Hair Loss News

An Israeli company, Medidermis Ltd of Netanya Israel, has recently been issued a patent for a new hair loss product based on the ingredients Saw Palmetto and Swertia.

US Patent # 7,166,300 which was granted on January 23, 2007 is entitled: “Agent for inducing hair growth containing extracts of saw palmetto and swertia”.

Both Saw Palmetto and Swertia are plants whose extracts are often used in herbal treatments.  

Saw Palmetto is believed to be beneficial for hair loss because it blocks the androgen receptors where the DHT attaches to the hair cells in the follicle.   Saw Palmetto grows wild in the southern states of the USA like Florida.   Its berries contain the active ingredient that gives it the medicinal properties it has.

Swertia, also known as Chirata, Chirayta, Chiretta, Frasera, Green Gentian, Indian Balmony, Indian Gentian, Kirata-Tikta, Star gentian, Star Green-gentian, Green gentian, Felwort is indigenous to temperate Himalayas at altitudes above 4000 feet and is sometimes found in other parts of India.

Swertia is primarily used medicinally to treat intermittent fevers, skin diseases, intestinal worms, bronchial asthma, burning of the body and regulation of the bowels.

The patent claims that it has been discovered that the use of the mixture of extracts of saw palmetto and Swertia and its derivatives caused a surprising and unexpected synergistic effect on hair growth, even at minimal concentrations.

Their formula for inducing hair growth comprises; “a mixture of extracts of saw palmetto and swertia, or their derivatives, or of active components of said extracts in a concentration from 0.01% to 99.9% saw palmetto extract and a concentration of 0.001% to 20% swertia and in an internally ingested form selected from the group consisting of tablet, capsule, drops, and suspension.”

Its unknown how effective this remedy is and readers should bear in mind that patent approval does not necessarily prove that a product works, but merely that its application or formulation are unique and have not been created before.

Source: US Patent 7,166,300