Pine Bark for Arthritis Pain

Pine bark, also known as Pycnogenol, is an extract from the French maritime pine tree. Pycnogenol can be beneficial for people who suffer from arthritis pain. Pycnogenol can enhance joint mobility, reduce pain and decrease the amount of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) patients typically use.

Expert Insight

• A 2008 study conducted by the Chieti-Pescara University in Italy and published in the August issue of journal of Phyotherapy Research, recruited 156 patients with osteoarthritis in the knees to take either a placebo or 100 mgs of Pycnogenol for three months. At the end of the study, 56 percent of patients taking Pycnogenol reported less pain and greater mobility.

Effects

• In the Chieti-Pescara University study, 58 percent of the participants voluntarily reduced the amount of analgesics taken each day because of lowered pain levels, though the study did not require a reduction or cessation of painkillers.

Function

• Pine bark is an antioxidant that contains oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs). The OPCs are believed to block plaque buildup in blood vessels to reduce inflammation. Grape seeds and red wine also contain OPCs.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

• A followup to the original Italian study, conducted jointly by Chieti-Pescara University and the University of Munster in Germany, selected 56 people from the first study who had high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP is a protein that causes inflammation. The participants who took 50 mgs of Pycnogenol daily had a reduction of CRP levels from an average of 3.9mg/dL to 1.1mg/dL. This resulted in less pain and joint swelling for the patients.

History

• Pine bark has been used by Europeans for more than 450 years, first as a treatment for scurvy because of its high vitamin C content, and later as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and treatment for gastrointestinal disorders.