In 2020, I wrote a post in regards to the ultimate natural dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blocker. Blocking DHT levels significantly results in hair regrowth in most people. The 5-alpha reductase inhibitor drugs dutatasteride and finasteride are extremely effective at reducing DHT levels.
Natural products can also reduce DHT levels, albeit to a much lesser extent in comparison to the above two drugs. For those who are getting side effects from drugs, natural products can be of some use in at least reducing hair loss. In some cases, they can even lead to modest hair regrowth.
For example, a widely cited 2012 study from Italy found that 38% of people with male pattern hair loss who took saw palmetto experienced an increase in hair growth. In comparison, 68% of those taking finasteride saw an increase in hair growth. More recently, a 2023 study from India found that oral and topical formulations of a saw palmetto based oil led to a 29% and 22% increase in hair growth, respectively. The oil contained 2-3% β-sitosterol. Of most significance, a 2020 systemic review of five clinical trials and two studies concluded in favor of saw palmetto benefiting hair growth.
Advanced Trichology DHT Blocker
Advanced Trichology (US) makes one of the most popular natural ingredient based DHT blockers in the world. On Amazon, the company’s DHT Blocker product currently has almost 11,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. Quite impressive for a natural DHT inhibitor.
Among the key natural ingredients in this product include:
- Saw palmetto extract.
- Green tea leaf extract.
- Nettle root powder.
- L Lysine HCI.
- Grape seed extract.
- Pygeum bark.
- Pumkin seed extract.
- Grapefruit seed extract.
- Chicory root extract.
Advanced Trichology also sells a FoliGrowth capsule product for thicker hair. It currently has 13,900 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. FoliGrowth contains 28 herbs and vitamins, including: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin, pantothenic acid, iron, iodine, selenium, manganese, Foli-GROWTH™ ultra hair proprietary blend, PABA, R- lipoic acid, inositol, Opti MSM®, fo-ti root, saw palmetto extract, pine bark extract, bamboo extract, L – cysteine, hyaluronic acid and choline.
Am I mistaken or shouldn’t Saw Palmetto be standardized at 85% fatty acids to be effective (not 45%)? Most importantly, I have yet to ever see or hear or read a person outside their claim who has benefitted from their potion; and yes I have tried to find them.
Can this be used together with propecia? Or is it exclusively an alternative?
Yes of course, I do. Together, they are still weaker DHT blockers than Dutasteride by itself.
Nuke your hormones at your own risk, gents!
We do everything in life at our own risk…wise words of the day from Yoda to counterbalance advice from one who is not so wise.
This is a different Tom FYI for those who care.
This Tom has made only 3 comments so far. The first 2 were warnings in the below Dutasteride post :-)
https://www.hairlosscure2020.com/dutasteride-lowers-scalp-dht-50-percent/
So I am the bad Tom now huh. Also don’t think Yoda was referring to me.
Relax, neither myself or Yoda were referring to you. Yoda was referring to the new Tom’s warning about nuking hormones. I told him (and others) that this is a different Tom who has made three comments so far on this blog with the same kind of fin/dut/dht inhibition related warning each time. i.e., making sure that readers do not confused the new anti-Finasteride Tom with you.
We need a third Tom so that I can waste more time replying.
Too Too Too Many Toms, should have a Two Tom Max Limit here Admin.
Is this better?
I agree though, and many others do too. Interrupting a natural bodily process such as DHT most likely has downstream effects we don’t even know are occurring, and I highly doubt they are beneficial. I wish for a quality hair loss cure like everyone in here, of course, but caution is needed.
Why have there been real crusades against finasteride in recent years? Who benefits from it? I mean … even after a transplant you have to continue taking it if you don’t want to lose further ground, perhaps those who sell minoxidil have an interest in speaking badly of it? I don’t know … I only know that almost all dermatologists continue to prescribe finasteride as the number one drug, I’ve been taking it for 25 years, and I’ve never had all these side effects.
Trolls that are just getting satisfaction that you are balding, the ones that get no results and are jealous that it helps others, the ones that like balding guys around them whilst they have a full head of hair (social advantage)..the list continues….
Oh, I forgot…scrupulous HT surgeons that like to have an endless supply of victims.
Having said this, there are definitely people that get unpleasant sides. No doubt about that. If they do get sides, an important decision has to be made.
I got side effects from it, all the mental and sexual ones as well as gyno, they stuck around for a bit after I stopped too, but also appreciate the majority of people don’t experience any and I am jealous of that! Definitely wouldn’t deter people from using it, if it works for you good on ya. I think the crusades come from the fervent denial that people experience in some forums about their negative experiences.
Who benefits? Social media influencers looking for click bait, ambulance chaser attorneys that will take any case, hair transplant surgeons looking to upsell to alternate procedures to name a few. Sure, some get side effects however the percentage that do has been way overblown. You know, like those who get autism from vaccines. Build it and they will come…put it on the internet and they will believe.
Finasteride is fine for some. bad for others. the end.
This is a third “Tom” FYI. He has posted many comments in the past (first one ever as “Nick” in October 2023).
Not sure why all 3 Toms are posting within the same few days, but I promise it is not a conspiracy by me!
Reminds me of that 80’s band: Tom Tom Club is an American new wave band founded in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth and as a side project from Talking Heads.
I agree with Tom.
Maybe same Tom, 3 different emails!
Not likely in this case, as I can see their past registered emails, IP addresses, language consistency etc…
BTW you changed your name from “M” to “Tom” today for some reason. Maybe you just wanted to be Tom number 4 to keep the game going. Your past comments are all reasonable so I hope you revert to “M”.
And here is another one … they’re spying on us, there’s no other explanation ;-)
https://calgaryherald.com/health/men/keenan-maybe-its-better-to-go-bald-2
Author “Tom” Keenan! Writing about Finasteride side effects in an article from today.
Insane coincidences.
It’s no coincidence… The Tom we were looking for couldn’t resist and came out into the open ;-)
We got you Tommy
On a more serious note, it would be great if “Nick” and “M” went back to using their old names.
Will do admin was just taking the piss! I respect your work and appreciate your effort!! Will keep Following this website until one day there is a real solution! Pints on me.
Thanks, I figured! These days, I am a wuss and try to drink mostly 12 ounce light beer bottles. US pint glasses are 16 ounces, UK are 20 ounces…if I am not mistaken.
Here is what I don’t understand. Pelage has something that really works! So far the only side effect is hair growth re-activation. Not systemic. It is a topical, no shots, transplants etc. So far passed safety test. They been studying and testing for 10 years. So what is the hold up. Fast track it for people over 40 but require them to get blood test every 3 months and let AI extract the data for 3 years. After 3 years using AI either kill it or approve it for all to use. It is ridiculous to require something that would benefit billions of people to go through 10 years of the FDA approval process which on average cost a billion dollars. FDA approve this topical so people can get off Finasteride and Dutasteride.
Huge things really do need to move faster. even the length of time between trials is ridiculous for most companies….but damn they approved those covid shots pretty quick didn’t they!