Pycnogenol

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Gary Null's Power Aging Gary Null See book keywords and concepts

Bioflavonoids are antioxidant pigments from plants and fruits that protect us against free radical damage: Pycnogenol. pycnogenol is the bioflavanoid proanthocyanidin extracted from pine bark and grape seeds. It is a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger, known to exhibit anticancer activity. Pycnogenol protects the brain by fortifying the blood vessel walls. It's protective against stroke and dementia. pycnogenol keeps collagen elastic, and softens blood platelets for more efficient movement through the vessels. Take a minimum of 400 mg of pycnogenol per day.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements Phyllis A. Balch, CNC See book keywords and concepts

Pycnogenol was the first source of OPCs discovered, and the process for extracting it was patented in the 1950s. pycnogenol is a trademarked name for pine bark extract, not a generic term for OPCs from other sources. Pycnogenol See under Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins in this section. Selenium Selenium is an essential trace mineral that functions as an antioxidant in partnership with vitamin E to protect tissues and cell membranes. Among other things, it increases antioxidant enzyme levels in cells.

Health and Nutrition Secrets Russell L. Blaylock, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

Other natural products have the same effect. pycnogenol and grape-seed extract, bind tightly to the collagen in blood vessels, protecting it from further damage both by free radicals and an enzyme called collagenase. These products have also have been shown to inhibit stress and smoking-related platelet activation, that is, clotting of the blood at sites of blood vessel injury. At a dose of 100 mg, pycnogenol was found to be extremely effective in preventing platelet activation, but did not increase bleeding, as was seen with aspirin.

The beauty of pycnogenol is that it was equal to aspirin in blocking platelet overactivity, but did not prolong bleeding time. This is particularly important when one is facing surgery or has a condition associated with a high risk of brain hemorrhage, such as hypertension. In human studies, a dose as small as 100 mg gave adequate protection against heart attacks and strokes. Some people may prefer grape seed extract to pycnogenol: both contain similar flavonoids. Quercetin is another flavonoid that has shown great promise in preventing cardiovascular disease.

For example, the flavonoids in pycnogenol, mainly catechins, have been shown to inhibit inflammation by blocking a group of powerful inflammatory chemicals called leukotrienes.40' In addition, it strongly inhibited stress- and smoking-related platelet aggregation, a process that can lead to sudden clotting of the blood, as is seen with heart attacks and strokes. The beauty of pycnogenol is that it was equal to aspirin in blocking platelet overactivity, but did not prolong bleeding time.

The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth about What Treatments Work and Why Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

Flavonoids, grape seed extract, and pycnogenol. Plant compounds called flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and antho-cyanidins are all helpful in the treatment of varicose veins. All seem to help strengthen the delicate walls of the veins and capillaries. Foods richest in these substances include berries (blueberries and blackberries) as well as cherries, grapes, and tea. Add these foods to your diet and take a supplement of grape seed extract, which is rich in these compounds. 4. Vitamin C.

Natural Prescription for Varicose Veins Horse chestnut (standardized for escin): 600 mg High-fiber diet (and/or fiber supplements): 35-50 g fiber Grape seed extract: 100 mg, three times daily, or pycnogenol capsules (use as directed) Vitamin C with bioflavonoids: 1,000-3,000 mg Vitamin E: 400-800 IU Coenzyme Q10: 50-150 mg Plenty of berries, cherries, grapes, and tea Exercise: Especially walking, jogging, stair climbing, hiking, and bike riding Note: All dosages are daily dosages and in pill or capsule form unless otherwise noted.

Naturopathic Nutrition: A Guide to Nutrient-rich Food & Nutritional Supplements for Optimum Health Abram Hoffer, PhD, MD, FRCP(C) and Dr. Jonathan Prousjy, DPHE, DSC, ND, FRSH See book keywords and concepts

ED. All the men took 1.7 g of arginine during the first month, and then during the second month were given 40 mg of pycnogenol twice daily with the same dose of arginine. During the third month, the dose of the pycnogenol was increased to 40 mg three times daily with the same dose of arginine. At the end of the second month, 80% reported a normal erection, and by the end of the third month, this therapeutic response increased to 92.5%. Other benefits that were noted included a quicker erection in response to stimulation and an increased duration of erection.

The Food-Mood Solution: All-Natural Ways to Banish Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Stress, Overeating, and Alcohol and Drug Problems--and Feel Good Again Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

After a nutritional workup, he recommended that Jessica take omega-3 fish oils, B-complex vitamins, and an herbal supplement called pycnogenol. Within several weeks, Jessica was better able to focus on single tasks, and her boss noted the improvement in her work quality. Other Major Influences on Your Moods Several other key factors influence how you feel. They include glucose, insulin, genetic predispositions, and brain allergies. Glucose and Insulin: Brain Fuel and Regulator Although glucose (blood sugar) and insulin are not neurotransmitters, they are essential for normal brain function.

Stop Prediabetes Now: The Ultimate Plan to Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

Vitamin C combats fatigue, a common symptom in prediabetes and overweight, and it might also help to burn fat. 6. pycnogenol, a powerful natural antioxidant, may lower blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and improve many complications of diabetes. Supplements That Help to Reduce Your Appetite (and Maybe Control Weight) Several supplements may help you to lose weight by decreasing your appetite. These supplements are most effective when you use them in conjunction with the protein- and vegetable-rich eating habits described in earlier chapters. • Alpha-lipoic acid.

Look for "Suntheanine" on the label as a sign of quality. • pycnogenol, an antioxidant, 100 mg daily. This supplement has been found helpful in treating hyperactive behavior. Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, and Obesity Since the mid-1990s, pharmaceutical companies have transformed heartburn into gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). By some estimates, 20 percent of people in North America have GERD. Whether that number is accurate or inflated, one thing is certain: each year, people get billions of dollars' worth of prescriptions for Prilosec, Nexium, and related drugs.

Alpha-lipoic acid, R-lipoic acid, biotin, chromium, pycnogenol, and silymarin can have a positive effect on blood sugar or insulin in a matter of weeks, especially if you combine two or more of these supplements. As a result, you may gradually begin to feel overmedicated and your blood sugar may dip too low. If you are taking a glucose-regulating or insulin-sensitizing drug, let your physician know and ask him or her to adjust the dose and the timing of your medications. Please do not make changes in your medication without consulting your physician. panels) to confirm their hunch.

Over several months, these high dosages of pycnogenol led to an 8.1 percent reduction in HbA[c levels. Silymarin. This extract of the herb milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a potent antioxidant and is widely used to enhance liver function. That's important because the liver works in tandem with the pancreas to regulate glucose levels. In a year-long study, 600 mg daily of silymarin reduced blood-sugar levels in seriously ill diabetic patients by 9.5 to 15 percent. The patients also benefited from lower levels of sugar in the urine, lower HbAlc levels, and lower insulin requirements.

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. See book keywords and concepts

It is seventeen times more powerful than pycnogenol and fifty times more powerful than vitamin E. It is the carotenoid that gives the orange color to salmon flesh. 9. Broccoli: Contains sulfur compounds that assist in detoxifying the body. A major source of cancer-preventing compounds such as sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. Steamed with fresh garlic and olive oil, broccoli is a heart saver. 10.

One report in the Annals of the New York Academy of Science, titled "Cancer-preventive effect of Morinda citrifolia (noni)," compared the antioxidant activity of noni juice to vitamin C, grape seed powder, and pycnogenol, all very powerful antioxidants. The researchers presented preliminary data showing that Tahitian noni juice mixed in drinking water for one week was able to prevent carcinogen-DNA adduct formation and suggested that the antioxidant activity of noni juice may contribute to its cancer-preventive effect. Does Noni Juice Prevent Wrinkles?

Feed Your Genes Right: Eat to Turn Off Disease-Causing Genes and Slow Down Aging Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

Researchers asked 20 fair-skinned men and women to take pycnogenol supplements (approximately 75 to 120 mg) daily for eight weeks. After four weeks the subjects were 40 percent more resistant to sunburn, and after eight weeks they were 84 percent more resistant. pycnogenol works partly by reducing the activity of two genes, calgranulin A and B, involved in skin disorders. Inside-Outside Protection Several studies have determined that a combination of beta-carotene supplements, taken orally, and topical sunscreens are more effective than sunscreens alone in protecting against sunburn.

Consider taking 50 to 200 mg of either pycnogenol or grapeseed extract, or 500 to 1,000 mg of citrus flavonoids, daily. * To reduce inflammation, strive for 200 mg of either pycnogenol or grapeseed extract. Consider trying both to see which works best for you. N-Acetylcysteine N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is part of a family of sulfur-containing antioxidants known to chemists as thiols. In one of the paradoxes of nutritional science, sulfur has been virtually ignored as an essential nutrient. Yet we would not be able to live without it.

Interview with Jon Barron of Baseline Nutritionals on herbal healing, the bird flu and alternative health Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

The patient doesn't buy this, and he explores and discovers an antioxidant called pycnogenol. He takes it, because one of the factors that contributed to his heart disease was free radical problems, and the antioxidants help with that and move him back up, not to full health, but to a point where he doesn't experience symptoms anymore. At this point he says, "I'm cured. This is a miracle. I'm going to join this company, and I'm going to get everyone I know on pycnogenol because it cures heart disease." So he becomes an evangelist, telling people this is the magic bullet for heart disease.

Stop Prediabetes Now: The Ultimate Plan to Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

In addition, you might also try 10 mg daily of lycopene and 100 mg daily of pycnogenol. 11 Overcome Related Health Problems magine, for a moment, that prediabetes and overweight form the thick trunk of a tree. The trunk grows into limbs, which you can envision as the major health consequences of having prediabetes and being overweight. These limbs, in turn, branch out and lead to many more health problems. So many of today's ailments, from purely physical illnesses to mood disorders, are intertwined with prediabetes and overweight.

The Food-Mood Connection: Nutrition-based and Environmental Approaches to Mental Health and Physical Wellbeing Gary Null and Amy McDonald See book keywords and concepts

He mentions vitamin A, beta carotene, thiamine hydrochloride, riboflavin, niacinamide, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, B12, folic acid, para-amino-benzoic acid (PABA), biotin, choline and inositol, vitamin E, vitamin C, the bioflavinoids (such as quercetin, hesperiden and pycnogenol), vitamin N, acetyl cysteine, acetyl carnitine, the sulfur-containing amino acids L-cysteine and L-methionine, and the enzymes such as coenzyme Q10, bromelain, papain, and pancreatic enzymes.

Conscious Health: A Complete Guide to Wellness Through Natural Means Ron Garner See book keywords and concepts

Among these are: pycnogenol, which is a water extract from the bark of the French maritime pine; grape seed extract; tocotrienols; vitamin C ester; alpha lipoic acid; dmae; and alpha and beta hydroxy acids. On the other hand, a poor diet, processed foods, cured meats, tobacco smoke, infections, alcohol, stress, air pollution, pesticides, and radiation all promote oxidation in the human body. Even if we are minimizing the effects of the aforementioned free radical developers, given our modern urban, industrialized, and technological lifestyles, we cannot completely avoid them.

Stop Prediabetes Now: The Ultimate Plan to Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

In addition, take 100 to 200 mg of pycnogenol daily. Reduce Stress in Your Life Stress increases the secretion of both insulin and the stress hormone Cortisol, and together these hormones promote the formation of fat around the belly. Week 2 is a good time to tackle stress issues that affect your eating habits, moods, or sleep. People's eating habits usually slide when they're stressed—they delay or skip meals, then succumb to fast foods. You can still manage a stressful job—and manage it better—by maintaining a semblance of good eating habits.

The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs: A Guide to Understanding and Using Herbal Medicinals Leslie Taylor, ND See book keywords and concepts

James Duke summed this up eloquently, saying, I like the comments on dragon's blood, and would add one further note: in addition to the proanthocyanadins (including pycnogenol) and taspine, there's another active ingredient—dimethylcedrusine. While each of these alone— dimethylcedrusine, pycnogenol and taspine—was shown to effectively heal wounded rats (with squares of skin exfoliated, i.e., peeled off) by European scientists, the whole dragon's blood was shown to speed healing four times faster. The whole was better than the sum of its parts.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements Phyllis A. Balch, CNC See book keywords and concepts

Pycnogenol is a trademarked name for pine bark extract, not a generic term for OPCs from other sources. Pycnogenol See under Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins in this section. Selenium Selenium is an essential trace mineral that functions as an antioxidant in partnership with vitamin E to protect tissues and cell membranes. Among other things, it increases antioxidant enzyme levels in cells. Selenium is also an integral component of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (each molecule of this enzyme contains four atoms of selenium).

Feed Your Genes Right: Eat to Turn Off Disease-Causing Genes and Slow Down Aging Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts

After four weeks the subjects were 40 percent more resistant to sunburn, and after eight weeks they were 84 percent more resistant. pycnogenol works partly by reducing the activity of two genes, calgranulin A and B, involved in skin disorders. Inside-Outside Protection Several studies have determined that a combination of beta-carotene supplements, taken orally, and topical sunscreens are more effective than sunscreens alone in protecting against sunburn.

The Green Pharmacy: New Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs James A. Duke, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

It is sold under the brand name pycnogenol. According to some naturopaths, pycnogenol increases levels of vitamin C in the body's cells and strengthens the capillaries against the kind of traumatic injury that causes bruises. I'm not entirely sold on pycnogenol, but by blending grape seeds into grape juice, you can get some for free. V Parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Repeated applications of crushed parsley leaves will usually clear up any black-and-blue marks within a day or so. I plan to try parsley the next time I get a bruise. V Potato (Solanum tuberosum).

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements Phyllis A. Balch, CNC See book keywords and concepts

Pycnogenol Creme (or Gel) with Vitamins E, C, & A from Derma-E Skin Care is good for moisturizing, softening, and protecting the skin. Derma-E also makes Vitamin E Moisturizing Gel, a refreshing skin treatment, and Vitamin A Wrinkle Treatment for dry and aging skin. Q Tretinoin (Retin-A), applied topically, removes fine wrinkles and is also excellent for age spots, precancerous lesions, and sun-damaged skin. It is available by prescription only, and takes around six months to show results. DYSPEPSIA See indigestion. DYSTHYMIA See under depression. DYSTONIA See under rare disorders.

Pycnogenol is a powerful bioflavonoid and antioxidant. -i r n • Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an enzyme that is a powerful free radical scavenger that protects the cells. Q Nutritional products that act as cross-linking (AGE) inhibitors include carnosine, aminoguanidine, metformin, acarbose, and pyridoxamine. Cross-linking breakers, or re-versers, are not yet commercially available, but thiazolium products such as ALT-711 (dimethyl-3-phenacyl-thiazolium chloride) and PTB (dimethyl-phenacyl-thiazolium bromide) are being tested with good results. Q As people age falls are all too common.

The Clinician's Handbook of Natural Healing Gary Null, Ph.D. See book keywords and concepts

General Results of this study found that pycnogenol protected vascular endothelial cells from oxidant injury in vitro. —Y. Rong, et al., "Pycnogenol Protects Vascular Endothelial Cells from t-butyl Hydroperoxide Induced Oxidant Injury," Biotechnol Ther, 5(3-4), 1994-1995, p. 117-26 This study examined pycnogenol's effects on immune dysfunction in normal mice and ethanol mice or mice infected with the murine retrovirus LP-BM5.

Anti-Aging Manual: The Encyclopedia of Natural Health Joseph E. Mario See book keywords and concepts

In response to inflammation, White blood cells secrete Enzymes that chop up Elastin, and can destroy lung tissue in smokers (take pycnogenol). When viruses or bacteria invade the body, White blood cells release aprotein Pyrogen instructingthe Brainto raise body temperature from 98.6Ato 102A F., thereby killing off much ofthe virus. The body has 1 trillion White blood cells, Lymphocytes, 3000 in every drop ofblood. 200,000 new Immune cells are produced eachsecond. Visualize them, and build with 50 mg. Beta-Carotene thrice daily; 1 tbs.

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