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Extract of French maritime pine bark (Pycnogenol) lower the risk of DVT and ease symptoms of jet lag in travellers. [Photo: Bigstock]

Pine bark extract helps you travel happy

Natural Health News — Good news for travellers. New research shows that taking natural French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) is effective in reducing lower leg swelling, known as oedema, and relieving jet lag symptoms associated with long-haul flights and road trips.

Oedema is a major risk factors of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and can result from lack of activity or being confined in a small space, like an airplane or car, for long periods of time. Those who are overweight, smoke, have high blood pressure or are taking the combined contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are most at risk.

DVT can be painful and, given the risk of a blood clot, it can be dangerous as well so finding ways of controlling it are important.

A natural solution

For the he study, published in Minerva Cardioangiologica, the Italian research team tested 295 people at varying risk levels for thrombosis, flying in economy class twice a week for more than eight hours. Participants were divided into three groups – a control group, a group wearing compression stockings and a group supplementing with Pycnogenol. These participants supplemented with 150mg of Pycnogenol daily during the three days leading up to their travel, and the three days following.

The supplement dose in this study was 150 mg per day delivered in three capsules per day. Supplementation started three days before the flights and stopped three days after the second flight.

Study participants were tested using D-dimer tests to detect blood clots and ultrasound scanning to study vein compression before and after each flight. Results show that those who supplemented with Pycnogenol experienced greater reduction of oedema in the lower legs and ankle circumference compared to control groups.

There was also a significant decrease in leg pain after flights (6% in those taking Pycnogenol compared to 19 and 17% respectively in the compression stocking and control groups).

Easing jet lag too

In addition to the reported benefits for oedema symptoms, participants in this new research also showed notable improvement in jet lag symptoms including improved sleep quality and cognitive function, reduced fatigue and visual impairment, better body clock synchronisation.

Pycnogenol is powerfully antioxidant and decades of research has shown it can boost blood circulation and act as a natural anti-inflammatory. This new study supports previous research – much of it performed by the same Italian team, linking the extract to better conditions post-travel, such as reduced venous thrombosis​​ and improvements in jet lag symptoms​​.

Pycnogenol supplements are widely available in health stores.