Pine bark relieves hemorrhoid symptoms

CHIETI, Italy, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- An anti-oxidant plant extract Pycnogenol may be beneficial in patients with hemorrhoids, both for acute and chronic treatment, researchers in Italy said.

Pycnogenol, also known as pink bark, is from the bark of the French maritime pine tree and has important anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties.

The randomized, controlled study conducted by G. D'Annunzio University in Italy investigated 84 patients suffering from an acute episode of external hemorrhoids, lasting 24-48 hours prior to inclusion in the study.

Patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups, Group 1 consisted of initial 300 mg of Pycnogenol tablets daily for four days, followed by 150 mg per day for the following three days; Group 2 received the same treatment as Group 1, plus 0.5 percent Pycnogenol topical cream; and Group 3 was a placebo treatment group.

The study, published in Phytotherapy Research, found hemorrhoid bleeding was completely absent in the Pycnogenol groups after seven days and thereafter, while it was still observed in the placebo group during two weeks of follow up.

"Topical medications, lifestyle changes and careful hygiene are all that is needed for most patients to control symptoms of hemorrhoids," study co-author Peter Rohdewald said in a statement.

"In this study, both topical and oral Pycnogenol treatment reduced the intensity and duration of hemorrhoidal pain and bleeding."