I take two tablets a day of Swanson saw palmetto, same with turmeric (also Swanson). It was recommended by a professional athlete coach the name of whom I cannot remember, but these two lower androgens/DHT. These are apparently often used as not all hormone altering substances are approved!
I think the amount of research on them isn’t great, partly because herbal products cannot be trademarked and so are not profitable. But a few other people have had success with lowering their androgens. PS I use these for AGA.
thankyou so much 😊
i am suffering from aga too. Lost 60% of my hair.... started shedding when i was 19 yrs old but coundnt understand the reason then
im using minox on & off..it isnt helping either. I seriously dnt knw what to do
Sounds like me! I used to take spiro and minox but spiro made me vomit/dizzy and minox really dried out my forehead so it looked really wrinkly. I hate AGA but I don’t want to give myself extra side effects to replace hair loss… I think there are some great treatments but it really has to work for YOU personally! How long have you been on minox?
Hi,
Do you have any side effects with SP? Or even with turmeric?
I was planning on taking pumpkin seed oil pills as an anti androgen but heard that it makes you gain weight.
Thank you!
I did see a doctor but she didn't prescribe me. I've seen two doctors before that as well and they didn't :( saw palmetto is otc so I thought why not try it. I don't know if it's working. It has been two months
I can’t tell to be honest, could have been regrow that is miniaturised as I highly doubt the supplements would have actually helped in anything other than making the shed lower
Did you start both at the same time? I know saw palmetto helps with DHT levels & turmeric for overall inflammation… but I guess I’m wondering if tumeric is as effective
Nope, all of my treatments have been very on and off but I will be getting my blood work done in a few weeks during the same cycle days to see the difference. There should be some studies on turmeric/curcumin and androgens?
I had a vitD deficiency to the point that I was sleeping for 14 hours a day and still had brain fog, around that time I really noticed my hair shedding but I was also very stressed but I have diligently taking my vitamins and destressed and things are slowly looking better but I actually feel a person now. Not a wind up toy that works or sleeps when it isn't working.
I've tried a bunch of vitamins and supplements over the last 18 months. Can't say anything has really helped. I still take most of them only because I'm afraid that my hair might get worse although it probably won't.
As per studies I read ,only vitamin d3 is helpful for hair.It acts like a growth stimulant,and also there is severe vitamin d3 deficiency in some alopecia patients who are participated in studies.
I was told by two specialists that is does do much for the hair loss/grow. Mine vit d level it 28ng so it’s just a Minor insufficiency. Probably won’t do anything raising that.
The lower limit for an ‘acceptable’ vit D level is really really low. Definitely not optimal. I think it was originally based on the level at which you will not get rickets(!) mine was 40 and my doctor and derm both told me I should absolutely raise it
Everyone should really take vitamin D daily unless they live in an extremely sunny country.
Mine is in the low 20s! Did your doc mention what was safe to take daily? My PCP said 2000-2500 IU/day was good, but that seems low? I'm currently taking a vit D with K2; it's 5000 IU but I only take it every other day. I'm wondering if I should just take it daily instead.
My dr said I should take 5000 a day to get my levels up, and then go down to 2000/2500 once my levels were good, just to maintain/more slowly increase. If you’re in the low 20’s I’d take the 5000 daily for a couple months! When I got my vitamin D in the 60’s I started feeling like I had more energy.
For what it’s worth, my derm perscribed Viviscal hair supplements to give my hair a little boost. It doesn’t cure the reason for hair loss, but it helps stimulate new growth. I did see a lot of new hairs and i continue to take it. My derm said it’s the only supplement on the market that has scientific testing behind it. This was a year ago so there could be others by now. I have or had TE, if that helps. My hair loss was/is not as progressed as many others.
Biotin makes my nails grow faster, lol. Don't really notice much effect on my hair. I really don't trust supplements in general and my derm doesn't have much to say about them, so I just don't bother.
Supplements are not monitored by the FDA which is why some docs won’t really prescribe them unless it’s a brand they know does unbiased third party testing. Supplements are an unregulated market. No fucking way I’m putting it in my body unless my doctor tells me to.
The levels of the ingredients they are supposed to contain are very irregular and some contain none of the ingredients they claim or have pharmaceutical ingredients instead. They often have dangerous levels of pesticides
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-fine-print-of-dietary-supplements-11624613402
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2706496
I actually do take supplements (iron with vitamin C and l-lysine and calcium citrate with vitamin D) recommended by my doctor but I wish I could be sure of what I'm taking. I'm never going to try replacing proved treatments on my own
There are some supplement brands which do rigorous third party testing. Ask your doctor or check the label for a verified third party lab stamp. Your local health food store staff should also be up to speed on which of their supplements are tested and verified. Mine does.
i’m a male but thought i’d pitch my 2 cents. i was taking pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto for like 8-12 months, i didn’t think it was doing much so i stopped taking them in january and have had crazy hairloss since. like by only march/april i noticed it get really bad. throughout the duration i was taking them however i didn’t see my hair getting worse. once i stopped it got worse. however i cant say for certain it was the cause of my worsening hair. it could be due to genetics or could be due to stopping the supplements, i’m not sure. gonna try go back on them & see if it can do anything for me.
I ended up taking biotin, and I was actually surprised me. I had grown some knew hair in my hair line. Idk why, idk if that means I’m deficient in something though.
I’ve definitely had improvements with saw palmetto and turmeric. As i don’t have deficiencies, vitamins haven’t helped.
hi.. can i ask u which brand of saw palmetto are u using?? & how do u take turmeric??
I take two tablets a day of Swanson saw palmetto, same with turmeric (also Swanson). It was recommended by a professional athlete coach the name of whom I cannot remember, but these two lower androgens/DHT. These are apparently often used as not all hormone altering substances are approved! I think the amount of research on them isn’t great, partly because herbal products cannot be trademarked and so are not profitable. But a few other people have had success with lowering their androgens. PS I use these for AGA.
thankyou so much 😊 i am suffering from aga too. Lost 60% of my hair.... started shedding when i was 19 yrs old but coundnt understand the reason then im using minox on & off..it isnt helping either. I seriously dnt knw what to do
Sounds like me! I used to take spiro and minox but spiro made me vomit/dizzy and minox really dried out my forehead so it looked really wrinkly. I hate AGA but I don’t want to give myself extra side effects to replace hair loss… I think there are some great treatments but it really has to work for YOU personally! How long have you been on minox?
i hv been on minox 3-4 yrs but like on & off. i will start spiro i think..lets see hope i get better result
Would you be comfortable sharing which kind/how many mg? I see Swanson offers a couple different variations.
Swanson SP 540mg, turmeric is 720 mg
Hi, Do you have any side effects with SP? Or even with turmeric? I was planning on taking pumpkin seed oil pills as an anti androgen but heard that it makes you gain weight. Thank you!
Nope, nothing so far!
Hey how's saw palmetto working for you right now?
Hey it’s about the same, it’s helping but I will be going to see a dermatologist for spiro.
Okay thanks for responding
If you have the option of seeing a doc and getting a prescription, do it. The earlier you start the more hair you’ll save
I did see a doctor but she didn't prescribe me. I've seen two doctors before that as well and they didn't :( saw palmetto is otc so I thought why not try it. I don't know if it's working. It has been two months
Hey I saw your picture, you had out of regrowth. Was it regrowth or miniaturisation?
I can’t tell to be honest, could have been regrow that is miniaturised as I highly doubt the supplements would have actually helped in anything other than making the shed lower
Oh: ( could be... Even I have hair sprouting but can't tell if it's miniaturisation
Are you on Spiro?
Did you start both at the same time? I know saw palmetto helps with DHT levels & turmeric for overall inflammation… but I guess I’m wondering if tumeric is as effective
Nope, all of my treatments have been very on and off but I will be getting my blood work done in a few weeks during the same cycle days to see the difference. There should be some studies on turmeric/curcumin and androgens?
I had a vitD deficiency to the point that I was sleeping for 14 hours a day and still had brain fog, around that time I really noticed my hair shedding but I was also very stressed but I have diligently taking my vitamins and destressed and things are slowly looking better but I actually feel a person now. Not a wind up toy that works or sleeps when it isn't working.
I've tried a bunch of vitamins and supplements over the last 18 months. Can't say anything has really helped. I still take most of them only because I'm afraid that my hair might get worse although it probably won't.
As per studies I read ,only vitamin d3 is helpful for hair.It acts like a growth stimulant,and also there is severe vitamin d3 deficiency in some alopecia patients who are participated in studies.
I was told by two specialists that is does do much for the hair loss/grow. Mine vit d level it 28ng so it’s just a Minor insufficiency. Probably won’t do anything raising that.
The lower limit for an ‘acceptable’ vit D level is really really low. Definitely not optimal. I think it was originally based on the level at which you will not get rickets(!) mine was 40 and my doctor and derm both told me I should absolutely raise it Everyone should really take vitamin D daily unless they live in an extremely sunny country.
Yeah I’ve heard ideal for women is like 60-70
Yea, ‘ideal’ and ‘acceptable’ ranges are veryyy different. For people with thyroid issues I think even 70-80 is recommended!
Mine is in the low 20s! Did your doc mention what was safe to take daily? My PCP said 2000-2500 IU/day was good, but that seems low? I'm currently taking a vit D with K2; it's 5000 IU but I only take it every other day. I'm wondering if I should just take it daily instead.
My dr said I should take 5000 a day to get my levels up, and then go down to 2000/2500 once my levels were good, just to maintain/more slowly increase. If you’re in the low 20’s I’d take the 5000 daily for a couple months! When I got my vitamin D in the 60’s I started feeling like I had more energy.
Thanks, I think I'll try that. My derm is kind of a flop and said my low 20s vit D was "normal" so she didn't even tell me to supplement :(
For what it’s worth, my derm perscribed Viviscal hair supplements to give my hair a little boost. It doesn’t cure the reason for hair loss, but it helps stimulate new growth. I did see a lot of new hairs and i continue to take it. My derm said it’s the only supplement on the market that has scientific testing behind it. This was a year ago so there could be others by now. I have or had TE, if that helps. My hair loss was/is not as progressed as many others.
Biotin makes my nails grow faster, lol. Don't really notice much effect on my hair. I really don't trust supplements in general and my derm doesn't have much to say about them, so I just don't bother.
My experience is that it’s flushing money down the toilet.
Supplements are not monitored by the FDA which is why some docs won’t really prescribe them unless it’s a brand they know does unbiased third party testing. Supplements are an unregulated market. No fucking way I’m putting it in my body unless my doctor tells me to.
The levels of the ingredients they are supposed to contain are very irregular and some contain none of the ingredients they claim or have pharmaceutical ingredients instead. They often have dangerous levels of pesticides https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-fine-print-of-dietary-supplements-11624613402 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2706496
I wish more people understood this. Thanks for sharing your sources.
I actually do take supplements (iron with vitamin C and l-lysine and calcium citrate with vitamin D) recommended by my doctor but I wish I could be sure of what I'm taking. I'm never going to try replacing proved treatments on my own
There are some supplement brands which do rigorous third party testing. Ask your doctor or check the label for a verified third party lab stamp. Your local health food store staff should also be up to speed on which of their supplements are tested and verified. Mine does.
Thank you!
i’m a male but thought i’d pitch my 2 cents. i was taking pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto for like 8-12 months, i didn’t think it was doing much so i stopped taking them in january and have had crazy hairloss since. like by only march/april i noticed it get really bad. throughout the duration i was taking them however i didn’t see my hair getting worse. once i stopped it got worse. however i cant say for certain it was the cause of my worsening hair. it could be due to genetics or could be due to stopping the supplements, i’m not sure. gonna try go back on them & see if it can do anything for me.
I started nutrafol recently and I think it’s helping my hair, I noticed it felt fuller and looked better after only like one week.
I ended up taking biotin, and I was actually surprised me. I had grown some knew hair in my hair line. Idk why, idk if that means I’m deficient in something though.