The Benefits of Pine Bark Extract

Reposted from Life Extension

http://blog.lifeextension.com/2015/02/the-benefits-of-pine-bark-extract.html



The pine tree is celebrated during the darkness of winter for its seemingly death-defying ability to remain green year-round.

Its bark and needles have been used by indigenous people for centuries for nutrition and general wellness.

As a matter of fact, an extract from the bark of the French maritime pine has been found to contain compounds that have year-round life-enhancing benefits. Let's explore them.

Pine Bark Extract Contains Disease-Fighting Proanthocyanidins

Proanthocyanidins derived from pine bark have been associated with a variety of benefits, including DNA protection, reduction of inflammation, decreased oxidative stress and reduced glycation. ^1-5 

Aside from these broad benefits, pine bark extract has been found to help a number of conditions.

Pine Bark Extract Supports Skin Health

Recent research has revealed an ability for pine bark extract to reduce the length and severity of the common cold.⁶ The extract has also been shown to decrease symptoms associated with psoriasis.⁷

In addition to helping with psoriasis, pine bark extract benefits the skin of healthy people, too. Not only does it protect collagen from degrading, it reduces the damage caused by ultraviolet light⁸—the primary cause of skin aging.

Pine bark extract's skin benefits don't end there. It has also shown to improve skin elasticity,^9,10 roughness, hydration,¹⁰ and hyperpigmentation.¹¹

Pine Bark Extract Improves Circulation and Menopause

In studies involving people with chronic venous insufficiency, pine bark extract reduced leg and ankle swelling and improved symptoms.^12,13

Its ability to maintain capillary health is behind its use by many women to combat "spider veins": small dilated red or violet capillaries. Women have also benefited from the use of pine bark extract during menopause¹⁴ 

The administration of 100 milligrams over an eight-week period reduced fatigue, sleep issues, memory impairment, dizziness, irritability, and depression, as well as such symptoms as headache, breast tenderness, and itching.

Pine Bark Extract Benefits Diabetes and Arthritis

Pine bark extract shows promise for other chronic diseases as well.

A trial of diabetics who received a daily dose of 125 milligrams experienced an average reduction of almost 24 mg/dL in fasting blood sugar levels. Hemoglobin A1c, which assesses long-term glucose control, and LDL cholesterol were also significantly reduced.⁵

And in participants with arthritis, 100 milligrams of pine bark extract daily resulted in a 56% reduction in symptoms, and an increase in walking distance compared to the placebo group.¹⁵

The Bottom Line

The benefits for pine bark extract extend well beyond those discussed in this brief summary.

And while you may not relish the thought of consuming pine bark (unless you're a die-hard survivalist), anyone can take pine bark extract as a supplement to help prevent a number of conditions and promote better health.

References:

1. Fitoterapia. 2010 Oct;81(7):724-36.
2. Drug Dev Ind Pharm. 1998 Feb;24(2):139-44.
3. Free Radic Biol Med. 2012 Feb 15;52(4):765-74.
4. Redox Rep. 2008;13(6):271-6.
5. Nutr Res. 2008 May;28(5):315-20.
6. Panminerva Med. 2014 Dec;56(4):301-8.
7. Panminerva Med. 2014 Mar;56(1):41-8.
8. Photochem Photobiol. 2004 Feb;79(2):193-8.
9. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2004 Jan;3(1):26-34.
10. Skin Pharmacol Physiol.2012;25(2):86-92.
11. Phytother Res.2002 Sep;16(6):567-71.
12. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost.2006 Apr;12(2):205-12.
13. Angiology.2006 Oct-Nov;57(5):569-76.
14. Panminerva Med. 2011 Sep;53(3 Suppl 1):65-70.
15. Phytother Res.2008 Apr;22(4):518-23

New Study Shows Ginger Is 10,000x Stronger Than Chemo (And Only Kills Cancer Cells)

Reposted from Healthy Holistic Living

http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/ginger-kills-cancer-cells.html?T=DM

Turmeric has widely been toted for its effect on cancer, but new research has shown that its cousin ginger is just as powerful. Not only that, an active compound in ginger has potentially been found to be more effective than some cancer medications at killing cancer. There is even preliminary evidence of some cancer medications being ineffective and actually accelerating the death of cancer patients.

The Power Of Ginger

One study, conducted by Georgia State University found that ginger extract was able to reduce the size of a prostate tumor by 56% in mice. In addition to its effect on cancer, ginger was also observed to reduce inflammation and supply the mice with life-enhancing antioxidants.

Another study published in PLoS found that one particular component in ginger known as 6-shogaol is superior to conventional cancer medication, namely chemotherapy, at targeting the cause of breast cancer malignancy: breast cancer stem cells (1).

Sometimes referred to as ‘mother cells,’ cancer stem cells are the cause of a wide range of cancers, not simply breast cancer. These ‘mother cells’ are responsible for creating the different ‘daughter’ cell types that make up the tumor colony. While cancer stem cells only constitute .2 to 1% of the cell makeup of the tumor, they seem to be almost ‘immortal.’

What that means is, these cancer stem cells can self-renew, they are capable of continuous differentiation, are resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic agents, and are capable of splitting off and forming new tumor colonies. The only way to fully ensure that your body is cancer free is to destroy the cancer stem cells within a tumor.

New Study

This new study found that the pungent constituent in ginger known as 6-shogaol was very active when it came to anti-cancer stem behavior. This constituent is produced when the root is either dried or cooked, to very common uses for ginger already. But there is something very specific about 6-shogaol that makes it potentially superior to some available chemotherapy treatments for cancer.
Researchers found that these cancer-destroying effects occurred at concentrations that were non-toxic to non-cancer cells. That means that this particular component of ginger only killed cancer cells, leaving healthy cells alone. This makes it very different from conventional cancer treatments that do not display that kind of selective cytotoxicity.

When it comes to breast cancer, 6-shogaol significantly affects the cell cycle, resulting in increased cancer cell death. It induces programmed cell death through the induction of autophagy. It also inhibits breast cancer spheroids (lumps) from forming. But that isn’t the only astounding thing about 6-shogaol.

This study also found, that in tests of the cancer drug Taxol, it did not show the same level of effectiveness at destroying cancer stem cells and tumors as 6-shogaol. Even when the concentrations of Taxol were increased, it was still found that 6-shogaol was 10,000 times more effective at killing cancer stem cells, stopping tumors from forming, and keeping healthy cells alive.

Although more research needs to be done to show how ‘modern cancer medicine’ may not be as effective as natural remedies, this is promising preliminary research.

Sources:

1. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0137614 
2. http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/ginger-10000x-stronger-chemo-taxol-cancer-research-model
3. http://naturalsociety.com/ginger-destroys-cancer-more-effectively-than-cancer-drugs/