Zinopin: Natural Formula Could Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis

DVT made headlines in the late 80s and throughout the 90s when several deaths linked to blood clots occurred in people who had recently travelled by air.

Until then, the risks of flying seemed limited to plane crashes. But suddenly people were being warned that a long period of sitting in a typical airplane cabin environment could be hazardous to your health. Studies have shown that remaining in a seated position for a long time can actually reduce blood flow by over 60 per cent.1

That reduced blood flow allows blood platelets to interact with each other more closely (in other words, the blood gets thicker), which increases the risk of clotting. And to make the plane even less enticing, low air pressure has been shown to activate the process.2 Throw in dehydration and low humidity, and you have all the factors and ingredients that could lead to a potentially fatal blood clot.

Complicating things even further, problems don't usually become obvious until days later, since clots tend to dislodge once you're up and moving again. If it comes loose and goes to an artery in your lungs and gets stuck, blocking blood flow, it may cause pulmonary embolism and even death.

The aftershock of the media reports on travellers thrombosis caused many people to think twice about long haul flights.

As you might imagine, the airlines noticed throughout the 90s a drop in ticket sales and began scrambling for solutions. It was then that a number of leading airlines contacted the directors of the company Pynogin GmbH Switzerland asking for a safe, natural product that could help their passengers maintain healthy blood circulation during long haul flights.

Planes, trains, and automobiles all pose risk

It turns out that the original request from airlines was for a drink they could offer to passengers on long flights. After being in development for two years, a promising drink was presented to the airline lawyers. However, they backed off, claiming that to offer such a drink would be too much of a liability even though each extract has generally recognized as safe status. So the manufacturers went back to the drawing board, and after three more years of development, they came up with Zinopin, a capsule form of the original liquid combination.

They brought their research and formulations to Dr. Scurr, a vascular surgeon at Londons Lister Hospital. Since his office is close to the airport, and as he's an avid amateur pilot, he took a personal interest in finding a treatment. Skeptical at first, Dr. Scurr reviewed all the available research and documentation and has since become an active advocate for Zinopin and continues to research its benefits.

Although the media hype about DVT has died down recently, Scurrs findings in a preliminary study on Zinopin, estimate that U.S. airlines carry about 600 million passengers, 50 per cent making journeys over four hours with up to 10 per cent developing clots, and up to 1.8 million travellers develop DVT.3

Even though his conclusions are based on air travel, Dr. Scurrs study also points out that its the lack of movement that creates much of the problem. Riding in a car or even sitting at a desk for extended periods of time can have the same result.

Combination formula tackles blood clots and motion sickness

Zinopin is a combination of two natural extracts: ginger root and Pycnogenol, an extract from pine trees grown in the south-western coastal region of France.

A 1999 clinical study of Pycnogenol demonstrated its ability to inhibit the production of thromboxane. Thromboxane is a member of the family of lipids known as eicosanoids. And although some types are good, this particular type of eicosanoid causes increased stickiness of platelets and clotting of blood. In other words, if you have an increase in thromboxane, you have an increased risk for potentially fatal blood clots.

The researchers administered two different doses of Pyncogenol, 100 mg and 200 mg. They found that the 200 mg dose of Pycnogenol significantly reduced platelet aggregation, the process where placelets clump together to form a clot, compared to the 100 mg dose.4

Then we have standardised ginger root, which Im sure rings more of a bell. Animal research out of Safat, Kuwait confirms its potential as an antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory agent. One human trial showed a 25 per cent reduction in thromboxane concentrations in adult volunteers who ate five grams of raw ginger daily.5

And if you consider another ailment associated with air travel motion sickness gingers benefit in Zinopin is twofold. It has been shown in studies and is widely accepted that ginger is a useful spice in preventing motion sickness.

Although there arent more indepth clinical trials published specific to Zinopin, Dr. Scurr does have one underway, and it is currently under peer review awaiting publication. I can tell you that early reports on the trial indicate that more than 50 per cent of the passengers taking Zinopin commented that they had less ankle swelling.

Zinopin successfully helps prevent swollen legs and ankles

While clinical studies are lacking, there is a lot of positive anecdotal evidence to support Zinopin. The Daily Mails Good Health section reported on one womans experience using Zinopin last July. Margaret Browell, a 63-year-old nurse from London, has a daughter and two grandchildren in Zimbabwe and a son in Western Australia.

As a frequent long haul flyer, she always took preventative measures to avoid the danger of DVT: drinking lots of water, stretching her legs throughout the flight, wearing elasticised stockings, and taking aspirin. But she still always ended up with swollen legs and ankles after flying.

After one flight last autumn, she starting having pain behind her knee, then began having chest pains. A few days later she ended up being admitted to the hospital with a suspected pulmonary embolism.

Thats enough to scare anyone away from future air travel, but with Browells children scattered around the globe, that just wasnt an option for her. So she called fellow London practitioner Dr Scurr, found out more about Zinopin, and agreed to become part of his study.

When she travelled to Australia to visit her son a few months later, she added Zinopin to her other standard precautions. She arrived feeling fine her legs and ankles felt completely normal.

Another patient of Dr. Scurrs, Alan Cloete a 41-year-old from Capetown, South Africa has had a history of problems with the veins in his legs. A knee injury and subsequent operation in the 80s left significant damage to his leg circulation, which was already in bad enough shape due to blood clots resulting from varicose veins.

For the past five years, he has relied on low doses of aspirin and elasticized stockings during each flight hes taken.

Last summer, Dr. Scurr, who had treated Cloete for his varicose veins, suggested he try Zinopin. On his next flight, to New York from his home in Surrey, Cloete took Zinopin and found that his ankles had not swollen at all. He was even able to play golf the next day.
If you are planning a long trip, you may want to include this as part of your pre-holiday preparations to guard against DVT.

What to take for best results

Zinopin comes in a round trip package that includes a departure flight pack and a return flight pack. Each pack clearly outlines the correct dosage one capsule one day before departure, two capsules at least one hour before departure, and one capsule per day for two days after arrival. The manufacturer also recommends that Zinopin be taken with food to avoid any stomach upset. They also caution that people with bleeding disorders such as haemophilia, those taking anti-blood clotting (such as Warfarin), individuals with gallstones, and pregnant/breastfeeding women not take Zinopin.

We will update you with the results from Dr. Scurrs ongoing study on Zinopin when its concluded.

1. Br Heart J 1952;14: 325-330
2. Lancet 2000;356: 1,657-58
3. Phytother Res 2004;18(9): 687-95
4. Thromb Res 1999;95(4): 155-61
5. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1989;35: 183-5