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Q. I have read in your column that Pycnogenol may be helpful for hot flashes. Now a major warehouse club is selling it as a powerful antioxidant that is supposed to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, osteoarthritis, skin care, asthma and allergy relief and diabetes. Has any of this been proven? Are there any health risks associated with its use? I love your columns and cut them out weekly to give to friends, family and co-workers.
A. To our surprise, there are studies suggesting that Pycnogenol, extracted from French maritime pine bark, is better than placebo in making blood vessels more flexible (Hypertension Research, Sept. 2007), improving blood sugar control and reducing cardiovascular risk factors (Nutrition Research, May 2008) and reducing knee pain from osteoarthritis (Phytotherapy Research, August 2008). Any uses it may have for skin care or asthma and allergy relief still seem fairly speculative. Side effects are uncommon, but it may interact with important immune-suppressant drugs such as cyclosporine, CellCept, tacrolimus, sirolimus or prednisone.
We are pleased you enjoy the columns. We are sending you a copy of our book, Favorite Home Remedies From The People's Pharmacy, with many amazing stories contributed by our readers. It is available online at www.peoplespharmacy.com.
What is "Pycnogenol"?.. Can it be purchased over-the-counter or is it prescribed? I have painful knee problems and would like to give it a try. Hope to receive an answer by E-mail. Thanks.
A couple years after I retired my cholesterol level for the first time was a little higher than it should be. I started taking Pycnogenol (brand: Nature's Life).
When I had it tested again 6-months later I was back to a normal level. A couple years later when I moved to another town my routine was different and I was only taking the Pycnogenol maybe once a week ... level back up ... since then I am careful to make sure I take it daily... level back to normal. I don't think Pycnogenol works for everyone but it does for me. I make sure I always take the same brand.
I've also had great results with Nature's Way products. And the benefits of Pycnogenol (including stronger blood vessels) can also be achieved with grape seed extract, which is generally less expensive. Both products are a great source of antioxidants. I believe the explorer Jacques Cartier actually used pine trees as a source of vitamin C to prevent scurvy!
Both products definitely work well to control or eliminate my asthma symptoms, but more as part of a comprehensive supplementary arsenal. If you continue to eat inflammatory foods (like white flour and sugar), obviously you will keep getting inflammatory symptoms.
You might also want to try cherries and ginger for pain/inflammation relief. Since discovering ginger beer years ago, I drink just a bit every day at night for a tonic. Americans would do well to emulate the majority of the world's embrace of healthy natural medicine, rather than continue down the dead-end path of drug destruction!
Pychogenol is available at GNC stores and also at many drugstores in the vitamin, etc. area. It may be available at your grocery store pharmacy as well. It is not prescription. Jo