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Pine Bark Extract Benefits: For Sexual Health And More
Nov 4, 2016At The Heart Of Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Every second man in the United States between the ages of 40 and 70 is affected by erectile dysfunction. This is a condition when a man is unable to sustain an erection necessary for sexual intercourse. It’s obviously embarrassing and can take a huge mental toll, but beyond this, erectile dysfunction can also be among the first signs of impending coronary heart disease. This is because both involve troubles with blood circulation. A lot of research has been done on how to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and the dietary supplement Pine Bark Extract (PBE) had shown a lot of promise. Since ED is often connected to a future heart condition, PBE can help reduce cardiac risk too. It is indeed amazing when one examines pine bark extract benefits.
Pine Bark Extract: How Does It Work?
The endothelium is a thin layer of cells in the arteries, responsible for regulation of blood flow to the various organs in the body. For a variety of reasons, from poor diet, to uncontrolled stress, to lack of the right nutrients, this endothelium may not function properly. What this means is that if your blood vessels don’t relax fully, blood cannot flow to the penis to make it hard during sexual arousal.
Inflammation or repair of damages caused to the body due to various factors – poor diet, excessive stress and so on – is the second most common cause of erectile dysfunction. Pine bark extract has shown promise to help relax blood vessels and counter inflammatory damage to them.
Pine bark extract contains strong antioxidants which promote the formation of nitrogen in the endothelium. Nitric oxide relaxes the blood vessels, increasing blood flow to them. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which reduce inflammation and support proper erectile function.
Pine Bark Extract Benefits For Erectile Dysfunction: How Much And For How Long?
A study was conducted at a fertility clinic in Sofia, Bulgaria, for three months on forty men, between 25 to 45 years of age. In the first month, the men were given 1700 mg of L-arginine daily. In the second month, 80 mg of pine bark extract was added to this daily dose. In the third month, an additional 40 mg of pine bark extract was added. The results at the end of 3 months were quite interesting.
80% of men in the study could regain their normal erection after 2 months of treatment and 92.5% of men confirmed this after 3 months. There were no reported side effects in any of the participants.
Pine Bark For Prostate Cancer And Infertility
Pine Bark For Prostate Cancer And Infertility
Research on pine bark extract shows that it possesses key phytochemical constituents like flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins. These proanthocyanidins have been found to have a significant effect on prostate cancer cells. When prostate cells were tested for cancer markers after treatment with pine bark extract, the rate of cancerous growth was noticeably reduced.
In another significant study, pine bark extract was seen to increase sperm quality, helping to reduce male infertility.
Pine Bark For Better Circulation, Heart Health and Brain Function
Pine bark extract has been found to be effective in countering many other health problems that involve the circulatory system like:
- Diabetes
- Hearing Loss
- Infections
- Skin Problems caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays
- Muscle Pain and
- Cramping.
Pine bark extract has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. In patients suffering from heart attacks, using pine bark extract along with Coenzyme Q10 improves post attack recovery, including distance walked during exercise and heart function. Research has pointed to the fact that pine bark extract can significantly bring down blood pressure levels, from borderline hypertension back to the normal zone. It also reduces cholesterol and blood sugar.
Cognitive function has been studied to improve in the elderly with the use of pycnogenol or pine bark extract. In the study, doses of 150 mg per day were used for 3 months. It is interesting to note that similar cognitive benefits were observed in younger people too.
Things to Look Out For When Using Pine Bark Extract
Pine bark extract is used in many studies at a dose of 1gram per lb of body weight a day, with an upper limit of 200 mg per day. Since it can be potent at relaxing arteries, monitoring blood pressure and blood sugar levels on a regular basis is necessary, while taking pine bark extract. Failing to do so may lead to hypotension (low blood pressure) and hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar).
If you are on prescription medications for high blood pressure or for high blood sugar, use pine bark extract with great care. Consult your medical practitioner in such cases before you begin supplementation.
Is Pine Bark Extract The Single Natural Treatment For Erectile Dysfunction?
In one word, no. Although pine bark extract can rejuvenate sexual health by treating the physical cause for erectile dysfunction, it is very important to get the basics right. Eating fresh fruits and green salads, having disciplined sleeping habits and exercising well can help release stress and improve sexual health. Reduction in alcohol intake and smoking can also help.
Studies have also shown that over-exposure to pornography escalates the problem of erectile dysfunction. Sustained abstinence from such viewing material over a long period of time can help counter the negative effects of internet pornography and subsequently improve sexual health.
So keep these points in mind and if you need a dependable multi-faceted helper for your circulation and overall health, use pine bark extract.
Sharda Agarwal is a qualified Functional Nutrition Therapy Practitioner & a Certified Blood Chemistry Analyst. She first used dietary supplements to overcome a debilitating migraine she suffered for years. Since then she has studied the subjects of nutrition and nutrients extensively. She uses this to manage the health of her family at home and with Sepalika.
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References:
- “Stanislavov, R., et al, ” Treatment of erectile dysfunction with pycnogenol and L -arginine “, J Sex Marital Ther 2003 May-Jun, 29 (3 )
- Nishioka, Kenji , et . al, “Pycnogenol French Maritime Pine Bark Extract, Augments Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Humans,” Hypertension Research (2007 ) 30
- Roseff, S. (2002) Improvement in sperm quality and function with French maritime pine tree bark extract, Journal of Reproductive Medicine, Volume 47, Issue 10 (pp.821-4).
- Belcaro, G., Cesarone, M. R., Dugall, M., Hosoi, M., Ippolito, E., Bavera, P., and Grossi, M. G. Investigation of Pycnogenol(R) in combination with coenzymeQ10 in heart failure patients (NYHA II/III). Panminerva Med 2010;52(2 Suppl 1):21-25.
- Ryan, J., Croft, K., Mori, T., Wesnes, K., Spong, J., Downey, L., Kure, C., Lloyd, J., and Stough, C. An examination of the effects of the antioxidant Pycnogenol on cognitive performance, serum lipid profile, endocrinological and oxidative stress biomarkers in an elderly population. J Psychopharmacol. 2008;22(5):553-562
- Luzzi, R., Belcaro, G., Zulli, C., Cesarone, M. R., Cornelli, U., Dugall, M., Hosoi, M., and Feragalli, B. Pycnogenol(R) supplementation improves cognitive function, attention and mental performance in students. Panminerva Med. 2011;53(3 Suppl 1):75-82.