When menopause is impacting your daily life, it can be tempting to turn to extreme measures to find relief. But, some of the best ways to improve your day-to-day experience can actually be found in nature. Consider Pycnogenol, a potent plant extract found in each of Kindra’s daily supplements. Also known as French Maritime pine bark (Pinus pinaster) extract, this safe yet potent ingredient is sourced exclusively from pine trees located in Southwest France and holds a high concentration of procyanidin, an antioxidant also found in cinnamon, apples, and grapes (albeit in smaller quantities). While it’s renowned for its positive effects on sleep, mental clarity, hot flashes, and night sweats, Pycnogenol is also especially notable for what it doesn’t do: Studies have shown it does not incur any hormonal alterations in menopausal women. 

Here at Kindra, we’ve seen firsthand how a Pycnogenol regimen can manage common menopause woes. Here, we’re sharing five ways this superstar extract can improve your experience during menopause and beyond.

The Core Supplement

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Regulating Body Temperature

One of Pycnogenol’s best-known benefits is its reduction in the frequency and duration of hot flashes and night sweats. In clinical studies, users of the Core, Sleep-Enhancing, and Energy-Boosting supplements saw a 33% reduction in hot flashes after just four weeks. Users experienced a 26% reduction in insomnia, too. This may be due to Pycnogenol’s ability to relieve blood-flow related symptoms: During a hot flash, your blood vessels expand as blood rushes to your skin, causing redness and sudden feelings of excessive heat. By managing your blood flow, Pycnogenol helps level out your body temperature, too.

Balancing Your Mood

Changes in estrogen, progesterone, and other hormone levels during menopause can cause drastic shifts in mood, leaving many women feeling on-edge and overtaxed. Pycnogenol has been shown to support feelings of stress, anxiety, and nervousness and generally improve your disposition. This is partially a result of Pycnogenol’s positive effects on supporting blood flow and function of the circulatory system. In other words - the healthy functioning of veins and arteries. Women who incorporated Pycnogenol supplements into their daily wellness regimens reported a 36% improvement in anxiety and 32% improvement in nervousness after 12 weeks of use.

Boosting Brain Function

As estrogen levels fluctuate, some women may experience cognitive shifts. These shifts can range in frequency and severity, with some women noticing minor forgetfulness while others report more serious effects like depression or anxiety. All too often, this menopausal concern flies under the radar. Pycnogenol has shown in at least four clinical trials to help support pathways that increase blood flow, improve oxygenation, and transport nutrients to brain cells - all key elements to improving cognitive function. After just four weeks of regular Pycnogenol intake, women in clinical trials reported a 23% improvement in memory and concentration, and that number jumped to 28% after 12 weeks of sustained use. Participants in other studies also reported measurable improvement in mental performance and extended attention span, changes that can have a drastic impact on your day-to-day decision-making.

Improving Vaginal Dryness

Did you know that Pycnogenol can impact vaginal dryness, too? Studies show that 4 weeks of 100mg dose of Pycnogenol daily can improve vaginal dryness by 45%! For additional hydration-boosting support, consider pairing a supplement with Pycnogenol with a topical vaginal lotion to promote hydration from the inside out while supporting a more moisturized intimate area.

The Daily Vaginal Lotion

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Improving Heart Health

The same circulation-regulating benefits that allow Pycnogenol to curb menopause dilemmas can strengthen your overall heart health, too. In addition to studies showing that it can lower blood pressure and improve blood flow, Pycnogenol has also been shown to protect blood vessels against oxidation, a key component to supporting heart health. These benefits may not be specific to menopausal women, but they serve as a reminder that taking care of your overall health—staying hydrated, prioritizing exercise, and eating a balanced, heart-healthy diet, for example—can be instrumental in your health and wellness on your menopausal journey, too.

Between its transparent sourcing and exhaustive list of health benefits, Pycnogenol is a secret weapon for many menopausal women. Up your intake of the super-antioxidant today—you can get 100mg daily via Kindra’s Core Supplement—and start seeing major results in just a few weeks.

Still have questions? Email us, and we may feature the query anonymously in our Dear Kindra column. Sign up to receive more tips & insights delivered straight to your inbox.

Tags: body healthy living Hormones mind Pycnogenol supplements