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New Study: Pycnogenol® Significantly Reduces Menstrual Pain 6-23-08
Multi-center Field Study Reveals Pycnogenol® Reduces Need for Dysmenorrhea
Pain Medication
GENEVA, Switzerland – A new study reveals dysmenorrhea, a condition that causes
extremely painful menstrual periods affecting millions of women each year, can
be reduced naturally by taking Pycnogenol® (pic-noj-en-all), pine bark extract
from the French maritime pine tree. The multi-center field study, published in
the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, shows women with dysmenorrhea who
supplemented with Pycnogenol® experienced less pain and required less pain
medications during menstruation.
“Dysmenorrheal pain is thought to be caused by elevated levels of inflammation
and characterized by menstrual cramping pain, which may reach incapacitating
severity,” said Dr. Nobutaka Suzuki, lead researcher of the study. “Non-steroid
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like aspirin or ibuprofen provide temporary help
against menstrual pain. Unfortunately, they are generally ineffective for
resolving spasmodic events and commonly cause side effects, particularly gastric
problems.”
Numerous published studies reveal Pycnogenol’s® effectiveness in relieving
menstrual disorders, such as relief of menstrual pain and endometriosis, and it
is patent protected for this application. Additional studies reveal Pycnogenol®
is a natural anti-inflammatory, which provides the basis for the rational to use
Pycnogenol® to naturally moderate inflammatory pain sensation involved in
menstruation. A study published last year in the Journal of Reproductive
Medicine revealed that Pycnogenol® significantly reduces symptoms of
endometriosis by 33 percent. This study also demonstrated that Pycnogenol® does
not exert any estrogen-like activity, which considerably adds to the safety for
women who seek help for painful periods.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted at four
Japanese hospitals (Kanazawa University Hospital, Keiju Medical Center,
Hamamatsu University Hospital and Sugiura Clinic) and sampled 116 women, aged
18–48, suffering from menstrual pain.
Patients were monitored for five menstrual cycles. They were supplied with a
diary to note the pain during days of menstruation, which was evaluated using
the established Visual Analog Scale. The first two pre-treatment menstrual
cycles were utilized for establishing base-line values for pain sensation and
NSAID analgesics. During the following two menstrual cycles women were randomly
assigned to groups receiving daily regimens of Pycnogenol® or placebo.
Thereafter, supplementation was discontinued to investigate the recurrence of
symptoms. The use of NSAID analgesics was not restricted during the entire
study. However, patients were required to note the dose and the type of
analgesics, as well as the time taken in their diary.
Results showed treatment with Pycnogenol® lowered pain during menstruation,
which was reflected by a significant reduction of NSAID used. The number of
painful days due to dysmenorrhea decreased from an average of 2.1 days prior to
treatment to 1.3 at both the third and fourth cycle. Discontinuation of
Pycnogenol® did not cause an immediate relapse, and pain medication use did not
increase.
Dysmenorrhea is the leading cause of recurrent short-term school absence in
adolescent girls and a common problem in women of reproductive age. While NSAID,
oral contraceptives and hormone injections are the most common treatments, many
women also seek safe and natural alternatives, such as Pycnogenol®.
About Pycnogenol®
Pycnogenol® is a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the maritime
pine that grows along the coast of southwest France and is found to contain a
unique combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids, which offer
extensive natural health benefits. The extract has been widely studied for the
past 35 years and has more than 220 published studies and review articles
ensuring safety and efficacy as an ingredient. Today, Pycnogenol® is available
in more than 600 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products
worldwide.
Comment:
I don't believe that fractionated, patented drugs made from a natural source are any different than regular drugs. Many pharmaceutical companies and giant Nutraceutical companies are racing to create patentable extracts from as many different natural sources as possible and to get them into studies. This allows them to corner the market. This is not good for our health. Pure whole herbs are always healthier. Their are nutrients that must have the co-factors with them to be used. You can get the whole herb form of this Pine in our Pine needles oil.
However, even when I had access to the finest Pycnogenol® available and sold cases of it and asked everyone if they felt any better; generally the answer was no. The very expensive drug was less effective than common cheap herbs or oils. Pycnogenol® is usually pushed for allergies and pain.
If you read my news pages you know that I do believe that inflammation causes most disease and pain and that diet is the cure for that problem.