About 60 million people in the U.S. are affected by allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever. Hay fever causes itching, swelling, mucus production, hives and rashes.
A study demonstrates that an antioxidant plant extract derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree substantially improves the symptoms of hay fever.
Eurekalert reports:
“Blood was collected before and after treatment throughout the entire birch pollen season for the measurement of birch specific IgE antibodies ... Comparison of birch specific IgE levels from the start of the trial and the end of allergy season showed an increase of 31.9 percent in the placebo group but only 19.4 percent in the [pine bark extract] group.”
Self reported nasal and eye symptoms were also lower in the pine bark extract group.