By skyforbes 
History
Saw palmetto has been known to have medicinal properties for years and years, dating back to the 1700s. It originates from the Southeast United States. Native to South Florida, saw palmetto was used by Native Americans to treat male urinary problems. By the late 1800s, saw palmetto was being used in the medical field for medicinal uses to treat a wide range of conditions.
In 1879 Dr. J.B. Read published a paper on the medical benefits of saw palmetto. In his paper he wrote “ By its peculiar soothing power on the mucous membrane it induces sleep, relieves the most troublesome coughs, promotes expectoration, improves digestion, and increases fat, flesh and strength. Its sedative and diuretic properties are remarkable.” It wasn’t until the 1900s that saw palmetto was used to treat prostate enlargement and used to combat DHT.
Fun Fact #1: Some Saw Palmetto plants growing in Florida are possibly as old as 500-700 years!
Saw Palmetto and DHT
In 1926, the first medical journal that mentioned using saw palmetto to treat prostate enlargement was published. Benign Prostate Hyperplasia, or BHP, is an enlargement of the prostate gland. Increased DHT is what causes prostate enlargement, and if you remember from previous blog posts, DHT is also what causes hair loss. 5-alpha-reductase is an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) naturally occurs in the body and builds up around the hair follicle, causing a blockage that is difficult for hair to grow through. Saw palmetto works to block the conversion of testosterone to DHT which in turn, inhibits hair loss.
Anatomy of Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is a fan palm with a petiole (stem that attaches the leaves) that contains sharp teeth. The plant also contains yellowish-white flowers and dark berries. Historically people opted for the berries from the saw palmetto plant to treat medical related issues. Today, here at Zenagen, we use all parts of the plant, especially the leaves. Saw palmetto leaves contain a plant-derived compound called isoflavones. This compound acts as a natural antioxidant that leads to anti-inflammation. We are also able to get plant sterols from the leaves, which is a group of plant substances that help assist in the appearance of thicker, fuller hair.