A pine bark extract has been hailed as the latest weapon in anti-ageing. Pycnogenol is a blend of natural and powerful antioxidants from French maritime pine bark extract that has been shown to preserve and enhance wellness.
Pycnogenol has been used in more than 300 research studies and in more than 100 clinical trials with scientific proof emerging of its ability to slow down the processing of ageing.
Science has not yet uncovered all of the properties that the extract has – officially it is known as a nutraceutical – but to date it has been identified as an anti-inflammatory, to enhance blood flow and reduce clotting, to maintain blood pressure and lower cholesterol.
The main benefit of pycnogenol is its powerful antioxidant qualities, known to fight the effects of ageing. As it maintains the stability of blood sugar levels, pycnogenol can reverse the effects of diabetes and reduce the disease’s complications and side effects. Pycnogenol can also alleviate the symptoms of asthma and allergies, relieve arthritis pain and reduce high blood pressure, help with blood circulation and clotting, and help with hormonal problems.
In short, pycnogenol may be the miracle cure-all that modern medicine is looking for. And yet the extract itself is probably unknown to most people.
Pycnogenol comes from the extract of the bark of a pine tree that only grows around the coast of southwest France. Its magical properties were discovered by a French doctor in 1948 and since then it has been added to skin care products and to health supplements.
You can take pycnogenol daily – experts suggest taking a total of 50-100mg every day in three doses with food. There are some side effects, such as headaches or dizziness, but these are rare and usually only affect those who take the supplement on an empty stomach.