How it went
Did it last?
- No one said the benefit wore off.
- 4 of 9 needed to keep doing it to stay well.
Read from what people wrote. A story that ends without a follow-up counts as lasting, so treat these as minimums.
| Outcome described | Accounts | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Full recovery | 0 | 0% |
| Near-full | 0 | 0% |
| Substantial | 4 | 44% |
| Partial | 3 | 33% |
| Relapsed | 0 | 0% |
| No benefit | 2 | 22% |
Only 9 accounts. Treat these percentages as anecdotes, not rates.
By how ill people were
| Severity at worst | How it went | n | Recovered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severe | 1 | 0% |
8 accounts don’t say how ill the person was.
Who published these accounts
Right-hand number: share describing a full or near-full recovery. Pages that sell something, and advocacy sites, tend to publish only the successes.
How often it comes up
Posts that mention Pycnogenol and grape seed extract, per 1,000 posts each year. Hover a point for the count.
Show as a table
| Year | Posts mentioning it | All posts | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 | 184 | 5.4 |
| 2010 | 4 | 682 | 5.9 |
| 2011 | 2 | 704 | 2.8 |
| 2012 | 15 | 1,491 | 10.1 |
| 2013 | 8 | 1,708 | 4.7 |
| 2014 | 7 | 2,352 | 3.0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 2,158 | 0.5 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1,431 | 0.7 |
| 2017 | 5 | 3,110 | 1.6 |
| 2018 | 6 | 2,201 | 2.7 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1,075 | 0.9 |
| 2020 | 3 | 2,581 | 1.2 |
| 2021 | 0 | 1,867 | 0.0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1,166 | 0.0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1,000 | 2.0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 1,237 | 1.6 |
| 2025 | 3 | 1,019 | 2.9 |
| 2026 (so far) | 0 | 840 | 0.0 |
Posts in the forum threads we archived, 26,806 in all, counted per year. A mention means the post names the treatment, not that the writer took it. These threads all contain a recovery story, so they show what those communities discussed, not everyone with ME/CFS or long COVID. All trends
All 9 accounts
-
Grape Seed Extract, Thins/Cleans our Blood
Started taking OPC Vital, a grape seed extract variant, on a doctor's recommendation. Illness duration and severity are not detailed. Says she feels great, is less aggressive, her skin condition is good, she is more productive and active, and her hands,…
-
Grape Seed Extract, Thins/Cleans our Blood
Took Pycnogenol daily for a year in 1995, then switched to ongoing Grape Seed Extract for more than 23 years since. Describes a lifetime of allergy and sinus issues beforehand. Says a lifetime of those issues went away, and by a later update at 82 years old…
-
Your experiences with grape seed extract.
Grape seed extract, dose and duration not stated; how long ill and severity are also not given. He reported that it caused terrible insomnia. He wanted to keep taking it for its allergy benefits but could not tolerate the sleep disruption. He discontinued…
-
Your experiences with grape seed extract.
Pycnogenol, a grape-derived extract, taken at a high initial dose of four capsules before later dropping to a lower maintenance amount; duration of illness and severity are not stated. He described an intense bodily reaction at the high dose, a fizzing…
-
Going Under the Knife Does It.
Commenting on another patient's sinus surgery story, mentions her own long-running use of Pycnogenol starting in 1995 and then Grape Seed Extract for over 23 years since, for lifelong sinus and allergy problems. Illness duration and severity are not detailed…
-
Oscillo and Flu Prevention
Uses Oscillococcinum, a homeopathic remedy, at the first signs of flu symptoms, alongside Hyland's Calms Forte for sleep and decades of ongoing Grape Seed Extract use. Illness duration and severity are not detailed, and this account concerns flu-avoidance…
-
Pycnogeneol
Pycnogenol, taken as Swanson's pine bark extract at 100mg per day. Illness duration and severity are not stated in the post, though the poster had already seen immune-related improvements from other treatments. He reports a notable improvement right away…
-
Fixing Leaky Gut Helps ME/CFS, and Sometimes Achieves Full Remission
Took a twice-daily leaky-gut supplement stack (S. boulardii, grape seed extract, zinc carnosine, vitamin E, NAG, triphala, glutamine, slippery elm bark, zinc) after years of severe IBS-D alongside his ME/CFS. Digestion was much improved within 3-4 days and…
-
Anyone tried Pycnogenol?
Pycnogenol, taken together with grape seed extract as part of a wider antioxidant regimen; exact dose and duration of illness are not stated. He reports the regimen successfully normalized his oxidative stress markers on testing. Despite that biochemical…