Evening Primrose

Evening Primrose

Other Names:Aceite de Onagra, Acide Cis-linoléique, Cis-Linoleic Acid, EPO, Evening Primrose, Evening Primrose Seed Oil, Fever Plant, Herbe-aux-ânes, Huile de Graines d’onagre, Huile D'Onagre, Huile de Primerose, Huile de Primevère Vespérale, Jambon de Jardinier, Jambon du Paysan, King's Cureall, Mâche Rouge, Night Willow-Herb, Oenothera biennis, Oenothera muricata, Oenothera purpurata, Oenothera rubricaulis, Oenothera suaveolens, Œnothère, Oil of Evening Primrose, Onagra biennis, Onagraire, Onagre Bisannuelle, Onagre Commune, Primevère du Soir, Primrose, Primrose Oil, Scabish, Sun Drop. Evening primrose is a wildflower that grows throughout North America. The evening primrose plant gets its name from the flowers on it that bloom after sunset or extremely overcast days in the months of June through September. In North America, the use of Evening Primrose goes back to early Native Americans who used the seeds for food and made poultices from the whole plant to speed healing in wounds and bruises. European settlers took the root back to England and Germany and used it as a food plant. Evening primrose oil is extracted from the seeds of the evening primrose plant and EPO is an excellent source of the essential fatty acid,gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).

Special Precautions of Evening Primrose

• Consult a doctor first if you suffer from epilepsy, are taking anticoagulants, blood pressure medicine, blood cholesterol medicine or estrogen or other hormonal therapies.
• Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use this herb : Taking evening primrose oil is POSSIBLY UNSAFE during pregnancy. It might increase the chance of having complications. Don’t use it if you are pregnant.It is POSSIBLY SAFE to take evening primrose oil during breast-feeding, but it’s best to check with your healthcare provider first.
• Bleeding disorders: There is a concern that evening primrose oil might increase the chance of bruising and bleeding. Don’t use it if you have a bleeding disorder.
• Epilepsy or another seizure disorder: There is a concern that taking evening primrose oil might make seizures more likely in some people. If you have a history of seizure, avoid using it.
• Schizophrenia: Seizures have been reported in people with schizophrenia treated with phenothiazine drugs, GLA (a chemical found in evening primrose oil), and vitamin E. Get your healthcare provider’s opinion before starting evening primrose oil.
• Surgery: Evening primrose oil might increase the chance of bleeding during or after surgery. Stop using it at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
• Evening primrose oil may alter the effects of some medications. If you are taking any of the following medications, you should not use evening primrose oil without first consulting with your doctor:
  • medicines used for psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), perphenazine (Trilafon), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro), promethazine (Pentazine, Phenergan, Phenadoz, Promethegan), thioridazine (Mellaril), or trifluoperazine (Stelazine). Using these drugs with evening primrose oil may increase the risk of seizures.
  • Blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
  • Anti platelet drugs* such clopidogrel (Plavix);
  • Herbs with known blood thinning properties;
  • Aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's)

The benefits of Evening Primrose are

Anti-aggregatory, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-thrombotic, vasodilator.

• Relieve the discomforts of PMS, menopause, menstruation, endometriosis and fibrocystic breasts:By interfering with the production of inflammatory prostaglandins released during menstruation, the GLA 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. Many PMS sufferers are found to have unusually low levels of GLA in their systems, which is why supplements might help so much. 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 and increases feelings of well being.
• Ease the joint pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis:Supplementation with evening primrose oil and other sources of GLA has been shown to lessen the joint pain and swelling of this crippling disease. A six-month study reported fewer signs of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers taking capsules containing GLA than in those taking a placebo. In another trial, the number of tender joints and swollen joints dropped significantly with GLA but not with a placebo.
• Diabetes : Evening primrose’s contains concentrations of gamma-linolenic acid, or “GLA,” which is “a fatty acid that the body converts to a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin E1 (PGE1),” says the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). Men and women with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes may have a metabolic problem that prevents the body from making GLA, explains the UMHS.
• Prevent diabetes-associated nerve damage:Research indicates that the GLA in evening primrose oil can help prevent, and in some cases even reverse, the nerve damage (neuropathy) so commonly seen with diabetes. In a year-long study, such symptoms as numbness, tingling, and loss of sensation in participants with mild diabetic neuropathy were less marked in those who took evening primrose oil than in those who took a placebo.
• Reduce the symptoms of eczema:In some cases, eczema develops when the body has problems converting dietary fats into GLA. Getting supplemental GLA from evening primrose oil may therefore be helpful. Some studies indicate that this oil can outperform a placebo in relieving eczema-related inflammation, as well as the itching, oozing, and flaking associated with this condition. By taking GLA, eczema sufferers may tolerate reduced doses of steroid creams and drugs, many of which cause unpleasant side effects.
• Help treat acne and rosacea:By working to dilute sebum, a thick oily substance that is oversecreted in some people with acne, the essential fatty acids in evening primrose oil may reduce the risk of pores becoming clogged and lesions developing. The oil's EFAs help treat rosacea by reducing inflammation, controlling cells' use of nutrients and by producing prostaglandins, which stimulate the contraction of blood vessels.
• Combat damage from multiple sclerosis:The abundant supply of essential fatty acids in evening primrose oil may be valuable in minimizing the inflammation associated with this progressive nerve disorder. The fatty acids may also contribute to healthy nerve development when taken over time.
• Treat Alzheimer's-related memory deficiencies:By boosting the transmission of nerve impulses, evening primrose oil may be valuable in treating this progressive brain disorder.
• Counter impotence and female infertility:By promoting blood flow, the GLA 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. In addition, when the oil is taken long term, GLA can help prevent blood vessel narrowing, often a consequence of plaque buildup from high cholesterol. By improving uterine function, GLA may also help those who are unable to conceive.
• Nourish nails, scalp, and hair: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. In addition, the essential fatty acids nourish the scalp, making the supplement potentially valuable in treating a variety of hair problems.
• Prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms:GLA 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.
• Heart Disease, Atherosclerosis and COPD : Evening primrose can be used in treating heart disease, atherosclerosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or “COPD,” according to the UMMC and UMHS. In a double-blind study, taking 3 to 4 grams per day of evening primrose oil lowered cholesterol, thus reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, the UMHS says. GLA is an anticoagulant that researchers believe can reduce blood pressure, protect against coronary artery disease and prevent heart attacks, according to the Herb Growing & Marketing Network.
• ADHD and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome : Evening primrose supplements may help men with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or “ADHD,” and chronic fatigue syndrome, says the UMMC. The Herb Growing & Marketing Network highlights a medical study that found that two-thirds of hyperactive children experienced improvements from taking evening primrose oil.
• Multiple Sclerosis : The omega-6 fatty acids found in evening primrose oil can benefit men with multiple sclerosis, or “MS.” The UMHS notes several double-blind clinical trials that found patients who took four grams per day of evening primrose oil for three weeks experienced improvement in gripping function in their hands. The GLA content in the evening primrose oil also lowered the length and severity of MS relapses, the researchers found.

Main Combinations

• Skin Dehydration : Borage Seed Oil + Evening Primrose Oil + Argan Oil