Pycnogenol for Jet Lag
Pine Bark Extract
Melatonin works well for jet lag, and now it appears that pycnogenol (pine bark extract) may do so as well. Italian researchers reported that taking pycnogenol for a few days before and after a long flight may cut the severity and duration of jet lag. The investigators asked study participants to take 50 mg of the extract three times a day, beginning two days before long flights (seven to nine hours), and for five days after the flight. A control group received a placebo. In the 48 hours following the flight, all participants reported symptoms such as fatigue, grogginess and insomnia. The group that took the pycnogenol had symptoms that lasted an average of 18.2 hours, while participants in the control group reported symptoms lasting an average of 39.3 hours. In the second part of the study, all participants underwent brain scans within 28 hours of their flights. The researchers noted that the controls showed more swelling in the brain than the participants who took pycnogenol. The investigators suggested that jet lag symptoms may be related to swelling of the brain, which may be prevented by the pycnogenol. The study was published in the October 2008 issue of the journal Minerva Cardioangiologica.
