Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, has been found to significantly reduce the symptoms of endometriosis, say researchers in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine. Carried out by the Kanazawa University School of Medicine in Japan, the small study involved two groups of women: those taking Pycnogenol and others taking gonadotropin-releasing hormone agents (Gn-RHa, a common hormonal treatment). Both groups showed no differences at the start of treatment and reported severe pain, pelvic tenderness and pelvic indurations. After four weeks, the researchers claim that Pycnogenol slowly but steadily reduced all symptoms from severe to moderate.
Treatment with Gn-RHa was found to reduce the symptoms more effectively, but 24 weeks after treatment, a relapse of symptoms occurred. Additionally, while Gn-RHa suppressed menstruation and lowered estrogen levels during treatment, no effect on menstrual cycles or estrogen levels was observed in the Pycnogenol group.
"The cause of endometriosis is unknown and treatment to fully cure endometriosis has yet to be developed," said Dr. Takafumi Kohama, lead researcher of the study. "Common hormone treatments such as Gn-RHa may likely restrict women from becoming pregnant during treatment. Our results convey Pycnogenol as an extremely effective natural treatment without dangerous side effects," he said.
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Source: Journal of Reproductive Medicine
