The Christmas tree is the enduring iconic symbol of Christmas. Out of all the Christmas traditions, decorating the Christmas tree with candy canes, tinsel, collected ornaments, baubles and topping it off with a star is certainly up there for some as one of their favourite childhood memories. Adorned with lights, Christmas trees promote hope and offer brightness. There's nothing like the uplifting scent of a real Christmas tree to get you feeling festive. So in the spirit of the season we bring you some of the medicinal attributes of maritime pine.
Maritime pine is famed for its ability to fight inflammation, stimulate immune system action, ease swelling and exert remarkable antioxidant effects. The most extensively studied use of maritime pine is to treat cardiovascular health, especially improvement of endothelial (the inner lining of blood vessels) function and chronic venous insufficiency, a condition defined by poor drainage of blood from veins resulting in swelling or skin problems. Other indications include hypertension, cholesterol reduction, fluid retention, diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, gingival bleeding/plaque, venous leg ulcers. Maritime pine is also included in prescriptions for the common cold, influenza, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, upper respiratory catarrh, rheumatism and arthritis.
A recent study involving 20 children (aged between 8-12) with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) found that supplementing with maritime pine bark extract significantly decreased inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. The randomised, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study included two experimental units (four weeks with maritime pine supplementation and four weeks with placebo supplementation) separated by a two-week washout period. ADHD participants were supplemented with 25mg or 50mg of maritime pine bark extract. The aetiology of ADHD is complicated and includes genetic factors, the abnormal metabolism of neurotransmitters, heavy metal toxicity, food sensitivities, nutritional problems among other risk factors. Recent research shows that oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathology of ADHD and antioxidant supplements have been reported to assist in the treatment of ADHD. Maritime pine bark is abundant in procyanidins, referred to as oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs), a rich source of natural polyphenols.
References
HEC monograph
Hsu CD, Hsieh LH, Chen YL, Lin IC, Chen YR, Chen CC, Shirakawa H, Yang SC.
Complementary effects of pine bark extract supplementation on inattention,
impulsivity, and antioxidative status in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder: A double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study.
Phytother Res. 2021 Jun;35(6):3226-3235. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7036. Epub 2021 Feb 8.
PMID: 33559134.
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