OMG, literally 30 seconds ago I just opened my shipment of this stuff! Other than Dr. Oz (I saw the show too) I will tell you what I know -- my 78 yo father has been telling me about it for years, saying it's his "secret" to health. Maybe it's a coincidence, but my dad is amazingly healthy, active, and has nice skin (okay, I hadn't noticed that part but other people have mentioned it). So...I'll have what he's having. I haven't taken it before, so I can't vouch for it myself just yet.

That is good to know, thanks for posting. I actually have been taking it now for 10 days. I have noticed an improvement in my energy level at the gym. I am reading great things about it. It is difficult to find here, can I ask you where you bought yours?

I had not heard of it, but I read the WebMD review and it sounds pretty amazing. Sueb's father's recommendation makes me want to try it.

This conversation has definitely piqued my interest! Can anyone who is taking this give me any information on dosage? Thanks.

I'm putting this on my shopping list! Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: NIH drug info - pycnogenol

Rose, I ordered mine online...of course I can't remember the name of the company now. Maybe thru Amazon? But it was fulfilled by an outside company.

bac, I am taking 25 mg twice a day. My DH started taking it yesterday, I am very interested in what he will have to say. we are planning to take it for 3 month trial. Will keep you posted.

sue, if you dont mind sharing, how long has your Dad been taking it, what dosage? Was there a particular reason for taking it originally?

I don't know what dose my dad takes, but he's been taking it for several years. I think at least 5-6 years. I remember him telling me "I'm taking pine bark extract" and rolling my eyes thinking, oh, my wacky dad. I'm not sure why he started taking it originally -- I see it's supposed to help with varicose veins so that could be one reason. He has them in his legs and he's self-conscious about them. I have no idea if the supplement has made a difference or not. However, he does have lots of energy! He works part time, 9-2 every day, then goes to the gym, then does volunteer work almost every night (he works Bingo twice a week, Elks Lodge another night, etc.) and doesn't get home until at least 10 or 11 pm. I'm 30 years younger and I don't think I could keep up that pace! And when he comes to visit us, he's always pacing around, wants to go for walks, play with the dogs, shoot hoops with my son, etc. And...he has a girlfriend who is 22 years younger than him. Maybe not ALL due to the pine bark extract, LOL, but who knows! It's not genetics -- both his parents died before they reached the age he is now, and all of his 3 (younger) siblings all have lots of health issues.

Wow that is amazing sue. As I said I notice a difference in my energy level too on the elliptical at the gym. DH and I swim laps once a week too, I also noticed I had more stamina swimming yesterday even though we babysat our grandchildren earlier that morning, which usually tires us out!. Thanks for sharing.

I have never taken this but this article was written up in our newspaper a while back. It is rather long but thought some people on here but be interested. It is written by a Phd, head of McGill's science Dept.

How would you like to taste some "oligomeric proanthocyanidins?" Oh, don�t worry, I�m not proposing to poison you. Quite the contrary. Recent research has shown that these compounds may reduce the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps and childhood asthma. More importantly, there is accumulating evidence that oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) can decrease the amount of glucose absorbed from a meal, and that they can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetics.

So, where do we find them? The richest sources are grape seeds and the bark of a certain type of pine tree. But we don�t actually have to crunch grape seeds or chew on tree bark if we want to explore the benefits of OPCs. Supplements made by extracting grape seeds or the bark of the maritime pine tree are available.
The OPC story begins back in 1947 when Jacques Masquelier, a French graduate student was asked to investigate the chemistry of the thin reddish inner skin that surrounds peanuts. There had been some concern that the skin may contain toxic substances, but Masquelier did not find any. He did however isolate a variety of compounds that had common features in terms of molecular structure and Masquelier coined the term "oligomeric proanthocyanidins" to describe these. He noted that they resembled substances that the famed Hungarian chemist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi had investigated in connection with the treatment of scurvy.

Back in the eighteenth century James Lind a British naval surgeon had shown that a daily ration of lime juice would prevent scurvy in sailors but two hundred years passed before Szent-Gyorgyi isolated vitamin C and showed that a diet deficient in this vitamin caused scurvy in guinea pigs. He then went on to demonstrate that a combination of Vitamin C and extracts of peppers or citrus peels restored the animals to health, but vitamin C alone did not. It seemed that some mysterious factor present in the peppers and peels was needed to help vitamin C function. The search was now on to identify these factors, and a variety of compounds in the "polyphenol" family were isolated, but were found to be inconsistent in their ability to activate vitamin C. But Masquelier had carried out some preliminary experiments with his oligomeric proanthocyanidins and had discovered that in test animals they strengthened capillary blood vessels and prevented blood from leaking out. Since weak blood vessels that bleed are a hallmark of scurvy, Masquelier concluded that his OPCs were the mysterious substances that were needed for vitamin C activity.

Masquelier was never able to demonstrate this, but nevertheless began making claims about his OPCs having beneficial effects on the strength of blood vessels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The claims became more elaborate when in the 1980s he carried out experiments demonstrating that his compounds acted as antioxidants, and at least in the test tube, were effective free radical scavengers. By this time the free radical theory of disease was in full swing and Masquelier applied for, and was granted, the first ever patent for a free radical scavenging antioxidant plant extract.

He named the extract of the maritime pine tree bark "Pycnogenol" and licensed its production to Horphag Research Ltd. Sales mushroomed despite the lack of clinical evidence that the product had any efficacy in humans. Eventually Horphag and Masquelier had a falling out and now Masquelier sells his product under the Flavay name, with his picture adorning the bottle and claiming that this is the only authentic OPC preparation.
Leaving such legal disputes aside, the significant question is whether there is indeed any human clinical evidence that OPCs under any name have any benefit.

It seems they do. A group at the University of Arizona led by Dr. Ronald Watson has studied Pycnogenol extensively in a number of randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trials. In 2001 Watson demonstrated a blood pressure lowering effect and in 2007 a significant reduction in the pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee with 50 mg of Pycnogenol taken three times daily, possibly due to the products�s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. But the group�s most noteworthy study, published in 2008, involved forty-eight type 2 diabetic subjects who also had elevated blood pressure. Since diabetic patients are at greater risk for heart disease, the study aimed to explore the possibility of reducing various cardiovascular risk factors in response to a daily dose of 125 mg of Pycnogenol.

The results, while not spectacular, are grounds for optimism. Patients taking Pycnogenol were able to significantly reduce their blood pressure medication, probably because the supplement reduces the blood levels of endothelin-1, a substance that constricts blood vessels. There was also a reduction in LDL, the so-called "bad cholesterol," and an improvement in fasting blood glucose levels. Pycnogenol, it seems, inhibits alpha-glucosidase, an enzyme in the gut that breaks starches down to glucose. This means that less glucose is absorbed and blood levels of glucose decline. All of this suggests that Pycnogenol may be a useful adjunct to other interventions aimed at reducing the health complications associated with type 2 diabetes. The funding for the University of Arizona studies came from the manufacturer of Pycnogenol but that of course does not mean the results are tainted. The company played no role in the collection or analysis of the results.

Other studies with oligomeric proanthocyanidins have shown a beneficial effect in childhood asthma, a reduction in the risk of deep vein thrombosis on long flights and even a soothing of menstrual pain. The effects are modest, but unfortunately are often exaggerated by promoters who have even suggested, without any evidence, that OPCs may be of use in treating cancer. Such unsubstantiated hype discredits the serious research aimed at identifying and standardizing the specific components of OPCs that have health benefits, particularly in diabetes. But remember that these intriguing compounds are found not only in supplements. Tea, black currant, strawberries, cocoa and red wine all contain them. Apples are particularly rich in OPCs, especially Red Delicious and Granny Smith varieties. So, do I have to remind you? An apple a day! With a red wine chaser.

Medlineplus discusses it.

It probably shouldn't be used for anyone with an autoimmune disease like MS, Lupus, or RA.

It also lists some side affects .
It has suggested dosages for the various conditions.

Here is a link that might be useful: Medlineplus

This post was edited by chloe45 on Tue, Jan 15, 13 at 13:30

Thanks for posting lyban. I am really hoping it will help DH with his morning blood sugar reading. It is just slightly over what it should be, so maybe it can nudge his level down that bit he needs.

I would like to give pycnogenol a try. So far, I looked only at Walgreen's and altho you can buy it on line from them, it is not available in the store. It does look like, tho, that I might be able to go to somewhere like GNC and find it there if I want to purchase it locally. However, it seems that buying online gives you the best deals. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good deal on line?

The larger the mg size per pill the better the deal price wise. Only one brand on Amazon has the 100mg/60 tablets. If you sign up to get it on a repeat basis..at least one more time then the price is even lower. You would want to take 100 mg a day for at least 2 months to get an idea of its effectiveness. So if 2 of you are taking it you can get the best price and have a second bottle sent in a month. Here is the link. c

Here is a link that might be useful: best price

The brand on Amazon has 6 other ingredients in it used as fillers. I bought the Swiss brand locally which has less filler in it.
Read the labels before you buy.

rose..thank you ! I had been reading labels and going blind :) Will check out the brand you mention. I was trying to find one without fillers...c

I have been reading up on this as it is supposedly good for asthma which my daughter has been struggling with this winter. There are some small double blind studies (less than 50 participants) that support the health claims but Consumer Reports refers to a larger study (almost 800 participants) where the claims can not be proven.

I don't have an opinion one way or the other. Most internet comments about pycnogenol are overwhelming positive so I thought the Consumer Reports article was interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: pycnogenol

Nobody here is concerned of possible issues with combining it with any of your other meds? Even grapefruit is an issue with one of my pills. I'm just surprised to see no comments of "I'm going to ask my doctor to see if he/she has any knowledge about that."

That was interesting article on Consumer Reports, hasnt changed my opinon though about trying it, but I wouldnt give it to my child without speaking to her doctor first.

I dont take any medications other than supplements. I do take the pycnogenol only with breakfast and dinner. I take my Omega 3, CoQ10 and multi vitamin with lunch.

rose...I have looked and looked and read a number of ads...I am not sure that I know what brand you are referring to. Can you email me if you don't want to say here ? Thank you. c

trailrunner, the brand name is Swiss Natural, it is a Canadian Company.

well.ca/products/swiss-natural-sources-standardized_13593.html

ah...they only ship in canada. Will look to find a good substitute without additional additives. THANK YOU . c

Trail - here it is and they ship to the US.

Here is a link that might be useful: Healthy Planet

That Swiss brand is much more expensive than some of the brands that are sold on Amazon. I realize that some of the other brands have more fillers, but the one below is 60 100mg capsules for $32.99 vs 60 25mg capsules of the Swiss brand for $20.49. The same dosage of the Swiss brand would be over $80.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon

For me two 25 mg a day is what I want to take, so the Swiss brand is better for me.

This post was edited by roseabbey on Thu, Jan 17, 13 at 8:47

Deee, not to derail this thread, but I just wanted to encourage you to research the use of turmeric in treating your child's asthma.

Turmeric is believed to mediate one of the two pathways of inflammation in the body, so you often read of it being of benefit in conditions in which inflammation is a factor.. Arthritis, allergies, wound healing, rashes..

My child and I deal with a mild but troublesome genetic autoimmune skin disorder, one for which standard medical practice offers little treatment. Turmeric is widely touted as a help for inflammation, rashes and wound healing, so after a LOT of research online, (I have degree in biochem and did 2 yrs of med school before quitting bc I had a child), and discussing it with my drs, my child's pediatrician and with the specialists that we see, we started taking turmeric. First me, then 6 months later my child. We have unquestioningly seen a huge improvement in the management of our condition.

We make a chai, from whole milk, turmeric, crushed black pepper, a couple of cardamom pods for flavor, and honey. It's not yummy, but not terrible. The whole milk provides the fat necessary to promote absorption in the intestines of the active ingredient curacumin, and the black pepper provides piperine which increases the bioavailability of the curacumin.

My daughter and I drink some in the morning and evening, my husband makes a batch for us daily. After he doles out ours, he usually drinks the remaining amount, a couple of swallows, just to check the taste of the batch.

Although we do not use the turmeric for athsma/ allergies, my husband has both and since he has started drinking the chai, we were startled to notice that it greatly helped his breathing. He is completely off his allergy meds and seldom uses his asthma inhaler now, so that was an unexpected benefit for us.

I've been taking turmeric twice daily for 4 years, my child for 3.5 years. It can cause side-effects, most notably stomach upset and blood-thinning, but we have not experienced problems with these.

I do order my turmeric from a company that orders the root from India, then washes and grinds it in California, and ships it in foil packages. I prefer this because I give it to my child daily, and I'm afraid of things like lead, pesticides and petroleum by-products that can get swept in to processing from questionable factories, plus the foil packages protect it from UV light degradation better than the usual clear plastic bags.

But I have used Penzeys on occasion, just 'cause I shop there, and in a pinch I use the kind you can buy in the international food markets and it works fine.

If my husband stops drinking the chai, his asthma symptoms start showing up again in a day or two. Conversely, it only takes a day or so for the chai to start helping. So you don't have to try it for 6 months or even 6 weeks to see if it will help you.

Turmeric does stain badly (it's the colorant in mustard) but luckily for my dish towels, uv light removes the stain.

Hope this ends up helping your daughter!

kiki, I am interested in your chai. My DH has allergies and a touch of asthma. If I were to make l cup of it, how much tumeric do I need, is there a specific amount?

Kiki - Thank you so much for your post. DD's asthma is 99% exercise induced but is worse during seasonal allergy times. I will definitely look into turmeric.

This post was edited by deee on Fri, Jan 18, 13 at 14:08

Our turmeric chai recipe is simple: it makes three cups, so you can just divide the quantities by three for one cup.

Boil 1 cup water in small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add 6 green cardamom pods and about 20 crushed black peppercorns (we grind whole peppercorns with mortar and pestle) and 1 tablespoon ground turmeric. Let steep 10 or 15 minutes. Then add 2 cups of whole milk and heat to just under boiling. Add honey to taste. We add about 1.5 tablespoons. Then strain into a quart jar and store in fridge when cool. Shake before drinking because turmeric does settle a little.
We drink it with a straw to avoid staining our skin. Does not stain teeth.

I drink one cup morning and night. My daughter has half to a third cup morning and night.

It's not delicious, but really is not terrible. You can also mix pepper and turmeric easily into egg salad. Or boost the turmeric in your curry. Or add turmeric to your nacho meat or chili.

If this is too much bother you can also take the ground pepper and turmeric and mix with coconut oil, or ghee and roll it into a pill that you can easily swallow with a half glass of milk. I do that sometimes, but my daughter doesn't like to.

Yesterday before I knew your recipe, I mixed a cup with water, tumeric, black pepper, substituted cinnamon and nutmeg for the honey I didnt have. Didnt taste too bad, DH gulped it down quickly. Is there a reason the liquid needs to be heated?

We heat it because it keeps the turmeric mixed in better, tastes less grainy, remember... Trying to make something palatable to a kid.
Also, the heat to draw the flavor out of he cardamom pods.

I'm sure the way you suggested is fine, except don't forget that you must include some fats to facilitate absorption! We use whole milk.

Thanks kiki, appreciate your help.

Interestingly, at the moment one of the doctors who's involved in turmeric research at Johns Hopkins is in town here. She says that it is very important that the turmeric must be mixed with something hot and oily or the curcumin doesn't absorb into your system. So you would most definitely need to heat the milk and use milk, not water, if you want any benefit from it. She said it's actually best for you when added to the oil for a stir fry or some such thing, the hotter the better.

This post was edited by writersblock on Wed, Jan 23, 13 at 11:25

That's interesting writersblock. I have actually been trying to incorporate the turmeric into my cooking. It is quite tasty on eggs and we actually did do a stir fry. Thanks for sharing.

I took pycnogenol years ago for the dreaded, inherited varicose veins, but obviously not long enough to see improvement.

It seems to make the same 'claims' as the red wine 'supplement', Reservatrol.

Writersblock, is there a link to their research? Thank you : )

Not in the article, but I would guess that if you google for her name you'd find an abstract, most likely.

Here is a link that might be useful: PB Post article

Ooo, thank you writersblock! Good article AND recipes : )

We can't be sure it's related but I thought I would throw it out there anyway.

I've been taking pycnogenol for almost a month now and we (doctor & I) think I'm having some major reactions. I've been taking 100mg daily.

Within the last couple of weeks I've had: headaches, constant stomach aches, hypoglycemia, insomnia, skin rash & a mild auto-immune response. Pretty much the list of side-effects on this supplement.

It wasn't until yesterday that I remembered the pycnogenol and we are pretty relieved that we have a direction to take now. I'm on a steroid pack to settle down my immune system and discontinuing the stuff.

Hopefully, this will resolve my problems. I don't think I've ever felt so lousy in my entire life.

The good news is that tea with a bunch of ginger really soothes an upset tummy!

Why isn't it working for Dr. Oz? I think he looks older than most 52 year olds.

Do you really have to take the steroids? They are not good for you. I am so wary of these type of things that doctors rely on and would only take them if absolutely necessary, myself.

Not happy taking the steroids but I think I am feeling a little better. It's the Medrol dose pack so it's only for six days.

may_flowers, I couldn't agree more.

kellyeng - THANK YOU for posting. I was considering adding pyc to my (very limited) daily supplements. Asked my doc yesterday about it. She looked it up and found no (medical) info on it. Had you not posted I would have started taking it and could not have withstood the symptoms you experienced.

Java

I have been taking pycnogenol for about 6 weeks now, half of the 3 month trial period. I have had no side effects. My energy level is still up, ( I think I) am feeling my skin plumper on my face, I will evaluate this at the 3 month mark.

I dont think Dr Oz takes this supplement. On the show the two dermatolgists said they both personally took it for their skin. I must say they both had gorgeous skin.

Not all supplements are going to work for everyone. I dont think the purpose of the show is for everyone to be taking every supplement shown. It is to educate you to what is out there and what might work for you.

Roseabbey, your are totally right. Just because it is not (I don't think) working for me doesn't mean it won't work wonders on someone else.

I should have been more diligent in evaluating this supplement. I was just looking at the circulation & energy benefits. The immune system boosting was something I didn't even think about. I get allergic reactions pretty easily and I have a lot of joint inflammation. So to quote my doctor, "Your immune system is already on red alert!"

Thanks for the info re: pycnogenol, roseabbey. I plan to speak with my Naturopath about it.

For those having good results with turmeric, if you don't like the flavor you can take curcumin in capsules. Curcumin, which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is the most active constituent of turmeric. I've been told to take it with pepper to help absorption.