Pycnogenol for Pain Relief: Does It Work?

The truth is that most prescription medications for inflammation and pain have side effects. Some of them cause fatigue and drowsiness which can make it difficult to work or drive, while others cause significant stomach upset. For this reason, some people seek natural ways to relieve pain and inflammation. For those who hate the idea of taking a prescription pain reliever, help could be on the way. A new study shows that the supplement Pycnogenol may help to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

Does Pycnogenol Help to Relieve Pain? – The Study

In this study, published in International Immunopharmacology, researchers found that Pycnogenol blocks two biochemical pathways responsible for producing inflammation. These two pathways are known as 5-LOX and COX-2. These pathways produce two types of inflammatory chemicals, prostaglandins and leucotrienes which are known to be involved in producing pain and inflammation. Although prescription anti-inflammatory medications such as Celebrex also block the COX-2 pathway, pycnogenol appears to completely stop production of COX-2 at the time pain and inflammation are being experienced, providing a novel way to control pain symptoms.

A New Treatment for Inflammation and Pain?

This news couldn’t come at a better time. Prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications have recently come under scrutiny due to their association with increased risk of heart attack in some individuals. Pycnogenol could potentially help to relieve pain with fewer side effects.

What is Pycnogenol?

Pycnogenol is the name of a patented supplement extracted from the bark of the French maritime pine tree. It’s a potent source of bioflavonoids, chemical components thought to have a variety of health benefits, although there have been few human studies done to confirm this. In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, it’s believed to have antioxidant properties. It’s sometimes used as a natural supplement for heart disease prevention and is used by some alternative practitioners to treat asthma and ADHD in children, although its benefits haven’t been confirmed by large clinical trials. It has a good safety record with few significant side effects seen after over its thirty years on the market. It does have an astringent taste and may cause mild stomach upset in some people. There are also concerns that it could alter blood sugar levels.  

Can It Help to Relieve Pain Naturally?

It appears to act similarly to prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications by blocking COX-2, but differently enough so that it doesn’t increase the risk of heart disease or heart attack, and may even lower the risk according to limited research. Although it may not be ready for prime time, pycnogenol to relieve pain and inflammation appears to hold some promise.