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Q. I have used Pycnogenol for almost two years. I tried it for horrible hot flashes and night sweats. I read that most women get results taking 200 mg, so I started with that dose. It did stop those symptoms, but it felt like I was trying to restart an old engine.
My periods had stopped nine months prior, and I started experiencing a lot of the unpleasant symptoms of my monthly cycle.
I dropped the dose to 150 mg and found that is a good dose for me. The flashes and sweats are not gone, but they are minimal and tolerable. Some recommend taking one mg/lb and since that is close to my weight, I guess that is right for me.
An unexpected and welcome side effect is that my asthma is so much better. I was on Symbicort, maximum dosage/highest strength, and could not wean myself off, no matter how slowly I tried. I would get down to a point, then have an awful flare-up and be right back where I started.
I realized my asthma was better after using the Pycnogenol for a short while and I tried to taper down again. This time I was successful, and I have never had to go back on the steroid since. I rarely have to use my rescue inhaler, either. It seems to take about 30 minutes for the Pycnogenol to get into my system. If my lungs feel a little tight, I make sure that I have taken the Pycnogenol first, wait if possible for it to work, then use the inhaler if I still need it. I hope this helps someone else.
A. Thanks for sharing your story. There is a randomized, controlled trial of Pycnogenol (French maritime pine bark extract) for symptoms of menopause. Many visitors to our Web site report symptom relief from this dietary supplement.
We also discovered research supporting Pycnogenol as part of an asthma treatment program (Journal of Asthma, Issue #8, 2004). Perhaps its anti-inflammatory action helps explain the benefits you have noted for your asthma.
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I also tried Pycnogenol for hot flashes and it seemed to decrease them quite a bit. Now that I have run out, they are getting bad again! I only took 50mg once a day which definitely does not correspond to my weight. I could increase the dosage by my symptoms are tolerable now, why push it! Thank you, People's Pharmacy once again.
My massage therapist sold me a bottle of Pycnogenol and recommended it highly for lowering cholesterol along with other benefits. I stopped taking it when I had to start taking coumadin for pulmonary embolism and also amlopodine for hypertension. Will it be safe for me to take it along with those drugs?
Thank you.
And thank you for your tremendous contribution to our health issues!
You can also get grape seed extract which has the same OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins) as Pycnogenol, and it's much cheaper. I have heard of a lot of benefits from Pycnogenol and I'm surprised it is not advertised as extensively as it used to be. It definitely helps to strengthen blood vessels, and is helpful for diabetes and arthritis.