If you’re wondering why natural DHT blockers are all the rage, that’s because it’s been conclusively proven that DHT is the main reason for male pattern baldness, as well as hair loss in women. Naturally this has led to the release of all kinds of products claiming to be the best treatment, but as you’ll see, the best blockers are the natural ones. Although synthetic drugs are available, the evidence shows that natural is still the best.

What is DHT?

DHT is produced by testosterone, to be specific in your prostate gland, testicles, adrenal glands and hair follicles, and the more DHT testosterone produces, the more vulnerable you become to hair loss. According to researchers, elevated DHT levels don’t just lead to hair loss as it also affects prostate function and muscular tone.

Given these facts it’s easy to see why men are on the lookout for the best DHT blocker shampoo. Before you buy one however, check the ingredients list and look for any of the following, as they have been scientifically verified and don’t have any of the DHT blocker side effects that come with synthetic drugs.

Beta Sitosterols

Beta sitosterols contain a special concoction of phytersterols with powerful anti-androgenic properties, which is critical for blocking existing DHT and preventing their transformation.

As testament to its potency, researchers have established that beta sitosterols have more sterols than saw palmetto, which is one of the most popular hair loss treatments today.

Aside from hindering the function of DHT, evidence indicates that beta sitosterols reduce your body’s cholesterol levels. That on its own is a good thing because high cholesterol leads to hypertension and all its health complications. But for the purposes of hair loss prevention, low cholesterol level is crucial because it inhibits DHT production.

To put it simply, low cholesterol = low DHT, and that is what makes beta sitosterols such a powerful blocker. However, the benefits of beta sitosterols go beyond that as it’s also being used to treat a variety of prostate related health problems. It’s worth noting that many of these health conditions are also due to high levels of DHT, which goes to show how important beta sitosterols are.

L-Lysine

Anyone who studies how to block DHT naturally is going to run into L-Lysine sooner or later. Technically speaking, this isn’t a DHT inhibitor at all, but researchers discovered that adding L-Lysine in hair loss supplements increases their potency. Exactly how this works is not yet clear, but study after study has shown that by adding this ingredient to a hair loss product, its efficiency is significantly increased. Not only does it slow down the hair loss process, but in many cases it’s actually reversed and hair starts growing again.

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto has been mentioned again and again, but there’s a reason for that, as few herbal medications have been as extensively studied as this. What health experts have learned is that saw palmetto has several active ingredients that block and otherwise inhibit the 5-alpha-reductase type II. Once the function of this enzyme has been stymied, it becomes harder for DHT to spread.

With a limited supply of 5-alpha-reductase type II, your body won’t have enough DHT for your testosterone to convert. Additional evidence for this was provided in the July 2010 issue of Advances in Therapy, where it was reported that low doses of saw palmetto were sufficient to block the enzymes responsible for producing DHT.

Green Tea Extract

Study after study has proven that green tea is a powerful antioxidant, promotes weight loss and now it’s also been demonstrated to foster hair growth.

What’s the secret? The secret is epigallocatechin-3-Gallate or EGCG, a substance that prevents DHT from forming.

Researchers had long suspected that one of the active ingredients in green tea was responsible, but it was only after work done by Harvard Medical School scientists –and published in The Journal of Nutrition- was it proven that green tea reduces testosterone concentration and DHT in the bloodstream.

This study was published in 2003, and six years later supporting evidence was established. In a study published in The Prostate, UK researchers announced that the EGCG in green tea leads to the reduction of DHT in cancer cells, leading to their demise. It’s for this reason why the substance is used in health supplements to fight off cancer.

Giant Dodder

In a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (September 7, 2008), researchers showed that this botanical inhibits DHT by blocking 5-alpha-reductase type II in your cells. The authors also stated that DHT conversion rates were prevented and in many instances led to hair regrowth. Make no mistake about it: while Giant Dodder is hardly mentioned when it comes to hair growth ingredients, it’s actually quite potent and worth looking into.

Pumpkin Seed

Pumpkin seed isn’t the first thing you think of when it comes to growing hair, but as it turns out it’s actually quite effective. Just how effective is it? Well, the German E Commission, the counterpart to the US FDA, announced that pumpkin seed can be used to treat prostate disorders because it has been proven to block DHT.

While the product has been approved for prostate treatment, the fact that it’s been proven to inhibit DHT means it’s just as potent for hair loss prevention.

Which Option is the Best?

So the question now is, which of the natural DHT inhibitors given above work best? The answer is they can all be beneficial but only to a certain extent. If you don’t want to wait and want to put an end to the hair loss process, check out Procerin, as it’s been developed specifically to block male pattern baldness and stimulate hair growth.

Unlike other natural DHT blockers, this product contains not just one or two natural ingredients, but a proprietary formula that tackles the problem of male pattern baldness head on. When applied according to the instructions, expect hair loss to come to a dead stop and at the same time your hair follicles will receive stimulation, leading to regrowth.