Saw Palmetto is an herb that is derived from its namesake tree. It has a number of uses including the ability to treat a certain condition that can affect the prostate. Saw Palmetto hair loss products are quickly becoming the latest craze. As people are exploring alternative options for the treatment of certain conditions, saw palmetto is gaining in popularity.

Saw palmetto is also known as the dwarf plant. Its official name is Serenoa Repens. It is a small leafy tree that usually grows to be around three or four feet tall. The berries are a dark brown color. It is the berries that contain the ingredient that is used to combat hair loss. The saw palmetto tree seems to thrive in warm and humid climates.

The berries contain certain elements such as fatty acids and plant sterols, which occur naturally as they grow on the saw palmetto tree. The actual berry can be eaten whole or dried. The extract can be made into many different forms including liquid and pills. It can be added to foods and made into teas. Now it is even being infused into shampoos and conditioners.

Saw Palmetto can be used by both males and females that are affected by a certain condition called androgenic alopecia, more commonly known as male pattern or female pattern baldness. This condition starts at the top of the head and moves over the crown of the head as it progresses. It is believed that saw palmetto blocks a certain hormone that contributes to the loss of hair.

Saw palmetto can also contribute to changes in estrogen and testosterone levels. Side effects of saw palmetto are generally mild, although more serious side effects can occur. Stomach upset is the most widely reported side effect. Taking saw palmetto can also interact with certain other medicines, such as birth control pills or blood-thinners.

Herbal supplements have long since been used for many different purposes. Their relative ease of use, low cost and prescription free availability have made them a popular alternative for people that like to explore alternative treatment options. Saw Palmetto has been used as a source of food and for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years.

It is mostly grown along the southern Atlantic coast of the United States. The Indians that used to populate the area used it in many remedies. It has also been used in Europe for a number of years. For the right person, saw palmetto can be a viable treatment option for hair loss or thinning of the hair due to androgenic alopecia.

Saw palmetto is actually an active ingredient in many hair-loss products on the market today. It is taken orally, usually in pill form, instead of being applied topically as many hair-loss products are. Many people that have taken saw palmetto will attest to its effectiveness. It is widely available and definitely not as cost prohibitive as other hair loss solutions can be. That is an important consideration by people that use it.