DISCOVER THE ALL-NATURAL
FRENCH YOUTH DRUG
The extract of a special French pine tree may hold the key to keeping your body ageless and healthy.
It may be a tongue-twister right now, but Pycnogenol (pick-NAHjen-all) "is going to be a
household word with-in the next five years," predicts natural medicine expert Mark Blumenthal,
director of the American Botanical Council. The reason: research shows this nutrient, extracted
from the bark of a French pine tree, is one of nature's most amazing anti-agers. Not only can it
keep your complexion youthful, it can also pump up the circulatory and immmune systems. How
does Pycnogenol work? According to Jacques Masquetier, Ph.D., the University of Bordeaux,
France, researchcr who discovered it, Pycnogenal enhances the activity of antioxidant vitamins C
and E. In addition, Pycnogenol itself is a powerfill aittioxidant, neutralizing free radicals-molecules
that attack the body's cells. These molecules can Play a role in triggering more than 60 diseases.
Prescribed in Europe for decades, Pycnogenol has been proven to:
1. Ward off heart disease. As two recent Harvard University studies established, vitamin E plays an
essential role in preventing cholesterol from causing heart disease. Vitamin C is a partner in the
process, regenerating vitamin E. And taking Pycnogenol makes them even more effective.
"Pycnogenol supports these nutrients in preventing heart disease," says Richard A. Passwater,
Ph.D., research director at Solgar Nutritional Research center in Berlin, Maryland, and coauthor of
Pycnogenol: The Super "Protector" Nutrient.
2. Help prevent or reverse circulatory problems, like varicose veins. Pycnogenol contains
flavonoids that are easily absorbed and transported in the blood. There, they strengthen caprnaries
that link the veins and arteries. "That helps improve varicose veins and prevents bruising,"
Passwater says. Other vein ailments that appear to respond well to Pycnogenol in tests include eye
problems, such as macular degeneration, and ciculatory disorders associated with diabetes.
3. Keep skin smooth and elastic. By protecting collagen and elastin from free radicals, Pycnogenol
reactivates them, making skin more resilient and smooth. "Picnogenol won't make old skin new, but
it will improve its elasticity and appearance," says Pasawater.
Additionally, experiments by cell biologists in Finland reveal that Pycnogenol cream helps protect
the skin from the sun's UV rays - a leading cause of wrinkling and age spots.
4. Cut the odds of cancer. Scientists at the University of Arizona recently discovered that
Pycnogenol helps build resistance to cancer by as much as 40 to 50 percent by boosting the bodys
first line of cancer defense, known as natural killer cells. -Nancy Arnott
HOW SAFE, HOW MUCH?
Pycnogenol has been widely used in Europe as a nonprescription remedy for more than 30 years
and has been available in the United States since 1983 in health food stores. Millions of Pycnogenol
capsules are taken daily, with no reports of adverse effects, according to Mark Blumenthal of the
American Botanical Council. The only caution: avoid it if you are allergic to pine trees. According
to MW International, a leading supplier of Pycnogenol, a safe anti-aging dose is 1/2 mg. per pound
of body weight, or 75 mg. daily for a 150-pound adult. To treat specific complaints, consult a
health professional for the appropriate dose.
Woman'sWorld 3/25/97