User's Guide to Pycnogenol: Nature's Most Versatile Supplement [Paperback]

Richard A. Passwater (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2005

One of lthe most remarkable natural antioxidants ever discovered, Pycnogenol (pronounced pik-nah-jeh-nol)is actually a complex of more than forty individual antioxidants extracted from the bark of French maritime pine trees. Long popular in Europe and the Unite States, Pycnogenol has been shown in scientific studies to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, painful inflmmation, and even erectile dysfunction. Although these and other diseases may seem unrelated, they all share the same undercurrent of inadequate antioxidant levels. Pycnogenol's unique properties and proven benefits have helped millions of people.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard A. Passwater, Ph.D., is a research biochemist, has written numerous books and magazine articles on the subject of nutrition, including the best-selling "Supernutriton: Megavitamin Revolution." Dr. Passwater writes a monthly column for "Whole Foods" magazine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Basic Health Publications (May 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591201624
• ISBN-13: 978-1591201625
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 4.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,181,640 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Alternative Medicine > Supplements

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only a starting point, March 23, 2010

By 

Irfan A. Alvi (Towson, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: User's Guide to Pycnogenol: Nature's Most Versatile Supplement (Paperback)

I read about the numerous potential benefits of pycnogenol in another book, and they seemed promising enough that I sought a book focused on pycnogenol. I chose this book by Richard Passwater because it's fairly recent (2005) and because I have some confidence in Jack Challem, the series editor. The book has some useful information, but it has substantial limitations:

(1) Passwater is described as a "research biochemist" holding a PhD. But his PhD is from a questionable institution called "Bernadean University" and I found only 3 articles in PubMed which list him as an author, despite his 50 years in this field. This suggests that his formal qualifications may be overstated, though that doesn't mean he doesn't have expertise on this topic.

(2) The book has about 100 pages, but each page is like a newspaper column, so this is more of an extended pamphlet rather than a true book. You can easily read it in one or two sittings.

(3) Passwater provides significant information about apparent mechanisms of action, but he oversimplifies the descriptions of clinical findings, particularly by not describing the specifics of the magnitudes and durations of pycnogenol benefits. Vague statements that pycnogenol "lowered," "increased," or "improved" something aren't sufficient.

(4) He doesn't offer a list of reliable manufacturers. Why make the reader research this?

(5) The dosing recommendations aren't detailed enough and don't cover the wide variety of health conditions which pycnogenol may be helpful for. For example, I'm considering pycnogenol for treatment of two particular health conditions, and I still don't know what dosage to take after reading this book.

Despite these issues, this book/pamphlet may be a good starting point to learn about pycnogenol, but I recommend reading peer-reviewed papers to get more detailed information.