By Dr. Matsen/Irene Hayton

If you’re looking for a supplement that may help to: strengthen your immune system; improve your skin and circulation; reduce inflammation; and protect against stress, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other illnesses, then you may want to consider taking Pycnogenol®.

Pycnogenol (pronounced Pik-nah-jeh-nol) is a registered trade name of Horphag Research Ltd. It is a natural extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, which grows along the Bay of Biscay in south-west France. This large forest of millions of acres of this species of pine is the sole source of Pycnogenol, although many different companies sell this remarkable product.

Pycnogenol is a unique blend of bioflavonoids (particularly proanthocyanidins) not found in any other supplement. Bioflavonoids are plant compounds that provide many health benefits—they have been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antihistamine and anticarcinogenic effects.

The bioflavonoids in Pycnogenol make it a very potent antioxidant; that is, they neutralize harmful free radicals. Our bodies continuously generate free radicals as by-products of normal metabolism and immune function, exposure to toxins, exercise, etc. These unstable molecules cause damage our bodies by oxidizing cells and tissues. Free radicals are believed to play a major role in aging and in the development of many degenerative diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, atherosclerosis and others.

Research indicates that Pycnogenol may be the most powerful scavenger of free radicals compared to other antioxidants; for example, it has been found to be much more potent than vitamins C and E, CoQ10, grapeseed extract, and lipoic acid. Pycnogenol can also regenerate vitamin C, which can regenerate vitamin E, so that they can function longer in our bodies. Also, because Pycnogenol is a natural mixture of different types of antioxidants, it not only directly neutralizes free radicals, but it also stimulates our cells to double their antioxidative enzymes, unlike other antioxidants. And Pycnogenol is highly bioavailable, meaning that it is rapidly absorbed and distributed throughout the body.

In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, and thereby helping to reduce the aging process and the development of degenerative diseases, Pycnogenol has been found to have many other beneficial properties.

Circulatory System Effects

Pycnogenol protects the cells that line the heart and blood vessels from damage by free radicals.

  • It prevents blood platelet aggregation, protecting against blood clotting due to stress and smoking, and it dilates constricted arteries, thereby providing better circulation, helping to maintain normal blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
  • It helps maintain the health of not just our arteries, but all blood vessels, including the veins and capillaries. By improving venous health, Pycnogenol helps reduce the risk of varicose veins and edema. It strengthens capillaries and improves their permeability, so it reduces the tendency to bruise easily and it nourishes the skin.

Diabetes

This disease increases the production of free radicals, making it more important to include antioxidants.

  • Because of its positive effect on blood vessels, Pycnogenol improves circulation and reduces vascular fragility, which can be problems for diabetics.
  • It reduces the risk of retinopathy, which is another disorder associated with diabetes. It decreases the occurrence of micro bleedings in the retina and improves eyesight.
  • Over extended periods of time, Pycnogenol was found to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Effects on Skin
Besides enhancing blood circulation in capillaries, which supply the skin with nutrients, and protecting against free radicals, thereby preventing skin damage, Pycnogenol has other benefits for the skin.

  • It protects against photo-aging due to exposure to UV light from the sun.
  • It lightens up dark spots on the skin that are due to overpigmentation.
  • It binds and protects collagen and elastin—the proteins found in the skin—and it stimulates production of new collagen fibers, making the skin smoother, fuller, more flexible, tighter, and giving it a more vibrant glow.

Joint Health

  • Because collagen is also a component of the joints, Pycnogenol improves joint strength and flexibility.
  • It reduces inflammation by inhibiting the buildup of inflammatory cells and reducing the amount of circulating inflammatory substances in the blood.

Brain Function

In addition to protecting blood vessels, Pycnogenol can readily cross the blood-brain barrier (which prevents harmful substances from reaching the brain), thereby protecting brain cells, which may help to improve memory and mental function.

  • It helps improve the symptoms of ADD and ADHD.
  • Studies are being done to see if Pycnogenol has beneficial effects on Alzheimer’s disease.

Reproductive System Effects

  • The anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic effects of Pycnogenol help to diminish menstrual problems such as pain and cramping and reduce the pain experienced by women with endometriosis.
  • It increases fertility by preventing the destruction of sperm membranes and by improving sperm mobility and motility.
  • It relieves the symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

Eye Health

  • Pycnogenol improves visual acuity and may help to prevent the development of cataracts and retinal damage that can lead to blindness.

Hayfever, Asthma and Chronic Bronchitis

  • Pycnogenol blocks the release of histamine, which is released in response to allergens. Histamine results in allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and inflammation.
  • Its anti-inflammatory effects help asthma sufferers breathe more easily.
  • It inhibits the enzymes that contribute to the destruction of lung tissue in chronic bronchitis.

Other Benefits

  • Pycnogenol reduces stress by counteracting the effects of adrenaline, a stress hormone.
  • It improves athletic endurance, due to its powerful antioxidant properties because our bodies generate more free radicals when we use more oxygen.
  • It boosts the immune system.

Purity and Safety

Pycnogenol is a very pure natural nutrient complex. No pesticides or herbicides are used in the forest of French maritime pine trees and no solvents or additives are used during its extraction. And unlike most other natural products, Pycnogenol is very consistent in its nutrient makeup and potency from batch to batch.

Pycnogenol is one of the most well-researched natural supplements. Numerous clinical trials and scientific research articles have shown that, besides its many positive effects, it is safe and non-toxic. Consult with your naturopath to see if Pycnogenol would be beneficial for you (as with any supplement or medication, this is particularly important to do for pregnant women and children.)