Pycnogenol May Relieve Some Types of Tinnitus

Discussion in 'Treatments' started by erik, Jul 11, 2012.

  1. Cool
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    erik Manager

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    Pycnogenol

    Pycnogenol Information

    Pycnogenol Study

    Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, was effective in relieving tinnitus symptoms by improving blood flow in the inner ear in a recent study published in Panminerva Medica.
    In a study conducted by the Chieti-Pescara University in Italy, 82 patients between the ages of 35 and 55 with mild-to-moderate tinnitus in only one ear, while the other remains unaffected, were studied throughout a four-week period. Tinnitus in all subjects was a result of restricted blood supply to the inner ear, as measured by high resolution ultrasonography imaging of their cochlear blood flow. Patients were assigned to one of three groups: A, B and control. Group A consisted of 24 patients who were administered 150 mg/day of Pycnogenol®, group B consisted of 34 patients who were administered 100 mg/day of Pycnogenol®, and the control group consisted of 24 patients who received no Pycnogenol®. None of the patients had previously used medication for their tinnitus symptoms.
    At the beginning of the study, patients’ average initial systolic and diastolic blood flow velocities were 14.3 and 4.22 cm/sec in the low-dose Pycnogenol® group and 13.2 and 3.2 cm/sec in the high-dose Pycnogenol® group, indicative of insufficient blood perfusion of the ear in both groups. The study found after four weeks of treatment with Pycnogenol®, inner ear systolic and diastolic blood flow velocities in the affected ear rose to an average of 21.2 and 8.23 cm/sec in the low dose group and to 24.3 and 12.5 cm/sec in the high dose group. Not only are these results significant for the improvement of inner ear blood micro-circulation and, consequently reduction of tinnitus symptoms, but they also indicate the potentially dose-related effect of Pycnogenol® on the condition.
    The study also examined in detail the effects of Pycnogenol® on the symptoms of tinnitus. Using a Subjective Tinnitus Scale (STS) at the inception of the study, subjects were instructed to rate their symptoms from “zero" (low intensity of symptoms) to 15 (constant and severe symptoms). The initial STS average value was approximately 8.8 among patients in the Pycnogenol® group and 7.9 in the control group. After four weeks, STS scores reduced to 5.2 in the low-dose group and 3.3 in the high-dose group, demonstrating a reduction of the disturbing background noise in the effected ear. There were no significant changes within the control group.
    “The study clearly indicates Pycnogenol®’s ability to improve vascular function and restore cochlear blood perfusion, which in turn relieves the severity of tinnitus symptoms" said Gianni Belcaro, a lead researcher on the study along with his team from Irvine3 Vascular labs, Chieti-Pescara University. “The results provide further evidence of the supplement’s natural efficacy for a variety of vascular health symptoms."
    More than 50 million Americans will experience some degree of tinnitus in their lifetime, according to the American Tinnitus Association. Tinnitus is a hearing condition that causes the constant misperception of sound, including hissing, ringing and rushing noises.
    “Impaired blood flow to the ear is a common cause for tinnitus, a disturbing and very debilitating condition that can considerably impact overall health and quality of life," Belcaro said. “With few options available for treatment, this study gave us the opportunity to explore a natural solution to tinnitus symptoms and its causes."
    Pycnogenol® is distributed in North America by Natural Health Science Inc. (NHS).
    erik, Jul 11, 2012
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  2. mock turtle Honorary Member

    Location:
    puget sound
    Tinnitus Since:
    07/26/1992...habituated after 2 years; 11/04/11 new outbreak
    erik...thanks for the information

    very interesting study

    i wonder if pycnogenol is like niacin without all the side effects (itching skin and massive face flush etc)
    mock turtle, Jul 11, 2012
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  3. Balanced
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    calin Honorary Member

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    hmmm... nice find erik!

    What do you think about this?
    calin, Jul 11, 2012
    #3
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    calin Honorary Member

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    Pycnogenol

    Email this page to a friend Bookmark & Share Printer-friendly version
    What is it?
    How effective is it?
    How does it work?
    Are there safety concerns?
    Are there interactions with medications?
    Are there interactions with herbs and supplements?
    Are there interactions with foods?
    What dose is used?
    Other names
    Methodology
    References


    What is it?

    Pycnogenol is the US registered trademark name for a product derived from the pine bark of a tree known as Pinus pinaster. The active ingredients in pycnogenol can also be extracted from other sources, including peanut skin, grape seed, and witch hazel bark.

    Pycnogenol is used for treating circulation problems, allergies, asthma, ringing in the ears, high blood pressure, muscle soreness, pain, osteoarthritis, diabetes, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a disease of the female reproductive system called endometriosis, menopausal symptoms, painful menstrual periods, erectile dysfunction (ED), and an eye disease called retinopathy.

    It is also used for preventing disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including stroke, heart disease, and varicose veins.

    Pycnogenol is used to slow the aging process, maintain healthy skin, improve athletic endurance, and improve male fertility.

    Some people use skin creams that contain pycnogenol as “anti-aging” products.

    How effective is it?

    Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

    The effectiveness ratings for PYCNOGENOL are as follows:

    Possibly effective for...

    • Allergies. Some research in people with allergies to birch shows that taking pycnogenol starting before allergy season begins might reduce allergy symptoms.
    • Circulation problems. Taking pycnogenol by mouth seems to significantly reduce leg pain and heaviness, as well as fluid retention in people with circulation problems. Some people use horse chestnut seed extract to treat this condition, but pycnogenol alone appears to be more effective.
    • Disease of the retina in the eye. Taking pycnogenol daily for two months seems to slow or prevent further worsening of retinal disease caused by diabetes, atherosclerosis, or other diseases. It also seems to improve eyesight.
    • Improved endurance in athletes. Young people (age 20-35) seem to be able to exercise on a treadmill for a longer time after taking pycnogenol daily for about a month.
    • High blood pressure. Pycnogenol seems to lower systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood pressure reading) but does not significantly lower diastolic blood pressure (the second number).
    • Asthma in children.
    • Varicose veins.
    Possibly ineffective for...

    • Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
    Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for...

    • Blood clots in the vein (deep vein thrombosis, DVT). There is some evidence that taking a specific combination product (Flite Tabs) might help to prevent DVT during long-haul plane flights. The product combines a blend of 150 mg of pycnogenol plus nattokinase. Two capsules are taken 2 hours before the flight and then again 6 hours later.
    • High cholesterol. Pycnogenol seems to lower “bad cholesterol” (low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol).
    • Pelvic pain in women. There is preliminary evidence that pycnogenol might help reduce pelvic pain in women with endometriosis or severe menstrual cramps.
    • Pain in late pregnancy. Preliminary research suggests that taking 30 mg of pycnogenol daily reduces lower back pain, hip joint pain, pelvic pain, and pain due to varicose veins or calf cramps in the last three months of pregnancy.
    • Erectile dysfunction (ED). Limited research suggests pycnogenol, used alone or in combination with L-arginine, might improve sexual function in men with ED. It seems to take up to three months of treatment for significant improvement.
    • Aging.
    • Heart disease.
    • Stroke prevention.
    • Muscle soreness.
    • Leg cramps.
    • Circulation problems in diabetes.
    • Osteoarthritis.
    • Menopausal symptoms.
    • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
    • Other conditions.
    More evidence is needed to rate pycnogenol for these uses.

    How does it work?

    Return to top
    Pycnogenol contains substances that might improve blood flow. It might also stimulate the immune system and have antioxidant effects.

    Are there safety concerns?

    Return to top
    Pycnogenol is POSSIBLY SAFEwhen taken in doses of 50 mg to 450 mg daily for up to 6 months. Pycnogenol can cause dizziness, gut problems, headache, and mouth ulcers.
    Special precautions & warnings:

    Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Preliminary research suggests pycnogenol might be safe in late pregnancy. But until more is known, pycnogenol should be avoided by women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

    “Auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Pycnogenol might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using pycnogenol.

    Are there interactions with medications?

    Return to top
    Moderate

    Be cautious with this combination.

    Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)
    Pycnogenol seems to increase the immune system. By increasing the immune system, pycnogenol might decrease the effectiveness of medications that decrease the immune system.

    Some medications that decrease the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.

    Are there interactions with herbs and supplements?

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    There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.

    Are there interactions with foods?

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    There are no known interactions with foods.

    What dose is used?

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    The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

    BY MOUTH:
    • For allergies: 50 mg twice daily.
    • For asthma in children: 1 mg per pound of body weight given in two divided doses.
    • For poor circulation: 45-360 mg daily, or 50-100 mg three times daily.
    • For diseases of the retina, including those related to diabetes: 50 mg three times daily.
    • For mild high blood pressure: 200 mg of pycnogenol daily.
    • For improving exercise capacity in athletes: 200 mg daily.
    Other names

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    Condensed Tannins, Écorce de Pin, Écorce de Pin Maritime, Extrait d’Écorce de Pin, French Marine Pine Bark Extract, French Maritime Pine Bark Extract, Leucoanthocyanidins, Maritime Bark Extract, Oligomères de Procyanidine, Oligomères Procyanidoliques, Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins, OPC, OPCs, PCO, PCOs, Pine Bark, Pine Bark Extract, Pinus pinaster, Pinus maritima, Proanthocyanidines Oligomériques, Procyanidin Oligomers, Procyanodolic Oligomers, Pycnogénol, Pygenol, Tannins Condensés.

    Methodology

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    To learn more about how this article was written, please see the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database methodology.
    References

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    1. Wilson D, Evans M, Guthrie N et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled exploratory study to evaluate the potential of pycnogenol for improving allergic rhinitis symptoms. Phytother Res 2010;24:1115-9.
    2. Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, Ricci A, et al. Control of edema in hypertensive subjects treated with calcium antagonist (nifedipine) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with pycnogenol. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost 2006;12:440-4.
    3. Vinciguerra G, Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, et al. Cramps and muscular pain: prevention with Pyconogenol in normal subjects, venous patients, athletes, claudicants and in diabetic microangiopathy. Angiology 2006;57:331-9.
    4. Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Rohdewald P, et al. Improvement of diabetic microangiopathy with Pycnogenol: A prospective, controlled study. Angiology 2006;57:431-6.
    5. Liu X, Wei J, Tan F, et al. Antidiabetic effect of Pycnogenol French maritime pine bark extract in patients with diabetes type II. Life Sci 2004;75:2505-13.
    6. Liu X, Zhou HJ, Rohdewald P. French maritime pine bark extract pycnogenol dose-dependently lowers glucose in type 2 diabetic patients (letter). Diabetes Care 2004;27:839.
    7. Kohama T, Suzuki N, Ohno S, Inoue M. Analgesic efficacy of French maritime pine bark extract in dysmenorrhea: an open clinical trial. J Reprod Med 2004;49:828-32.
    8. Kohama T, Inoue M. Pycnogenol alleviates pain associated with pregnancy. Phytother Res 2006;20:232-4.
    9. Blazso G, Gabor M, Schonlau F, Rohdewald P. Pycnogenol accelerates wound healing and reduces scar formation. Phytother Res 2004;18:579-81.
    10. Yang HM, Liao MF, Zhu SY, et al. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on the effect of Pycnogenol on the climacteric syndrome in peri-menopausal women. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2007;86:978-85.
    Show more references
    calin, Jul 11, 2012
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  5. Cool
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    erik Manager

    Tinnitus Since:
    04/15/2012
    Hi Calin, it is interesting. I would like to at least try it but I need to find out if I am allergic to the pine bark it is made from. I am allergic to Juniper/cedar trees and not sure if that would also make me allergic to pine trees and pine bark. I hope not.
    erik, Jul 11, 2012
    #5

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