Uh, I think I've accidentally cured myself...

[Lucretia]

So, I don't think I'm crazy…the first few days I thought it was a fluke, but it's been close to a joyous month now, and I would say I'm about 98% "cured."

I've lurked here a couple of times before, so just wanted to toss this out in case anyone else wants to give it a shot…

I'm a 38 year old female, with palmar and plantar HH since the high school years. Have really only tried the iso-whatever machine, but gave up on it a decade ago. Drinking works, but staying drunk 24/7 would prove to be a career limiting move.

Here's the story -- androgenetic alopecia (female pattern baldness) runs in my family. My hair has been thinning for years, but I reached a point where it was getting really scary (great, a bald and sweaty woman. Sexy!)

In researching the hair loss thing, I found a fair amount of evidence that a lot of women with thinning hair have started taking saw palmetto. It has to do with making the body block naturally occurring testosterone from turning into DHT (which is the evil crap that sends signals for hair follicles to die).

Here's the catch…I've seen NOTHING online connecting saw palmetto and HH, but I have never in my miserable friggin' life gone this long with dry hands. It's not 100% gone, but for the last month it's been odd when it kicks up for a couple of minutes rather than the constant and steady flow to which I've become accustomed. And it was only a few days after taking it that I suddenly realized "hey, my hands and feet have been totally dry. WTF?"

Even my boyfriend noticed…he usually avoids my hands when we're cuddling, or he'll make a joke about it, or offer to get me a towel -- once he brought me a baggie full of surgical gloves to wear when he wanted to hold my hands (at least we're able to be playful about it, though it still sucks). The first weekend he was over after I started taking the saw palmetto, he said "you're all dry. Are you okay? Is something wrong? Are you sick?"

All of my skin has kind of been kind of itchy, so I don't know if it might be sucking all of the moisture out of me…but a little itching is FAR preferable to the misery of severe HH.

The only thing I've been able to find online that might serve as a connection to the HH is that saw palmetto has been used "to reverse hormonal imbalances." Now, I've never really landed on whether HH is just purely physical or psychological…I mean, it'll just start out of nowhere, for no reason, but then mine is exacerbated when I'm nervous, or think I'm going to have to shake someone's hands…but that could be hormonal stuff, right?

I know men have been using saw palmetto to promote prostate health…not sure how it works in that instance.

Anyway, just wanted to share, because I am flippin' overjoyed. I never thought I'd be fixed…and wasn't even looking for it when I started the saw palmetto-- but it's the only thing I've changed in my life/diet, so that HAS to be it. My particular dosage is 540mg per day…that just happened to be the random bottle I picked up off the shelf, so I haven't really researched if I should be taking more or less…

Any guys out there happen to be taking SP for prostate and find any accidental results on your HH?

Hope this works for someone else...

 

[oolceeoo]

Hey where can you get saw palmetto? Is it the extract that you use or the actual plant?

 

[Lucretia]

I hope I'm posting this right...

I just got mine at a Rite-Aid (drugstore) -- anywhere you find normal vitamins should have it. I think it is pretty common for prostate cancer prevention. My particular drug store had it in the Men's Health section, but they also had a different brand that was with all that brand's other vitamins. It's not in the "letter vitamin" section, but more with your echinacea type stuff.

Mine is GNC brand, because I figured they're pretty reliable for quality/purity, but I think any brand will do. Mine is just in a gelcap form...nothing fancy. That's half the beauty -- not only was it a total surprise, but one that doesn't require any craziness...

 

[fastball2929]

This is interesting stuff, but I'm sure we'd have to talk to our doctors about it first. I don't have prostate problems or anything like that, but if there aren't many side effects it would be much better than the dry mouth of Robinul.

 

[iDShaDoW]

Sounds good if it works.

You said it blocks testosterone though? Doesn't seem like something a guy would wanna be taking long-term lol.

 

[Lucretia]

Haha! I was just about to come back and post something saying "I don't want to sound like your mother, but be sure to read the warnings..." The itching is the only thing I've noticed, but I live in San Diego, and it can get so dry here that I can go through itchy spells anyway.

Here's a pretty comprehensive article from Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/saw-palmetto/NS_patient-sawpalmetto

 

[Lucretia]

Do your research from the male perspective, but I think it only blocks testosterone from becoming the evil DHT...it doesn't prevent the production of testosterone.

Hmmmm...just glanced over the article again, and it looks like there could potentially be issues, but hell, just counter it with a little Viagra (kidding, I imagine that stuff is pretty harsh on your body).

And it only says "difficulty with erections" -- maybe that means you'll live with one 24/7? DOWN, boy, DOWN! It also says "changes in sexual desire" -- does this mean you'll acquire a fetsh for people in chicken costumes?

I dunno, considering how quickly it kicked in for me, it might be worth a try for a couple of weeks...if you no likey, I would think the negative effects would go away at about the same rate the positive benefits came on...

 

[iDShaDoW]

Hmm looked at the link and seems from the way they word that that it would give a guy problems getting it up lol.

Also the Viagra, I think long-term that stuff does the same and you can't get it up without Viagra, especially if you use it when you're young and should have no problem with that.

 

[woofytalk]

How long will you be on palmetto for? It will be interesting to hear if the hyperhidrosis comes back after the you go off the meds.

If there's evidence to back your claim, maybe they'll develop a pill remedy for HH without the nasty side effects you mentioned.

Good Stuff!

 

[Lucretia]

Well, I'll have to stay on for at least 9 months to be able to tell if it's doing anything for my hair…but even if it isn't at that point, I'll keep taking it for the HH (provided it isn't making my organs fall out of my belly button or anything). For you male specimens -- maybe surf around some men's health boards to see how frequently saw palmetto actually causes erectile issues. You know how drugs and herbs are…they list every potential side effect, regardless of prevalence.

I've always been a little free and loose with my OTC pills. It's good for you guys to be careful about taking stuff long term, I've just always been a little Janis Joplin about the whole thing (three Aleves, a Sudaphed, some vitamins, and a Vivarin…wash down with coffee or vodka, depending on time of day. Yum!)

 

[cm123]

can anyone else verify this claim?

 

[Lucretia]

Like I said in my initial post, I wasn't able to find anything online...

Here's another long-ish article -- guys, this one seems to indicate it's been used to fix sexual dysfunctions!

http://www.herbs-hands-healing.co.uk/singleherbs/sawpalmetto.html

Again, there's a tie mentioned to hormones ...adrenal/endocrine...

But then there's this:
"In studies, scientists have analysed the chemical composition of Saw Palmetto in order to understand how it achieves its' therapeutic results. The berries have been shown to be composed chemically of compounds such as volatile oil and resin; bitter compounds such as saponins (sitosterols), and unidentified substances with antiandrogenic properties and mucilaginous compounds, including pectin.
Some of the effects of these ingredients are well-known. Volatile oil, for example is known to stimulate blood circulation and cause sweating."

???? Jesus, trying to find non-contradictory evidence on anything is maddening.

cm123 -- I recognize that Postsecret -- I'm a corporate drone by day, but a weekend artist, and Postsecret is one of my favorite regular stops. :}

 

[cm123]

ha yep from post secret! wasnt my submission tho. i really want to try saw palmetto, but would like someone else to try it aswell! I am a bit young and worried about the hormonal side effects....

 

[Lucretia]

gotcha. Not sure whether you're M or F, but anything you read about SP will tell females not to take it while preggers, nursing, trying to get preggers, etc. I've never had any interest in breeding, but if I did, the warnings are worded strongly enough that I wouldn't go anywhere near it - even if I didn't intend to breed for years into the future. Apparently you'll have Rosemary's Baby.

Whatever it is in saw palmetto that works on hair loss is the same chemical (or at least acts the same way) as the active ingredient in Propecia -- the men's hair loss medication. They say women of breeding age shouldn't even touch a broken Propecia pill, so it MUST have some pretty scary implications for a fetus. Your caution, especially if young and female, is merited.

 

[oolceeoo]

How long did you take it for you to notice a difference. I got some today and took 3 today and I notice no difference. Does it take a couple days or week to kick in?

 

[Lucretia]

ya know, I wish I knew exactly...because I wasn't looking for the effect, I wasn't paying attention. It seems like it was three of four days into it that I realized my hands/feet hadn't been freaking out. I might OCCASIONALLY go a day or (max) two without much of an issue, but anymore than that is unheard of. I would say it was absolutely no more than seven days.

Please be careful with your dosage...even though I'm all Janis-esque, more isn't necessarily better -- ESPECIALLY when introducing something new to your system. Start out with whatever the recommended dosage on the bottle is (mine is 540 mg once a day -- I figure different brands adjust that based on the strength of the extract they're using -- ie, how much it's "cut" with inactive ingredients).

 

[fastball2929]

How long did you take it for you to notice a difference. I got some today and took 3 today and I notice no difference. Does it take a couple days or week to kick in?

Jeez man, shouldn't you at least consult your doctor before popping in some pills that you don't even know how you'll react to?

 

[oolceeoo]

I've taken much worse in my time than saw palmetto and I'm still here standing.

I'll do whatever it takes to stop this damn sweating. Plus I don't have health insurance lol

 

[gg1101]

i have no health insurance. i've tried a lot of shit. i'll try this. i dont give damn. i'm 25. i take propecia to keep my hair. it doesnt make me not sweat, just not be bald.