DVT and ginkgo biloba
My family and I are flying to Australia next summer and so I am very interested in which herbal remedies we can use to help prevent DVT. I know you have recommended using ginkgo biloba in the past but my local herbal specialists say pycnogenol would be better.
I wrote recently about the increasing use of Pycnogenol - one of the plant chemicals known collectively as flavanoids - in skin creams. Extracted from pine bark, it is certainly a powerful antioxidant and so would also be something I would recommend to athletes and people who exercise regularly - since the downside of working out is that it generates more damaging free radicals in the body, which a good antioxidant will then mop up.
However, I am not sure why the specialists you spoke to would favour it over ginkgo biloba in the prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). The fact is there is no clinical evidence for the use of pycnogenol or ginkgo biloba in this context, but what we do know about ginkgo is that it works to improve blood flow in the peripheral blood vessels - which is why researchers believe it could help prevent blood clots. Pycnogenol can help strengthen and repair the body’s connective tissues, including those of the cardiovascular system, but there is no suggestion that I am aware of that it works specifically on the small capilliaries in the same way as ginkgo.
The best way to use ginkgo in this context is to use a timed-release capsule and for long haul flights, I would also use another herb called Gotu Kola which can help prevent swelling of both the legs and feet. You can get both these remedies from the NutriCentre on 0800-587 2290. Frequent long-haul fliers can now be tested to ascertain their risk of DVT. For details, call The Doctors Laboratory on 0207-460 4800.