8 replies to this topic

[Logan]

Should I be afraid to take Saw Palmetto?? Are people concerned about taking it for the same reasons they would not want to take Finasteride?

I'm just curious because I have some and just started taking it again-I'm 37.

[pycnogenol]

Should I be afraid to take Saw Palmetto?? Are people concerned about taking it for the same reasons they would not want to take Finasteride?

I'm just curious because I have some and just started taking it again-I'm 37.

Doesn't scare me one bit, I take it every day. I take the Jarrow Formulas supercritical brand of saw palmetto.

Why do you take it? What brand are you using? I take it for a slightly enlarged prostate condition confirmed
by ultrasound.

I've never taken finasteride.

Edited by pycnogenol, 06 January 2010 - 04:39 PM.

[Logan]

Should I be afraid to take Saw Palmetto?? Are people concerned about taking it for the same reasons they would not want to take Finasteride?

I'm just curious because I have some and just started taking it again-I'm 37.

Doesn't scare me one bit, I take it every day. I take the Jarrow Formulas supercritical brand of saw palmetto.

Why do you take it? What brand are you using? I take it for a slightly enlarged prostate condition confirmed
by ultrasound.

I've never taken finasteride.

I don't think I have any prostate issues yet. I'm mostly just taking it as a preventative measure and to possibly slow down hair loss. Not sure if it will be effective or not, just want to make sure that I'm not doing any harm by taking it. I take 320 mg in 2 doses, one morning and one evening. It also comes with stinging nettles extract 50mg, pumpkin seed oil 40 mg, pygeum africanum(bark) 10 mg, and Lyc-O-Mato 2.5 mg.

[pycnogenol]

You can read about saw palmetto and hair loss over at Ray Sahelian's site. In my experience, saw palmetto has not slowed down my hair loss. That's why I wear a ball cap.

http://www.raysahelian.com/saw.html

I take saw palmetto for prostate only.

Edited by pycnogenol, 06 January 2010 - 05:39 PM.

[Cappa]

As far as I know, there are no long-term studies demonstrating safety. I would not take Finasteride except only in severe, life-threatening cases after other alternative approaches have been exercised (alternatives including Saw Palmetto).

Anyways, DHT isn't the bad hormone that it's made out to be. If you're on TRT or something like that (especially Androgel), Saw Palmetto at a moderate dose might be acceptable if your DHT levels are out of hand. I wouldn't use it long-term for balding or anything like that (unless your levels are abonormally high), at least not in a high dose. If you're set on taking it, maybe take a low to moderate dose to slow things down a bit., but I would monitor your DHT and related hormones (before and during). DHT is important. Maybe do a lab, try it at a reasonable dose for a month or so, do another lab before discontinuing it and then do another lab a month after that. This way you'll have an indication if it has caused any persistent changes.

Edited by Cappa, 06 January 2010 - 05:45 PM.

[kenj]

I take saw palmetto (intermittently, for God knows how many years). Not dead yet..

[matthias7]

Nor I and I don't take it.

[Cappa]

Nor I and I don't take it.

On that same note, I've never taken it and my health is very good (also still alive), so maybe don't bother.

Edited by Cappa, 12 January 2010 - 08:18 AM.

[Omega 3 Snake Oil]

As far as I know, there are no long-term studies demonstrating safety. I would not take Finasteride except only in severe, life-threatening cases after other alternative approaches have been exercised (alternatives including Saw Palmetto).

Anyways, DHT isn't the bad hormone that it's made out to be. If you're on TRT or something like that (especially Androgel), Saw Palmetto at a moderate dose might be acceptable if your DHT levels are out of hand. I wouldn't use it long-term for balding or anything like that (unless your levels are abonormally high), at least not in a high dose. If you're set on taking it, maybe take a low to moderate dose to slow things down a bit., but I would monitor your DHT and related hormones (before and during). DHT is important. Maybe do a lab, try it at a reasonable dose for a month or so, do another lab before discontinuing it and then do another lab a month after that. This way you'll have an indication if it has caused any persistent changes.

I'm about to start Androgel. My free T is low (193) and my DHT is crazy high (over 8600). Estrogen is also low-ish. My doctor was hesitant to rx me the Androgel because of my propensity to convert to DHT. I have skin problems, muscle loss and low sex drive. I bought some Saw Palmetto but haven't taken it yet. Does anyone know if it's safe in a case like mine?