Uses of Pycnogenol

Many people wonder what

Pycnogenol^® is used for. Pycnogenol is a patented extract used in numerous dietary supplements. It is made from the French maritime pine tree and is claimed to be useful for treating a wide variety of medical conditions. Specifically, people claim that Pycnogenol is beneficial for preventing and/or treating the following conditions:

Asthma
Chronic venous insufficiency (a condition that involves leg swelling, varicose veins, pain, itching, and other skin changes)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Retinopathy (an eye condition commonly caused by diabetes)
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis)
Diabetes
Impotence (also known as erectile dysfunction, or ED)
High cholesterol
Male infertility
Heart attacks or strokes
Leg cramps
Pregnancy pains (such as back pain, pelvic pain, and leg cramps)
Painful menstrual periods (dysmenorrhea).

Pycnogenol is also said to improve athletic performance.

As with any dietary supplement, Pycnogenol is probably not beneficial for every single possible use. Of all the uses that the supplement is claimed to treat, the strongest evidence is for treating asthma, chronic venous insufficiency, high blood pressure, and retinopathy.

(For more information, click Benefits of Pycnogenol. This article takes an in-depth look at what Pycnogenol is used for, including information on how it works and whether it is safe for use in children.)