Benefits of Pine Bark
A potent antioxidant, pine bark extract was originally used by indigenous people of North America and Asia as a medicinal herb. French expeditioner Jacques Cartier, who claimed Canada for France, reportedly used pine bark extract in 1535 during his expedition as a treatment for scurvy, a condition due to insufficient levels of vitamin C intake.
Benefits of Pine Bark Extract
Helps the body regenerate vitamin C.
Reduces risk of cataracts.
Improves heart health and blood pressure control.
Helps reduce varicose vein swelling.
Antiplatelet properties help keep platelets from sticking together (similar to aspirin, fish oil and krill oil).
Protects against hay fever, allergies, and lung disease.
Reduces joint inflammation due to arthritis.
Reduces menstrual disorders.
Improves memory function.
May help improve fertility by improving sperm quality.
Appears helpful for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Improves immune system function.
Helps with wound healing and reduces skin bruising.
Provides anti-aging benefits due to its protection against free radicals with benefits for the skin’s collagen and elastin.
Safety
There are no known safety issues with pine bark extract. However, pregnant women and small children should always consult with their healthcare provider before taking any supplements. Also, if you are taking blood thinners, consult with your physician first.
An Effective Antioxidant
Pine bark extract is a safe and effective antioxidant that should be considered with any routine vitamin and supplement regimen.
(https://ca.iherb.com/blog/14-health-benefits-of-pine-bark-extract/273)
Further Benefits:
Pine bark extracts contain procyanidins, which have antioxidant properties. Various formulations using different species have been marketed. The amounts of procyanidins vary and are often promoted for use in chronic conditions.
Preliminary clinical data suggest it may:
A pine bark extract formulation:
Improved oxidative stress and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal osteopenic women (39).
Improved nutrition and clinical status in critically ill patients (40).
Other data suggest pine bark extract may improve:
Hyperpigmentation (11), erythema (12), and symptoms of endometriosis (13) and lupus (14).
Endothelial dysfunction (2) (33) and chronic venous insufficiency (5).
Pycnogenol may:
Enhance memory in elderly participants (7),
Studies in adults and children with ADHD yielded mixed results (3) (4) (42).
When used in conjunction with L-arginine, pycnogenol improved erectile dysfunction symptoms (18) (29).
Preliminary data suggest pycnogenol may:
Reduce some adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (30), but further research is needed. Systematic reviews have concluded that evidence is insufficient and that large-scale studies are required to establish the value of various pine bark extract supplements for chronic disorders (34) (41).
Contraindication:
Allergy to pine.
Hypersensitivity to pine.
Herb/drug Interactions:
Anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet drugs: Pine bark extract can inhibit platelet aggregation and may increase risk of bleeding when used with these drugs (28).
(https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/pine-bark-extract)
