What Pycnogenol Is
Pycnogenol is the trademarked extract of the bark of the French maritime pine, and each two-capsule serving of this NOW bottle supplies 60 mg of it with 600 mg of a citrus bioflavonoid complex alongside.
It is worth being clear about what you are buying, because the name is the product. Pycnogenol is a registered trademark of Horphag Research, made to a fixed specification from the bark of Pinus pinaster grown in south-west France, and it is one of the most studied plant extracts in the world. A generic pine bark extract is a different thing at a different price. When somebody asks us for Pycnogenol by name, this is what they mean.
What Is in Each Serving
Taken from NOW’s own panel, per two-capsule serving.
Pycnogenol, 60 mg. That is 30 mg per capsule, which is where the name on the front of the bottle comes from. NOW’s suggested use is two capsules, one to three times daily, so the daily amount is 60 mg, 120 mg or 180 mg depending on which end of that range you follow.
Citrus bioflavonoid complex, 600 mg. Ten times as much by weight as the Pycnogenol, and the ingredient almost nobody notices on this product. It is a real part of what you are paying for and it deserves naming.
Capsule and carriers. Hypromellose capsule shell, rice flour and vegetable-source stearic acid. The hypromellose shell is plant-based, so unlike most of the capsules on our shelves this one suits vegetarians and vegans.
Made without yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients, in a GMP facility that does handle those allergens elsewhere.
What the Regulators Say, and Why We Are Telling You
We would rather you heard this from us than found it out afterwards. No approved health claim exists anywhere in the European register for pine bark extract or for citrus bioflavonoids. Not for circulation, not for skin, not for joints, not for eyes, not as an antioxidant.
That does not mean the research does not exist. Pycnogenol has a large published literature and that is exactly why the trademark commands its price. It means the claims have not been through the approval process that lets a shop print them on a label, and we would rather hold to that than borrow a benefit we cannot stand behind.
So here is our honest position. If you already take Pycnogenol and know why, we stock the genuine trademarked extract and we will keep it on the shelf for you. If you are new to it and hoping for a specific result, please come and talk to our pharmacist first, because there may be a cheaper and better-established way to get what you are actually after.
Where the Established Claims Actually Live
Three of the things this product is usually sold for do have approved routes, and none of them runs through pine bark. We would rather point you at them.
For skin and collagen. The approved collagen claim belongs to vitamin C, which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. An effervescent vitamin C at 1,000 mg carries that claim outright, and it also carries the approved claim for protecting cells from oxidative stress, which is the properly evidenced version of an antioxidant benefit.
For your eyes. If a change in your vision is what brought you here, that needs an eye examination rather than a capsule. For somebody already under an eye doctor’s care, a dedicated macular formula is built around the nutrients that stage of care actually uses.
For joints. A purpose-built joint complex is the better place to start if stiff or sore joints are the reason you are shopping, and our pharmacist can go through the options with you.
How to Take It
Two capsules, one to three times daily, as NOW suggest. Most people who take it settle on two capsules once a day, which is 60 mg.
At two capsules once daily a 60-capsule bottle runs for 30 days. Please check the duration on the box you are holding before you plan a repeat, because NOW’s own panel states 15 servings per container, and 60 capsules at two per serving divides into 30. We would rather point out the discrepancy than guess which figure is right, and our pharmacist will check the box with you at the counter.
Is Pycnogenol Right for You?
- Adults only. That is NOW’s own instruction for this product, and there is no paediatric dose for it.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding. NOW ask you to consult a physician first. Please speak to our doctor before you buy rather than after.
- If you take anything for your blood pressure or your circulation, or a blood thinner. This is the caution we would put first. Bring your prescription to the counter and let our pharmacist look at the whole list. If a circulation problem is what brought you here, it is worth having our doctor examine it properly, because leg or chest symptoms can have causes that need treating within days.
- If you are managing any diagnosed condition or taking regular medication. NOW’s label says consult a physician, and we would rather you spent ten minutes with ours first.
- If the price is the deciding factor. This is one of the dearer bottles we carry, and the reason is the trademark and the specification behind it rather than the capsule count. Ask us before you commit, and we will tell you honestly whether it is the right thing for what you want.
Where to Buy NOW Pycnogenol in Kenya
Order online and we deliver countrywide, or collect from our pharmacy at Kahawa Sukari Shopping Center, Nairobi. We send orders to Nairobi and every neighbourhood around it — the CBD, Westlands, Parklands, Gigiri, Muthaiga, Runda, Rosslyn, Kitisuru, Lower Kabete, Lavington, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Karen, Langata, South B, South C, Eastleigh, Buruburu, Donholm, Embakasi, Ngong Road, Kasarani, Roysambu, Zimmerman, Githurai, Ruaka, Banana Hill, Two Rivers, Village Market and Pride Lands — and across Kiambu, Thika, Juja, Ruiru, Kikuyu, Limuru and Ngong.
Beyond the capital we deliver to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Machakos, Athi River, Kitengela, Kajiado, Naivasha, Narok, Kericho, Bomet, Kisii, Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Vihiga, Webuye, Kitale, Nandi Hills, Iten, Kapenguria, Embu, Meru, Chuka, Kerugoya, Murang’a, Othaya, Nyahururu, Nanyuki, Maralal, Isiolo, Marsabit, Moyale, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Lodwar, Kitui, Mwingi, Makueni, Emali, Kibwezi, Voi, Taveta, Wundanyi, Mariakani, Diani, Ukunda, Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi, Lamu and Hola. At two capsules a day a pack runs for a known length of time, so tell us the pack size you want and we will work out how many months that covers before you order.
Across Africa, ask us before you order. We have sent orders to Uganda, Tanzania, Somaliland and as far as Malawi, and we will quote for Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and the rest of the continent. Tell us the destination and we will confirm any import paperwork before the parcel leaves us.
Living abroad? Order from wherever you are and we deliver to your family here in Kenya. Kenyans in the UK, the United States, Canada, South Africa and the Gulf order from us regularly for parents and relatives at home. A standardised pine bark extract like this one taken steadily month after month does far more than a single pack, so tell us who it is for and how many months you want covered and we will set up the repeat.
Why Buy Your NOW Pycnogenol from HealthAlone Kenya?
HealthAlone is a pharmacist-led health ecosystem licensed by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, and our stock is original, sealed and correctly stored. Kahawa Sukari is a real counter with real pharmacists behind it.
Our pharmacists will check this against anything you take for your blood pressure, your circulation or your blood, and tell you honestly whether this is the right thing for what you want. Our doctor is here too if you would rather have the whole question looked at properly.
It is one more step in our vision: building Africa’s most trusted health ecosystem, accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pycnogenol?
A branded, standardised extract of the bark of the French maritime pine, Pinus pinaster, grown in south-west France. Pycnogenol is a registered trademark of Horphag Research Ltd, made to a fixed specification, which is what separates it from a generic pine bark extract and what accounts for most of the price difference.
How much is in each capsule?
30 mg of Pycnogenol per capsule, so 60 mg in the two-capsule serving NOW’s panel is based on, along with 600 mg of a citrus bioflavonoid complex. The bioflavonoid complex is ten times the weight of the Pycnogenol and is a substantial part of what you are buying.
What does Pycnogenol do?
We will give you the straight answer rather than the marketing one. No approved health claim exists in the European register for pine bark extract or for citrus bioflavonoids — not for circulation, skin, joints, eyes or antioxidant activity. There is a large published literature on the extract, which is why the trademark is valuable, but none of it has been through the approval process that would let a shop print a benefit beside it. If you already take it and know why, we stock the genuine article. If you are new to it, please talk to our pharmacist about what you are hoping for.
Is there something with an approved claim instead?
For skin and collagen, yes: the approved collagen claim belongs to vitamin C, and an effervescent vitamin C at 1,000 mg carries it, together with the approved claim for protecting cells from oxidative stress. For joints, a purpose-built joint complex is the better starting point. For the eyes, a change in vision needs an examination first, and a macular formula built for that stage of care is for somebody already under an eye doctor’s care.
How many capsules should I take, and how long does a bottle last?
NOW suggest two capsules, one to three times daily. At two capsules once a day a 60-capsule bottle covers 30 days. One thing to check on your own box: NOW’s panel states 15 servings per container, and 60 capsules at two per serving comes to 30, so please confirm the figure on the label before you plan a repeat and our pharmacist will go through it with you.
Is it safe to take every day?
NOW’s own instruction is adults only, and to consult a physician if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or managing a medical condition. That is the manufacturer’s text and it is worth following. Please speak to our pharmacist before you start a daily habit, especially if you take anything for your blood pressure or circulation.
Can I take it with my blood pressure medicine?
Bring the prescription to the counter first. We would want our pharmacist to see the whole list, and if a circulation problem is the reason you are here, our doctor should examine it properly — leg and chest symptoms sometimes have causes that need treating within days. Keep taking what you have been prescribed.
Is it suitable for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes. The capsule shell is hypromellose, which is plant-based, and the other ingredients are rice flour and vegetable-source stearic acid. It is also made without yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients, in a facility that handles those allergens elsewhere.
Why is it more expensive than other pine bark extracts?
Because it is Pycnogenol rather than pine bark extract generally. The trademark covers a specific sourcing and manufacturing specification, and NOW note that the product may be covered by United States and international patents. If price is the deciding factor, tell us what you are trying to achieve and we will be honest about whether this is the right bottle for it.
Where can I buy Pycnogenol in Kenya, and what does it cost?
From HealthAlone, online for delivery countrywide or over the counter at Kahawa Sukari Shopping Center, Nairobi. The current price is shown at the top of this listing. We deliver across Nairobi — the CBD, Westlands, Parklands, Gigiri, Muthaiga, Runda, Kitisuru, Lavington, Kilimani, Karen, Langata, South B, South C, Eastleigh, Kasarani, Roysambu, Githurai, Ruaka and Banana Hill — and to Kiambu, Thika, Juja, Ruiru, Kikuyu, Limuru, Ngong, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Nyeri, Machakos, Kitengela, Naivasha, Narok, Kericho, Kisii, Migori, Homa Bay, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Kitale, Embu, Meru, Nanyuki, Nyahururu, Isiolo, Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Lodwar, Kitui, Makueni, Voi, Taveta, Mariakani, Diani, Ukunda, Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi and Lamu. Outside Kenya we have delivered to Uganda, Tanzania, Somaliland and Malawi, and we quote for Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and the rest of Africa on request. At two capsules a day a bottle covers 30 days, so tell us how many months you want covered and we will set up the repeat.
