WHAT IS PYCNOGENOL®?

The compound referred to as Pycnogenol, is derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree.  The properties of this unique substance are nothing less than miraculous.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

A strong flavonoid complex, Pycnogenol neutralises no less than three specific types of dangerous, cancer causing free radicals (super oxide, hydroxyl and nitric oxide).  As a result, Pycnogenol protects the body against an entire litany of diseases aggravated by free radicals, including heart disease and cancer.

If that weren’t enough, Pycnogenol also has beneficial effects on blood chemistry and it reduces the body’s levels of interleukin-6, an immune system compound associated with the progression of aging and AIDS.  Also, in recent experiments with mice whose immune systems were damaged by alcohol, Pycnogenol restored the animals’ ability to fight retrovirus infections.

Anthony W. Martin, D.C., Ph.D., of Timmins, Ontario, has observed that Pycnogenol is of particular benefit to patients suffering from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).  Martin says that he typically recommends that his CFS patients – some of whom have included professional hockey and baseball players – adopt a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet, and supplement with a therapeutic does of Pycnogenol tablets.  “I can get a decrease in most CFS symptoms in three to six weeks,” he says.  “Pycnogenol seems to give these people a jump start.”

When applied directly to the skin, Pycnogenol reduces swelling and redness.  It promotes healing, builds collagen and arrests aging.  Pycnogenol softens, moisturizers and soothes the skin.  It has been helpful for a host of skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, acne, sunburn and poison ivy. 

WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE?

 Horphag Research holds the worldwide patent of Pycnogenol.  There are other pine bark extracts, but the quality is poor and inconsistent at best.  The plant is somewhat rare and it is very difficult to extract and process.  The current wholesale price is $3,700 USD per kilo.

WHY IS AVC THE BEST FORMULATION?

While the world of cosmetics appears to have a fair amount of  mystique, there is also a great deal of transparency.  More specifically, US law requires each product’s ingredients to be

published on the label ( in descending order).  So, if anyone can read the numbers, what’s all the secrecy about?  The secrecy and skill is in the compounding (how the product is mixed).  There are many ways of combining ingredients (e.g., heating, blending, cooling, mixing, etc.)  Like a great chef, only the chemist knows the way the ingredients are compounded.

Pycnogenol enhances vitamin absorption.  It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, it reduces redness, swelling and irritation.  The results are nothing less than astonishing.