Best Natural DHT Blockers

For many men, male pattern baldness is a condition from which they suffer from without relief. Some consider balding a simple fact of aging, something that you just have to accept. Others, however, find it insufferable. It can feel debilitating, crippling self-esteem and giving a perception of hindered romantic and/or professional prospects.

Some men will go to great lengths to halt and reverse hair loss, spending inordinate amounts of money and causing significant amounts of stress. How much simpler it would be if you could just identify the many possibilities of natural remedies to preserve a youthful hairline!

Our top recommendation is NOW Foods’ Saw Palmetto supplement. However there are plenty of other options that we will detail below.

 

About DHT Blockers

To begin, whenever looking for a natural cure to an ailment, it’s important to understand what is causing the problem. When it comes to treating male pattern baldness this is part of the difficulty because the exact cause and circumstances surrounding hair loss is not fully understood. However one constant, common denominator behind male alopecia is high levels of DHT.

DHT stands for dihydrotestosterone. It’s a super-hormone that is converted from excess testosterone in the body by an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. This hormone has been found to be essential in the development of male sex organs in utero, as well as in the process of puberty in boys. It’s responsible in part for male body hair and the beginning of deepening in the male voice. Beyond puberty, however, it serves no necessary function in the body.

In the case of male baldness, DHT is often present in elevated quantities in the body, particularly in the scalp. The DHT bonds with hair follicles, resulting in the follicles shrinking, producing thinner hairs and remaining dormant more often than active, which limits the amount of hair that is growing and the possible length it could achieve. Eventually these DHT bound follicles will stop producing hair all together or reduce all follicles to the maximum production of soft ‘peach fuzz’.

When DHT is reduced in the body, follicles are no longer hindered from producing their original quantity and quality of hair. This is how DHT blockers are effective in correcting hair loss, and the primary function of the products on the market. Different DHT blockers do this in different ways. Some of them get rid of excess testosterone before it can be converted, others reduce the amount of 5-AR in the body or inhibit it from attaching to testosterone and converting it, and others eliminate DHT after it is made, whether from inside the body or out. Any of these methods is considered to be an effective DHT ‘blocker’.

An added bonus is that DHT blockers have also been shown to significantly increase prostate health, so a natural treatment for hair loss also works as a safe preventative for prostate problems.

DHT Hair Loss

The advantages of using a DHT blocker are also significant when you consider the potential risks of traditional over-the-counter hair loss medication. For instance, minoxidil is a common drug given to people looking to reverse hair loss, but it often has negative side affects such as severe skin sensitivity to sunlight and dry scalp. Its interaction with many other drugs over the long-term has also not been studied, which is a problem for a drug that needs to be taken over a lifetime to maintain results.

In addition, minoxidil is toxic to cats and can make pets sick if they are constantly exposed to it. The reliance on harsh chemicals is also something that many people just want to avoid for the obvious reason of unknown and possibly uncomfortable side effects.

Luckily there are safe and natural options for blocking this troublesome hormone.

Best DHT Blockers

Below you can find our list of the top 5 natural blockers available for sale:

ProductPriceRating /5
NOW Foods Saw PalmettoNOW Foods Saw Palmetto Extract$$$5
Swanson Pygeum BarkSwanson Pygeum Bark$$4.5
Swanson Pumpkin Seed OilSwanson Pumpkin Seed Oil$$4.5
NOW Foods Stinging Nettle RootNOW Foods Stinging Nettle Root Extract$$4.5
Nature's Way Gotu KolaNature's Way Gotu Kola Herb$$4

1. Saw Palmetto

Now Foods Saw Palmetto Extract

The berries from the Saw Palmetto plant have been used for centuries to help combat a variety of urinary and reproductive system problems. Saw Palmetto has been shown to reduce the ability of 5-alpha-reductase to convert testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, making it an effective blocker for DHT. This makes it one of the most popular and useful options both for regulating prostate health and reducing the effects of male pattern baldness. It’s use as an acne cure has also been suggested.

Raw saw palmetto also naturally contains high levels of beta-sitosterol, a chemical that lowers cholesterol and is also found to inhibit DHT.

These shiny berries can be found in many extract forms and are easily found at a health foods store either as a stand-alone supplement or in a mix. We recommend the NOW Foods brand.
 
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2. Pygeum Bark

Swanson Pygeum

The bark from this African pine tree is also well documented as a DHT inhibitor. In France, where some Americans go for surgery, this is the first line of defense against enlarged prostate. Because the prostate and male hair loss are so closely connected, this is also effective at reducing DHT in the body.

The bark can be found as a powdered tablet or combined with other natural blockers such as the Saw Palmetto berries. The bark is also considered an aphrodisiac to increase sexual function and health. Swanson’s Pygeum Bark is our brand of choice.
 
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3. Pumpkin Seed Oil

Swanson Pumpkin Seed Oil

If you want the easiest remedy to find in your local grocery store, then look no further than pumpkin seed oil. Pumpkin seed oil acts as a DHT blocker by breaking down existing DHT in the liver. While many other methods halt the production of new DHT, pumpkin seeds are one of the few natural options that eliminate the hormone when it is already present in the body. Raw pumpkin seeds are also rich in rare amino acids and plant steroids that are believed to help balance hormones in the body.

So when you see that hairline receding, try toasting up a couple batches of these for a delicious snack. Or if you can’t stand to crunch that many seeds, you can buy the pill form.
 
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4. Stinging Nettle Root

Now Foods Stinging Nettle Root Extract

The roots of this itch-causing plant can work wonders on all sorts of ailments. Among its long list of possible accomplishments is, you guessed it, a DHT blocker. It can help with many DHT related problems, such as enlarged prostate, frequent urination, etc. and works to combat shrinking follicles at the same time.

Stinging Nettle Root works both as an ingestible and topical remedy. Application to the scalp is shown to reduce built up DHT in the sebum around hair follicles, thereby releasing the follicles from the shrinking clutches of the hormone. But beware, traditional medicine has long considered ingesting large amounts of stinging nettle as a laxative. We recommend Now Foods Stinging Nettle Root Extract.
 
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5. Gotu Kola

Nature's Way Gotu Kola Herb

This Asiatic herb is a member of the carrot family and has been used in many traditional Indian and Indonesian medicines. Although not a true DHT blocker, it’s used both topically and by ingestion. And in conjunction with any of the above-mentioned blockers, makes a potent combo to fight hair loss.

Gotu kola is known to stimulate hair and nail growth, specifically increasing hair length and thickness. It’s also believed to contribute to longevity. Nature’s Way Gotu Kola is our brand of choice.
 
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Instead of taking the individual supplements, you can also try taking a vitamin that has them all together such as the Ultrax Labs Hair Rush Supplement. Their formula contains over 23 essential vitamins.

Conclusion

Blocking DHT is one of the safest and most effective methods of reducing hair loss. It’s inexpensive compared to surgical or prescription hair loss therapies and there are no known side effects. There are a variety of options of seeds and herbs to suit anyone’s accessibility and budget and they are effective! Whether you prefer a blend that combines all of these natural ingredients together, or respond best to one or two of them in particular, you have a great method for preserving your hair.

To further increase your chances of preserving your hair, we recommend that you also use a hair loss prevention shampoo.




Sources:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/68082.php

https://www.drugs.com/npc/saw-palmetto.html

https://www.drugs.com/npc/pygeum.html

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/stinging-nettle

https://www.drugs.com/npc/gotu-kola.html

http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-gotu-kola.html