For women, the problem can be triggered by hormonal changes such as pregnancy or the menopause. In men, it can be genetic or triggered by hormonal changes too.

As many as two in three men are likely to experience some degree of baldness and about 85% of men will have noticeably thinning hair by the time they are 50.

As hair loss or thinning is so common, there are plenty of ways in which to treat it. However, many people do not want to take medication because of possible side-effects, especially if they are already taking other prescription drugs; and hair transplants or laser treatment can be expensive.

So it little wonder that many people will try herbal remedies such as supplements or shampoos. One popular supplement is saw palmetto, which is suitable for vegetarians, or Minoxidil liquid which aids re-growth.

Minoxidil-Direct sells saw palmetto extracts to support healthy hair, prostate and urinary function. The Saw Palmetto Standardised Extract 320mg dietary supplement is carefully designed so that each softgel has 85% to 95% fatty acids and active sterols to guarantee bioactivity.

The Saw Palmetto Complex also contains lycopene and pumpkin seeds to promote prostate health.

Saw palmetto is a plant bearing red berries which is found in the south-eastern United States along the Gulf Coast of Mexico. It is these berries which are used in medicine to treat several conditions including enlarged prostates, prostate infections, colds, coughs, sore throats or migraines. It is also used to help people relax or as an aphrodisiac to boost sex drive.

The Native Americans have been using saw palmetto for food and medicine for many hundreds of years. They would dry the berries and grind them before infusing in teas or ointments. They would apply the resulting product to the hair to strengthen it or take it orally in a bid to prevent baldness.

They believed that saw palmetto suppressed the hormone which caused men to go bald. Research supports this, showing that saw palmetto berry extract can block the enzyme which converts testosterone to DHT, which is responsible for hair loss.

As with any product, if you are planning to take saw palmetto to treat hair loss or thinning it is always advisable to consult with your doctor.

Although taking saw palmetto is considered to be safe, there can be some side effects although these are very rare. They include mild headaches or stomach aches. It is also possible that the supplement may thin the blood and so it should not be used with other blood-thinning medication such as aspirin. You should also let your doctor or surgeon know that you are taking saw palmetto if you are due to have an operation.