Barking up the right tree Pycnogenol is steadily making its way to the top of the herbal all-star list with a roster of benefits that rival such nutritional standouts as vitamin K and folic acid. The first time I heard of this supplement, back in the late 1990s, it was being touted for its potent antioxidant capabilities. A few years later news emerged of its ability to prevent potentially deadly blood clots by inhibiting platelets from sticking together, as well as relaxing artery constriction to allow blood to flow more freely. Not long after, Pycnogenol got the nod from several studies as an effective tool for lowering blood glucose levels in diabetics. And scattered throughout the years have been reports that it offers any number of health advantages from better vision to enhanced cognitive function to improved oral health to increased fertility to wrinkle reduction. And now, this supplement is back in the news with yet another benefit. This time, researchers found that Pycnogenol can alleviate some of the harshest symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, depression, and panic attacks. Most of the women in the study reported "rapid improvement" in all symptoms after just one month of taking it. (By contrast, the placebo group reported no changes in their symptoms.) So what exactly is this wonder supplement? Pycnogenol is an extract from the bark of a particular type of pine tree that grows in the maritime forest of the Les Landes region of Southern France. But despite its exotic origins, Pycnogenol is widely available in most natural food stores, vitamin shops, and from numerous Internet vitamin retailers. Sources:
"Study positions Pycnogenol against menopause symptoms," NutraIngredients (www.nutraingredients.com), 8/29/07 | 
