Good news for travellers. A new study shows that natural French maritime pine bark extract Pycnogenol, a powerful superantioxidant shown to boost blood circulation and act as a natural anti-inflammatory, is effective in reducing lower leg swelling (edema) and relieving jet lag often associated with long flights and road trips.
Edema is one of the major risk factors of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can result from lack of activity or being confined in an airplane or car for long periods of time. Participants were tested for blood clots and vein compression before and after each flight. Results show that those who supplemented with Pycnogenol experienced significant improvement of their edema symptoms. Pycnogenol was also found to improve jet lag symptoms, helping travellers feel more rested.