Saw Palmetto/Pygeum/Nettle Root

Saw Palmetto/Pygeum/Nettle Root contains per 2 capsules:
Saw Palmetto CO2 Extract 45%                        606mg
(Equal to 320mg of 85% Fatty Acids Extract)
Pygeum africanum Extract 4%                            250mg
(Equal to 100mg of 10% Phytosterols Extract)
Nettle Root Extract 20:1                                       200mg 
(A source of plant Phytosterols)

Independently tested for authenticity, potency, solvent residue, stability and bacteria, yeast and mold counts. 

Suggested Dosage:
2 capsules per day or as directed by your doctor.

Additional Information:

Women with PCOS tend to have higher levels of the male hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) than other women. DHT is the hormone partly responsible for male-pattern hair growth and male-pattern hair loss in women.

Saw Palmetto berry, pygeum and nettles each contain substances that inhibit the conversion of testosterone into DHT and thus have a dampening effect on DHT, a primary driver of male-pattern hair growth.

Pygeum contains substances that have been reported to work synergistically to reduce levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, and testosterone, excessive levels of which create problems for PCOS.

Saw palmetto is widely used for the treatment of enlarged prostate glands in men. It is thought that prostate glands become enlarged primarily because of a metabolite of testosterone, called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. Women with PCOS also tend to have higher levels of testosterone and DHT than other women. Therefore, what works for men may work for women.

Saw Palmetto Extract for Hirsutism

One of the most troubling symptoms of women with PCOS is hirsutism (too much hair, in the wrong places). Hirsutism is thought to be mostly due to excessive levels of androgenic hormones. Examples of androgens are testosterone, androstenedione, and DHEA.

Testosterone is the main androgen we’re concerned about. It’s normal for men to have a lot of testosterone and for women to have some. In both men and women, testosterone is converted into a more potent hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT is the hormone in your skin that stimulates hirsutism, which is male pattern hair growth. If you can reduce DHT, you may be able to reduce hirsutism (hair growing where you don't want it) or male pattern hair loss (restoring hair where you do want it).

Saw palmetto appears to reduce DHT in three different ways:
• Inhibits DHT production;
• Inhibits the binding of DHT to its cell receptors;
• Promotes the breakdown of DHT.

Testosterone is converted into DHT by an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. 5-alpha-reductase is inhibited by saw palmetto, and thus less DHT is produced and hirsutism may be reduced.

Saw palmetto may be helpful in another way. A high level of estrogen may inhibit the elimination of DHT. Some women with PCOS have estrogen levels that are too high. It is reported to have an anti-estrogenic effect, thus helping with the removal of DHT.

There have been many studies of men with testosterone disorders that demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of saw palmetto. There aren’t yet any studies of hirsute PCOS women. However, some clinicians using these herbs for PCOS are seeing consistently favorable results.

Saw palmetto may help with the following PCOS symptoms:
• Hirsutism (too much hair in the wrong places)
• Male pattern baldness or hair loss.

Is Saw Palmetto Similar to Anti-Androgenic Drugs?

Two drugs commonly prescribed for PCOS women are spironolactone (Aldactone), and finasteride (Propecia, Proscar).

Spironolactone is a diuretic that blocks two pathways to the production of androgens, or male hormones. One of those pathways is inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase. Spironolactone may cause irregular bleeding in some women, as well as nausea, indigestion or fatigue.

Propecia and Proscar inhibit 5-alpha-reductase and are used mostly for male pattern baldness and men with enlarged prostate glands.

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a review of studies that concluded saw palmetto was as effective as finasteride in the treatment of enlarged prostates.

Two advantages of saw palmetto are:
(1) it is free of side effects, and
(2) it is less expensive than the drugs mentioned above.

Saw Palmetto Side Effects and Precautions

No significant side effects have been noted in clinical trials with this herbal extract, except for rare headache or stomach upset if taken on an empty stomach.

Because of possible hormonal activity, it is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Drug Interactions

Palmetto berry constituents have alpha-adrenergic blocking activity that may alter the effects of these medications: prazosin, terazosin, doxazosin mesylate, and tamsulosin.  It may have an additive effect if taken with anti-androgen drugs that reduce the levels of male sex hormones, such as finasteride (Prosca, Propecia) or flutamide (Eulexin).  If you're taking these pharmaceuticals, consult with your doctor before taking saw palmetto.

How Much Should You Take?

Every women is unique, so the amount and form of saw palmetto you need won't be the same as for someone else.

As a general guideline, a common dose for men is 320 mg. of extract per day, standardized to at least 85-95% fatty acids with a guaranteed minimum of 0.2-0.4% sterols. ("Standardized" means you get the same amount of active ingredients every time). You may decide to start with a somewhat lower dose.

In men, it can be taken for six weeks before any effect is noticed. If improvement is noted, it is recommended that men take it continuously. Since you're trying to reduce DHT like the men are, you could do the same.

Note: The quality of botanical supplements varies widely. Don't buy any herbal or botanical product unless it has a "standardized" amount of the active component listed on the label. A "standardized" product has a consistent amount of active ingredients from one bottle to the next. If you buy a product that is not standardized, you have no clue as to what you are actually getting and may be wasting your money.