What is Pycnogenol, does it work, and is it the same as other pine bark extracts?

I usually get an idea to try a supplement, read Consumer Labs and then save my money.

Does anyone have experience with taking pycnogenol for glaucoma? If so, how much and what kind did you take, and what were the results?

I have heard that pine bark extract studies have shown an improvement in bone health. I have also read that people with auto immune issues should be cautious with it. Having osteoporosis and thyroid autoimmune disease, I am hesitant to try it. Are there any studies that focused on pine bark extract and autoimmune issues?

I've been taking pycnogenol since last spring (23) and it seems to stop my hot flashes very close to 100%. I recently missed a dose and had a few reduced flashes within hours.

Are there any studies related to pycnogenol or other supplements affecting the blood flow to the optic nerve & retina in some forms of glaucoma?

I read an article from a Swiss university about 10 years ago. It said Pycnogenol, Vitamin C, and Zinc taken together at the first signs of an URI would stop the progression of the URI. I have tried it, and to my surprise, it has worked for me most of the time. What do you know about that? Thanks.

We are a Costco customer. We've taken Trunature pycnogenol for many years. Why haven't you tested their brand? The main ingredient is procyanidins. Surely you've found it used widely.

I tried pycngenol a couple oof years ago & very prompt had an outbreak of herpes zoster, which sits dormant (ordinarily) in my system. I stopped taking the supplement & the herpes outbreak ended. Perhaps this was all coincidentally, but I'm hesitant to retry pycnogenol even thought I'd like to tackle some swelling in my feet & legs.

Regarding Raynauds: I have taken oil of evening primrose for many years. I had significant improvement in my fingers, toes, and legs (ability to stand still for more than a few minutes). 20 years ago I started taking this, on a recommendation from a hematologist/researcher.

Is anyone aware of a Pycnogenol/Gotu Kola supplement other than Life Extension's Arterial Protect which is a buck a capsule? As for atherosclerosis, my calcium score doubled the year I was taking this. That is while eating super clean, exercising daily and having an LDL in the 60s.

Also, I should had to my previous post that while pycnogenol helped me with (less) menstrual blood loss and skin conditions, it didn't help at all with my tinnitus and fibromyalgia. (but that's my personal experience).

After suffering with Raynaud's phenomenon for many years, I decided to try Pycnogenol after reading the study you recently cited. It took a couple weeks, but I am cautiously optimistic. I am more comfortable being outdoors for long autumn walks and I am able to keep the thermostat a couple degrees cooler than before. My hands don't mottle. I'm just one person, but it's very exciting!

A Blaylock Wellness Report once mentioned that Pycnogenol was used by marathon runners to prevent Charlie horses. As a runner, I have used Pycnogenol effectively to treat Charlie horses until I found grape seed extract had the same active ingredient at a lower cost.

I have a high platelet count, but won’t take baby aspirin since it caused a gastrointestinal bleed. Would Pycnogenol be a good alternative?

CONSUMER LAB: Can you please further explain the last entry of your commentary: "....people taking blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin, Plavix ect...." How does Pycnogenol affect Plavix or anti-platelet drugs and/or even Brillenta?

Thank you,
Chris

Having tried French Pine Bark Extract without any noticeable effect my research has led me here. I think I may benefit from Flavangenol but I can only find beauty products using this extract. How can I purchase the orally administered Flavangenol cited in the research papers that I have read.

Is Pycnogenol equivalent to Pine Bark Extract? Are the alleged benefits limited to the French maritime source? I have seen PBE supplements that are much much cheaper, but sourced from Chinese Red Pine, or other locations.

I hope ConsumerLab will test Oligopin(R) products. Pycnogenol(R) products I can already trust as Pycnogenol has been used in numerous clinical studies, but Oligopin is much cheaper than Pycnogenol. Oligopin and Pycnogenol are both made in France and from same plant, but by different French companies.

Oligopin has been also clinically studied, but much less than Pycnogenol.

Does it matter if it's taken with or without food?

I can submit first-hand anecdotal evidence on the use of Pycnogenol for tinnitus. I've had that condition for at least 15 years. Reading about a study whereby taking 150 mg of Pycnogenol daily for at least 4-6 months reduced symptoms in about 85% of sufferers, I gave it a try. I used Swanson brand briefly for about two weeks than used Healthy Origins brand for the rest of the time. I took 150 mg daily, faithfully from last October 2 until well into May this year. Results: zero, zip, none. No improvement whatsoever. Guess I'm a 15%-er.

I should state the obvious: your mileage may vary. I don't have Meniere's. I do have episodic BPPV. The tinnitus comes and goes from day to day, hour to hour. I've found the best treatment is to just ignore it. I have some hearing loss and that is harder to ignore, but I don't let it control my life. It's amazing what you can do with your mind if you decide to control it rather than letting it control you. If I had applied that Rx back in October, I could have save a bucket full of money because Pycnogenol isn't cheap. Live and learn.

I have heard that Pycnogenol should not used if one has an enlarged prostate is there any recent info regarding this

There is some information on the web that it should not be taken for longer than 6 months. I would like to know why but your explanation did not address this.

Horphag would have you believe all the health benefits from OPC are exclusive to pine bark extract (pycnogenol), however the bulk of research originating out of France from roughly 1950 to 1980 was done with grape seed extract. Cyvex Technologies in Irvine has an excellent source of OPC they label as "BioVin". Horphag is aggressively sponsoring studies to position pycnogenol as superior to GSE but that is simply not the case and GSE is a lot cheaper.