EVENING PRIMROSE OIL

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis, common evening-primrose, evening star, or sun drop) is a species of Oenothera. In foods, evening primrose oil is used as a dietary source of essential fatty acids. In manufacturing, evening primrose oil is used in soaps and cosmetics. There are conflicting opinions and evidence for the medicinal effects of GLA (GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID). The active constituent of EPO, which has been promoted to treat ailments including breast pain and eczema. The substance was likely to be remembered as "a remedy for which there is no disease" and "neither GLA (GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID) nor other GLA (GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID)-rich supplements (such as evening primrose oil) have been convincingly shown to be useful in preventing or treating any other health conditions.

More research is needed to determine the role evening primrose oil itself might play independently of the other supplements as Evening Primrose is most famous and promising compound after Vit-C.

Evening primrose oil is the oil from the seed of the evening primrose plant. Evening primrose oil is used for skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It is also used for rheumatoid arthritis, weak bones (osteoporosis), Raynaud’s syndrome, multiple sclerosis (MS), Sjogren’s syndrome, cancer, high cholesterol, heart disease, a movement disorder in children called dyspraxia, leg pain due to blocked blood vessels (intermittent claudication), alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease, and schizophrenia.

Some people use evening primrose oil for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); asthma; nerve damage related to diabetes; an itching disorder called neurodermatitis; hyperactivity in children and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); obesity and weight loss; whooping cough; and gastrointestinal disorders including ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and peptic ulcer disease.

Women use evening primrose oil in pregnancy for preventing high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia), shortening labor, starting labor, and preventing late deliveries. Women also use evening primrose oil for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast pain, endometriosis, and symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes.

Evening primrose oil has been tested in clinical trials for such conditions as eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, various cancers, Raynaud's phenomenon, ulcerative colitis, pre- eclampsia, schizophrenia and hyperactivity. However there is no scientific evidence of any benefit in treating these conditions with evening primrose oil.

It is found that polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acids in EPO may help control pain and inflammation. However, it is not conclusive that EPO is effective in reducing rheumatoid arthritis joint pain.

Evening primrose is considered to have beneficial health effects, largely due to its GLA (GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID) content. Many conditions for which evening primrose is a traditional remedy.

Evening Primrose Oil has been called the most sensational preventive discovery since vitamin C. It contains the pain relieving compound phenylalanine and is increasingly being used to treat chronic headaches. It has become a standard part of recommendations of many herbalist for maintaining youth and preventing disease.

The gamma-linoleic acid, linoleic acid and other nutrients in this oil are essential for cell structure and improve the elasticity of the skin. These fatty acids also help to regulate hormones and improve nerve function aiding problems ranging from PMS to migraine headaches. The hormone balancing effect contributes to healthy breast tissue.

The GLA (GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID) in evening primrose oil can help to lessen menstrual cramps. It may also minimise premenstrual breast tenderness, irritable bowel flare-ups, and carbohydrate cravings, and help to control endometriosis-associated inflammation. In women with fibrocystic breasts, the oil's essential fatty acids can minimise breast inflammation and promote the absorption of iodine, a mineral that can be present in abnormally low levels in women with this condition. In menopause, it is widely reported that Evening Primrose oil reduces hot flushes.

The GLA (GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID) in evening primrose oil can help prevent, and in some cases even reverse, the nerve damage (neuropathy) so commonly seen with diabetes. By boosting the transmission of nerve impulses, evening primrose oil may be valuable in treating Alzheimer's disease.

GLA (GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID) in evening primrose oil can help treat a primary cause of male impotence; compromised circulation leading to impaired penile blood flow. The oil is often taken with vitamin C and ginkgo biloba for this purpose.

The rich stores of essential fatty acids in evening primrose oil not only prevent nails from cracking but also help to keep them generally healthy. The essential fatty acids nourish the scalp, making the supplement potentially valuable in treating a variety of hair problems.

GLA (GAMMA-LINOLENIC ACID) prompts the brain to produce a specific type of prostaglandin called prostaglandin E, which works to prevent withdrawal symptoms such as depression and seizures by indirectly protecting the liver and nervous system.

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with EVENING PRIMROSE OIL. Evening primrose oil might slow blood clotting. Taking evening primrose oil along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.