The best medicines can come from unexpected places. Case in point: A new study published today finds that stevia—the natural sugar substitute—can potentially boost common hair loss treatments’ potency.

Scientists in China and Australia developed a dissolving patch that combines a sweetener derived from the stevia plant ( Stevia rebaudiana ) with topical minoxidil, the active ingredient in popular over-the-counter hair loss drugs like Rogaine. In tests with balding mice, the sweetened patch appeared to enhance minoxidil’s absorption into the skin and boosted its ability to restore hair.

“This work opens exciting possibilities for more effective and user-friendly treatments for hair loss,” study author Lifeng Kang, a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney’s School of Pharmacy, told

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