Saw Palmetto
A berry extract traditionally used to help maintain healthy DHT activity at the scalp. Concentration: 2% extract.
- Latin
- Serenoa repens
- Origin
- Ripe berries from Serenoa palms
- Process
- CO₂ supercritical extraction — solvent-free
- Dose
- Concentration: 2% extract
- Family
- Arecaceae (palm family)
- Part used
- Ripe berries (fatty acid extract)
- — Beta-sitosterol
- — Lauric acid
- — Oleic acid
- — Free fatty acids
About
A palm-berry extract rich in fatty acids and beta-sitosterol, traditionally used to help maintain healthy DHT balance at the scalp.
What it does
- Traditionally used to support healthy DHT balance
- Helps reduce the appearance of excess shedding
- Supports a healthy follicle environment
- Used in both men's and women's hair routines
How it works
Fatty acids and phytosterols are thought to interact with 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT.
By supporting normal DHT activity at the scalp, saw palmetto helps protect follicles from miniaturisation signals.
A healthier hormonal environment means fewer follicles are pushed prematurely into the shedding phase.
With consistent use, more follicles stay in the growth phase, supporting the appearance of density.
Saw palmetto is one of the most studied botanicals for pattern hair-loss support.
History & heritage
Serenoa repens is native to the Atlantic coast of the southeastern United States. The Seminole and other indigenous peoples of Florida consumed the berries for centuries as a food, tonic and remedy for urinary and reproductive complaints. European settlers noted its effects and by the late 1800s saw palmetto extract was a standard entry in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. Modern interest surged in the 1990s when European clinicians began prescribing standardised extracts for benign prostatic hyperplasia — and researchers realised the same 5-alpha-reductase pathway drives androgenetic hair loss.
Traditional uses through history
- 01Native American berry tonic for vitality
- 02European herbal treatment for prostate health
- 03Traditional support for male reproductive wellness
- 04Folk remedy for thinning hair at the crown
Saw palmetto is one of the few natural inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase — the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT is the primary androgen responsible for follicle miniaturisation in androgenetic alopecia. Randomised trials of topical and oral saw palmetto have shown modest but consistent improvements in hair count and density in men with early-stage pattern loss, without the systemic side-effect profile of pharmaceutical inhibitors.
How it actually works
Inhibits 5-alpha-reductase
Beta-sitosterol and free fatty acids competitively block the enzyme that turns testosterone into DHT at the follicle.
Protects follicle stem cells
Lower local DHT means less signalling for the follicle to shrink and shorten its growth phase.
Extends the anagen phase
By calming the miniaturisation signal, the growing (anagen) phase of each follicle lasts longer, producing thicker, longer strands.
Best for
Well tolerated topically. Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Speak to a clinician before combining with hormonal medications.
- — White Ginseng
- — Cantaloupe
