There is no conclusive evidence which points to a natural cure for baldness. Therefore, it's important to keep in mind that while the nutritional supplements here are beneficial even the best natural hair loss treatments may not stop male pattern baldness nor reverse it by creating new hair growth.
Saw Palmetto Extract
Until recently, saw palmetto was considered a natural herbal remedy for men suffering from an enlarged prostate. Since saw palmetto works to alleviate enlarged prostates in the same manner as prescription finasteride, there has been a great deal of attention paid to whether it also has the same positive side effect as finasteride: cessation of hair loss.
Like finasteride, saw palmetto inhibits the production of dihydrotestosterone, a hormone which causes hair follicles in the scalp to shrink and eventually "choke" off future hair production, resulting in the death of the affected hair follicles.
Studies on the dihydrotestosterone-blocking effects of saw palmetto have not been conclusive enough to render it an equally effective substitute for finasteride.
Possible side effects of saw palmetto are similar to the side effects of finasteride: testicle pain, erectile difficulty and loss of libido.
Green Tea
A great deal has been written about the antioxidant properties of green tea, which is rich in antioxidants known as catechins. The popularity of the supposed health benefits of green tea is such that green tea extract pills are easily purchased without a prescription in most major chain supermarkets. But does it halt male pattern baldness? There is no conclusive evidence that it does. Supposedly, the catechins in green tea are effective at blocking the production of baldness-inducing dihydrotestosterone. Again, this is yet to be proven.
Caffeine
According to RXPG News, a study of the effect of caffeine on hair follicles performed at the University of Jena in Germany resulted in a 33 percent to 40 percent increase in hair length when extracted hair follicle scalp samples were exposed to caffeine for a period of eight days. Apparently, other hair follicle samples which were exposed to testosterone grew at a greatly reduced pace. The supposed hair loss-cessation benefits of caffeine are similar to the mechanisms involved with saw palmetto and green tea: the inhibition of dihydrotestosterone production.
As studies continue in an effort to determine whether caffeine truly prevents male pattern baldness, it doesn't mean that you should start drinking large amounts of coffee. If caffeine is, in fact, effective at slowing hair loss, it may be possible for it to be applied topically. Currently, there are a number of caffeine-laden shampoos and conditioners being introduced to the market.
Tags: , hair loss, , male pattern baldness, pattern baldness, conclusive evidence