A new study published in Panminerva Medica found Pycnogenol French maritime pine bark extract, a natural anti-inflammatory and circulation booster, may significantly relieve and prevent symptoms associated with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), a condition characterized by sensations of crawling, pulling, throbbing, aching, and itching in the legs, often resulting in sleep disruption and the uncontrollable urge to move.

RLS impacts nearly 10% of the U.S. population and can lead to other health concerns.

“Restless Legs Syndrome is often missed or dismissed in diagnosis, but it’s a real health condition often rooted in microcirculation,” said study author and renowned natural physician, Dr. Fred Pescatore. “Many patients feel helpless and unheard because the symptoms seem to be exaggerated or imagined. It’s not in your head, it’s in your legs, and this research shows there are steps you can take with a powerful natural ingredient that may help you feel better.”

Frustrating symptoms can begin at any age and worsen. Most who suffer from this condition feel sensations of crawling, pulling, and throbbing after long periods of sitting or lying down, such as sleeping or sitting at a desk. Moving the legs typically temporarily relieves the discomfort, but the sensations can reoccur after movement stops. Those who have RLS can also suffer from poor sleep quality, fatigue, and higher stress levels, which can impact other aspects of daily life.

The study, published in Panminerva Medica, tested 45 subjects with Restless Legs Syndrome. Twenty-one subjects supplemented with 150 mg of Pycnogenol per day, while another 24 subjects followed a standard management routine in the control group. After four weeks, subjects in the Pycnogenol group showed significant improvement in all prominent symptoms of RLS, including:

• 33% decrease in crawling (vs. 3% decrease in control group)
• 30% decrease in creeping (vs. 7% decrease in control group)
• 41% decrease in pulling (vs. 7% decrease in control group)
• 63% decrease in throbbing (vs. 6% decrease in control group)
• 72% decrease in aching (vs. 3% decrease in control group)
• 48% decrease in itching (vs. 10% decrease in control group)
• 52% decrease in electric shocks (vs. 17% decrease in control group)
• 61% decrease in sleep problems (vs. 16% decrease in control group)

Research indicates that as many as 22% of those with RLS also have venous insufficiency. While additional research is needed to determine the relationship between RLS and edema, this study found that 81% of subjects in the Pycnogenol group improved their status of minimal edema.

Additionally, after four weeks, the need for pain management was significantly reduced for those in the Pycnogenol group.

“Even when Restless Legs Syndrome is properly diagnosed, medication to treat the condition includes pharmaceuticals that increase dopamine in the brain, resulting in side effects like nausea and sleepiness. Opioids or narcotic medications may be used to relieve more severe symptoms and can be extremely addictive,” said Pescatore.

“Pycnogenol is an all-natural solution,” he added. “Decades of research and global market availability show this circulation booster is safe and effective and is especially recognized as an ingredient at the forefront of naturally improving blood circulation. This study now shows its effects specifically on symptoms related to Restless Legs Syndrome.”