NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL
Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose is an indigenous plant to North America
and has been used for centuries to treat ailments of
the skin and muscular system. The entire plant is edible,
and the bark and leaves have astringent and sedative
properties.
Benefits of Evening Primrose Oil
EPO has proven effective in:
- Vascular support - arteriosclerosis, lowering blood
cholesterol levels
- Skin disorders - skin irritation, rashes, acne,
brittle nails, eczema
- Lung disorders - asthma, cough
- Gastro-intestinal disorders - It can also act as
a stimulant for the digestive system, spleen, liver
and alcohol related liver damage, stomach ulcers and
inflammatory bowel disease
- Nervous system - peripheral neuropathy, anxiety,
depression, irritability, multiple sclerosis, hyperactivity,
attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, pain
- Inflammatory conditions - the bark and leaves of
evening primrose, proven as an effective treatment
of allergies, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis
- Hormonal balancing - treatment of pre-mentrual symptoms,
water retention, breast soreness, and the prevention
of benign prostatic hypertrophy
Elements of Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose is rich in amino acids and essential
fatty acids such as omega 6. These are transformed into
hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, which
condense allergic response and inflammation.
The major components in evening primrose include: alanine
(0.5%), arginine (1.5%), aspartic acid (1.2%), beta-sitosterol
(1.2-2.5%), calcium (1.3-1.8%), cellulose (27%), gamma-linolenic
acid (0.5-10%), glutamic acid (2.7%), glycine (1%),
fat (15-32%), fiber (43%), histidine (0.4%), isoleucine
(0.5%), leucine (1%), lignin (16%), linoleic acid (12-22%),
lysine (0.3%), methionine (0.6%), phenylalanine (0.7%),
proline (0.6%), protein (15-17%), serine (0.9%) threonine
(0.4%), tryptophan (up to 1.6%), tyrosine (0.4%), valine
(up to 0.8%) and other lesser constituents.
How EFA’s Supports the Body
Essential fatty acids support the body in many ways:
- EFA’s are vital to the electrical reactions
of cells. These electrical signals maintain regular
heartbeats and regulate chromosome stability.
- EFA’s carry vitamins, enhance metabolism
and transport oxygen to the tissues.
- Provide indispensable to the adrenal glands, brain
cells, retinas, sensory organs, synapses and testes.
- Act as solvents to eliminate hardened fat inside
the human body.
Gamma Linolenic Acid
Evening Primrose Oil has a high concentration of Gamma
Linolenic Acid. GLA is a polyunsaturated fatty acid
that aids the body to manufacture energy, and helps
to form parts of the structural fats that encompass
bone marrow, the brain, cell membranes and muscles.
Gamma linolenic acid is transformed by the body into
prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances
with anti-inflammatory properties, produced in the body's
tissues acting like a blood thinner and blood vessel
dilator. Deficiency in Prostaglandin can disrupt the
nerve impulse transmissions, increase blood clotting
time, inflammation and weaken immune response.
Evening primrose oil with a high concentration of gamma
linolenic acid is beneficial in ailments related to
essential fatty acid deficiency and the inability to
metabolize essential fatty acids.
Studies
Studies on evening primrose have been promising; at
this time insufficient conclusive data is available.
Side Effects
People with seizure disorders should only use omega-6
supplements of any kind, under the care and supervision
of a licensed medical doctor. Omega-6 including gamma
linolenic acid has had reports of inducing seizures
in seizure-vulnerable persons.
Products
Check the percentages of gamma linolenic acid [7-10%]
and linoleic acid [40-75%].
The best evening primrose contains 10.3% gamma linolenic
acid and 75% linoleic acid, available as carrier oil.
Application
Evening primrose can taken orally or used all over
the body. It is often used as a base to blend a therapeutic
mix of essential oils for specific ailments or as facial
and body treatment.
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