It is summer “cold” season. A fever in the winter is
bearable but a fever in the summer heat it is hideous. My favorite herb for
colds and flu is pine bark.
The active ingredient in French Maritime Pine Bark is pycnogenol. Pycnogenol
is any group of flavinoids (chemical molecules) extracted from pine bark.
Pycnogenol® has become the registered trademark of supplements made from French
maritime pine trees.
A French explorer discovered the benefits of French maritime
pine bark extract in the 1500′s. The largest maritime pine trees forest is
located in southwestern France near the Bordeaux region. This forest plantation
dates back to the times of Napoleon III. The maritime pine tree can be found
throughout parts of Spain, Italy, Morocco and Portugal. In the 1950′s Jacques
Masquelier began to seriously research beneficial properties of pine bark.
French maritime pine bark (pinus pinaster) comes from trees that grow in the Landes Forest of
southwestern France. It should not be confused with White Pine Bark (pinus
strobes). White pine is also known as: Eastern
White Pine, Northern White Pine, Pumpkin Pine, Soft Pine, Deal Pine, Weymouth
Pine, Pin du Lord, and Pinus Alba. The White Pine is an evergreen conifer native to eastern North America and has been cultivated throughout
Europe. Medicinal White Pine Bark comes from the inner bark of the White Pine
tree, or from young shoots and twigs. The bark is dried, and then used in
powdered form, tea, syrups, as a poultice, and in capsules.
I have never used White Pine as an herbal medicine. I am however a true believer in French Maritime Pine Bark, Pycnogenol. It helped me with a terrible case of bronchitis and a sinus infection.
The makers of Pycnogenol®, French maritime pine bark (pinus
pinaster), follow good agricultural
practice (GAP) and good manufacturing practice (GMP). This means there is
absolutely no application of pesticides to pine trees or use of toxic solvents
during the manufacture.
French maritime pine bark (pinus pinaster), Pycnogenol has been researched extensively. It is
used for treating circulation problems, allergies, asthma, ringing in the ears,
high blood pressure, muscle soreness, pain, osteoarthritis, diabetes, attention
deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a disease of the female reproductive
system called endometriosis, menopausal symptoms, painful menstrual periods,
erectile dysfunction (ED), and an eye disease called retinopathy.
Pycnogenol is used to slow the aging process, maintain
healthy skin, improve athletic endurance, and improve male fertility. It is
also used for preventing disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including
stroke, heart disease, and varicose veins. Anti-aging” products contain
pycnogenol.
Two capsules are taken 2 hours before the flight and then
again 6 hours later. Also, taking pycnogenol 100 mg before a flight, 6 hours
after the flight, and the following day appears to reduce the risk of blood
clots forming in the veins during long flights, and once the next day reduces
swelling and ankle swelling.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center website tells us
Pycnogenol is derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree. Studies
have displayed effectiveness in treating many inflammatory conditions, skin
disorders, and poor blood circulation. Pycnogenol has antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties. It is effective in treating erectile dysfunction
when used in combination with L-arginine. Recent animal studies show pycnogenol
exhibits protective effects against cardiac toxicity caused by the chemotherapy
drug doxorubicin, however human data is needed.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering website reports the primary
constituents of pine bark extracts are procyanidins and phenolic acids. Pine
bark extract acts as an antioxidant by increases the activities of antioxidant
enzymes and by increasing the intracellular glutathione levels. It inhibits
production the proteins that cause inflammation and atherosclerosis.
An in vitro (in the test tube) study suggests that
Pycnogenol induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells causing them to die.
Other in vitro studies show it reduces neuronal apoptosis (neuron death), an
important factor of Alzheimer’s disease.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Scientific research has studied the following dosages by
mouth:
For allergies: 50 mg twice daily.
For asthma in children: 1 mg per pound of body weight given
in two divided doses.
For poor circulation: 45-360 mg daily, or 50-100 mg three
times daily.
For diseases of the retina, including those related to diabetes:
50 mg three times daily.
For mild high blood pressure: 200 mg of pycnogenol daily.
For improving exercise capacity in athletes: 200 mg daily.
Special precautions & warnings:
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center tells us pycnogenol is
effective for treating allergies, however for some people pyncogenol is
actually an allergen. Some rare and possibly fatal allergies can develop. Signs
of an allergic reaction to including wheezing or shortness of breath, rash,
chest pain, and swelling of body parts including the face, hands or feet.
If pregnant or breast-feeding pycnogenol should be used
cautiously or avoided as there is not enough available research. It may be safe
for children when taken by mouth, short-term. If you have an autoimmune disease
it’s best to avoid using pycnogenol. High doses of pycnogenol might increase
the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding conditions. High doses of
pycnogenol might decrease blood sugar too much in people who are taking
diabetes medication. Stop using pycnogenol at least 2 weeks before a scheduled
surgery as it might increase the chance of bleeding during and after surgery.
Because pycnogenol increases the immune system it might
decrease the effectiveness of medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants).
Avoid taking pycnogenol with aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix),
dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid),
warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Avoid taking pycnogenol with herbs and supplements that can
lower blood sugar such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, devil's claw, fenugreek,
garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng,
and others.
Avoid using pycnogenol with herbs that slow blood clotting
such as angelica, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, and
others.
http://www.pycnogenol.com/
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/pine-bark-extract
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