Nature’s Alternatives to Finasteride: 3 Plant Extracts for Hair Loss

Udumbara Udumbara
Sep 9, 2025 - 09:58 Updated: Sep 8, 2025 - 12:42
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Nature’s Alternatives to Finasteride: 3 Plant Extracts for Hair Loss

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A common, inherited form of pattern hair loss called androgenetic alopecia is often treated with prescription medications such as finasteride. However, there are natural ways to treat the condition that come with fewer or no side effects.

As discussed in parts 1 and 2 of our hair loss series, sensitivity of scalp hair follicles to the male sex hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a primary driver of hair loss in most men and many women. 5-alpha reductase inhibitors—such as the popular drug finasteride—reduce DHT levels by blocking the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT.
A number of foods and plant extracts contain natural compounds that may also inhibit 5-alpha reductase. Among them, saw palmetto extract is the most well-known and widely used.

Saw Palmetto

“Saw palmetto, in essence, works in a similar way to what finasteride does,” Manish Mittal, a hair transplant surgeon in London and founder of Mittal Hair Clinic, told The Epoch Times.

Saw palmetto extract is derived from the berries of the saw palmetto tree, native to Florida. It inhibits 5-alpha reductase, the same enzyme targeted by finasteride, thereby lowering DHT concentrations.

Due to its anti-androgenic properties, saw palmetto has been used as an alternative treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is estimated that approximately 2.5 million American adults regularly use saw palmetto products—either orally or as topical formulations.
A 2023 study involving 80 adults with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia, also known as male-pattern baldness or female-pattern hair loss, found that taking saw palmetto extract orally or applying it topically daily for 16 weeks resulted in a 20 to 30 percent reduction in hair shedding and a 5.2 to 7.6 percent increase in hair density. Additionally, participants who took the extract orally showed a decrease in DHT levels.
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Significant changes in hair density occurred in the saw palmetto oral and topical extract treatment groups (left). Significant reductions in serum DHT levels occurred in the saw palmetto oral extract treatment group. The Epoch Times
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A 2020 systematic review of five randomized clinical trials and two prospective studies highlighted the positive effects of both topical and oral saw palmetto supplements in patients with androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium—common hair loss triggered by severe emotional or physical stress such as childbirth.

The analysis reported a 60 percent improvement in hair quality, a 27 percent increase in total hair count, and increased hair density in more than 80 percent of participants. Saw palmetto was also well tolerated and not associated with serious side effects.

Because saw palmetto is an herbal compound, large pharmaceutical companies are unlikely to fund studies directly comparing its efficacy to that of finasteride, Mittal said.

Dr. Jeremy Wetzel, a hair transplant surgeon at the Anderson Center for Hair, told The Epoch Times that he often recommends saw palmetto supplements to patients with male pattern hair loss who prefer not to take or apply pharmaceutical treatments.

“It is not as effective or as strong as finasteride, but it can help,” he said.

In addition to blocking DHT from binding to its receptors and promoting its breakdown, saw palmetto is also considered an adaptogenic herb—one that helps the body adapt to stress and enhances overall resilience. Being an adaptogen makes it particularly valuable for managing stress-related hair loss, according to Alexandra Roach, a board-certified holistic health practitioner, herbalist, and health writer for The Epoch Times.

Saw palmetto extract is typically obtained through hot water or CO₂ extraction, though the raw berries can also be ground into powder for use.

People can use saw palmetto tincture (an alcohol-based extract), preferably diluted in a small glass of water and taken after meals or before bedtime, Roach said.

To make a homemade saw palmetto tincture, use semi-fresh berries—those that are slightly wrinkled.
For saw palmetto hair oil, soak dried berries in a carrier oil—such as coconut oil—and let the mixture sit in direct sunlight for about a week before straining for use.  For the oil to be effective, consistent application is key, she said.

Pumpkin Seed Oil

Pumpkin seed oil is rich in free fatty acids, antioxidants, essential minerals such as zinc and selenium, along with vitamins and phytosterols. These compounds help inhibit 5-alpha reductase, thereby reducing DHT levels in the body. As a result, pumpkin seed oil—similar to saw palmetto—is widely used as a natural approach to managing BPH.
In a randomized controlled trial, participants taking 400 milligrams of pumpkin seed oil daily for 24 weeks experienced a 40 percent increase in hair count, compared to a 10 percent increase in the placebo group.
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Participants who took pumpkin seed oil had a 40 percent mean increase in hair count compared to 10 percent in the placebo group. The Epoch Times
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Pumpkin seed oil can also be used topically. A 2021 trial evaluated the effects of topical pumpkin seed oil versus 5 percent minoxidil for hair loss. The results showed that both treatments were effective, with 5 percent minoxidil proving slightly more potent.

Green Tea

Green tea leaf extract contains polyphenols, especially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG inhibits 5-alpha reductase and promotes hair growth by stimulating the proliferation of dermal papilla cells—located at the base of the hair follicle—and protecting them from death.
In a study using mice, after drinking water containing polyphenol extracts from green tea for six months, 33 percent of the mice had significant hair regrowth. No hair growth was observed among the mice that received regular water.
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In a controlled clinical trial published in 2023, 88 participants took a capsule containing three active ingredients—including green tea extract—daily for 24 weeks. The results showed a significant increase in hair density and thickening of hair strands.

In contrast, the placebo group experienced a decrease of about 1.5 hairs per square centimeter and a reduction in hair thickness of approximately one micrometer.

“Green tea extract may represent a promising natural approach for supporting hair growth due to its potent antioxidant properties, which help reduce free radicals.” Linda Sparks, a naturopathic physician, told The Epoch Times. Excess free radicals, also known as reactive oxygen species, can impair hair follicle development in the growth phase of the hair cycle.

While many studies utilized a combination of plant extracts and could not isolate the effects of green tea extract alone, the findings are noteworthy, she noted.

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