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Saw palmetto

Also called: Serenoa repens

A palm berry that may lower the effect of androgens (male-type hormones). In women, it is sometimes used for androgen-related hair thinning or PCOS, but evidence is limited.

Supplements can interact with medications and aren't right for everyone, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with a chronic condition. Ask your provider before you start.

Studied for

  • Hair thinning linked to androgens (female pattern hair loss)
  • PCOS-related symptoms such as excess hair growth (limited evidence)
  • Acne linked to androgens (limited evidence)

Found naturally in

  • Saw palmetto berries, from a palm native to the southeastern US
What variations of saw palmetto exist?Our top pick, what to skip, and how to read the label

Label red flags

  • No fatty acid or sterol standardization listed
  • Hair blends with undisclosed amounts

Check with a provider

  • Pregnancy, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding. Its anti-androgen effect could affect a developing baby.
  • Taking hormonal birth control or hormone therapy
  • Taking blood thinners, or planning surgery
  • Hair loss that is sudden, patchy, or new. Get it checked first, since thyroid, iron, and autoimmune causes are common.

Supplements that contain it

2 products in Dr. Lesher's dispensary list saw palmetto on the label.

Check with your provider before taking any of these, especially if you're pregnant or take medications.

Parts of the body it affects

Explore what each area does and the conditions that can affect it.

Close-up of a hair follicle in the skin, showing the hair shaft, root and bulb, an oil gland, and blood vessels

Hair

Hair is often one of the first places to show what's happening inside the body. Changes in shedding or thickness can point to nutrient, thyroid, hormone, or autoimmune causes.

Illustration of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries

Reproductive organs

Your ovaries and uterus shape your cycle, fertility, and hormones. Sex hormones also influence the immune system, one reason autoimmune disease is more common in women.

Illustrations: Servier Medical Art, CC BY 4.0

Dr. Lesher, ND

Ready to find the root cause?

Dr. Lesher is a Naturopathic Doctor who focuses on autoimmune and chronic conditions in women. Since 2020, she's helped hundreds of patients stop managing symptoms and start healing.

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