Is
it true that the herb saw palmetto is better than
finasteride (Proscar/Propecia) and has no side effects?
A:
Saw palmetto has been used successfully in prostate
enlargement. Accordingly it may have utility in male
pattern hair loss, though it has not been formally
tested for this.
Saw palmetto and finasteride are not really equivalent,
since saw palmetto has a much broader range of anti-
hormonal activity than finasteride. As for side effects,
these are certainly possible with saw palmetto, though
everyone will respond uniquely. It must be borne in
mind that saw palmetto is as much a chemical concoction
as finasteride; it was merely produced in Nature's
laboratory instead of a conventional one. Like anything,
if it's potent enough to cause a biochemical change
in the body-- especially involving hormones--it's potent
enough to cause side effects in some people. Saw palmetto
may be useful as a topical hair loss treatment. |
