provillus a step up when it comes to obtaining and then keeping their new hair.
End Results
Cruising around the Net and reading various testimonials from users of both Rogaine and Provillus I have come to the conclusion the the Provillus users are generally much happier with the overall results. While Rogaine works, many people claim that it is “too messy” and that the results are “unsatisfactory”. One guy complained that the new hair the rogaine managed to grow looked a bit like peach fuzz. Provillus users seem to be much happier with the results of their solution and how hier hair looks after several months of use. The only knock I read about Provillus is that it tends to take a little longer than Rogaine to produce results, but then the resulting hair ends up looking better.
In conclusion both Rogaine and Provillus can work for you if you are suffering from typical pattern baldness, however if I was take just one to a deserted island, it would definetely be Provillus since the results seem to be a bit more favorable. Of course then you may ask, why the heck would I care about my hair, if I was going to end up on a deserted island. That, my friend is a good question that i cannot answer at this time.
Ingredients for healthy hair
We all have heard stories of wacky hair treatments involving things like using beer for shampoo or even cracking a few eggs on top of the noggin to get that restoring shine back. Natural hair care treatment abound from all four corners of the earth and it seems that just about everything that can be used has been used to treat hair. While some of these ideas seem wacky indeed, many of these natural hair care recipes could work, resulting in a fuller, shinier, and all around healthier head of hair.
Stimulate the scalp
I am not sure about that odd device that Jack’s character uses in Anger Management, but increasing the blood flow to the scalp is one way to to get better hair. Certain herbs can be used for this including Ginkgo, Muira Puma,rosemary, chamomile, and lavender. Alma is another good hair stimulant as are shitaki mushrooms. Another good way to stimulate blood flow to the scalp is to exercise daily and to avoid certain bad habits such as smoking and drinking that decrease the amount of blood flowing to your head.
There is also a scalp massaging exercise out there that many people have claimed to have benefited from. It involves kneading your scalp everyday, as if it was a piece of dough in order to improve blood circulation to the top of the head, where most people lose their hair.
Fortify the follicles
Certain hair care ingredients are needed to help keep your hair strong and healthy. Silica, or horsetail root, is a great supplement that has been used for years to promote super strong hair. Biotin is also an essential B Vitamin that is needed for strong and healthy hair. Vitamin B12 and magnesium are also good follicle fortifiers that can be taken as a supplement and used to promote healthy and strong hair. One of the best sources to get all of the essential vitamins, minerals, and herbs needed for healthy hair is the supplement that comes with the provillus treament.
Clean and shiny
Most women already know the secrets to super clean and shiny hair, well men just assume that any old shampoo will work. Vitamin E is an essential vitamin that helps keep your hair looking shiny and healthy. You can take it as a supplement, or eat foods such as brown rice or leafy green veggies in order to get enough of it.
Also, egg yolks are actually a good way to give your hair some shine and apple cider vinegar is a good natural way to get your hair squeaky clean. And, believe it or not the protien found in a can of flat beers can help your hair and make thinning hair appear fuller, although, it is important to wash the beer out thouroughly lest you smell like a bum.
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