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June 15, 2010: 09:43 PM EST
An antioxidant-rich plant extract known as pycnogenol, derived from the bark of a certain pine tree, significantly eases hay fever symptoms, according to a new Canadian study. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, causes itching, swelling, mucus production, hives and rashes in the millions of Americans affected by it. In the study, 60 people who tested positive for birch pollen allergies took either a 50 mg tablet of pycnogenol or a placebo twice daily, plus over-the-counter antihistamines as necessary. The study found that only 12.5 percent of those who started taking pycnogenol seven weeks before the allergy season began needed to use a non-prescription antihistamine medication during the season, compared to 50 percent of those who took the placebo.
D. Wilson, M. Evans, N. Guthrie, P. Sharma, J. Baisley, F. Schonlau, C. Burki, "A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled exploratory study to evaluate the potential of Pycnogenol for improving allergic rhinitis symptoms", Phytotherapy Research, June 15, 2010, © John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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