Nourishment With An Evening Primrose Oil
Nourishment with an evening primrose oil is currently being studied all over the world as a treatment for aging problems, arthritis,, acne, diabetes,symptoms of menopause, premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Evening primrose oil has so many preventive and therapeutic qualities that it has become a standard part of recommendations of many herbalists.
Our body requires certain fats and oils for proper functioning. Evening Primrose Oil contains a high concentration of a fatty acid called GLA. There are two fatty acids that are essential – Omega 3 and Omega 6.
They are essential because our body cannot function without them but unfortunately it cannot produce them like it does for other fatty acids. Therefore, we need to consume them in our diets. Now GLA is an Omega 6 essential fatty acid found abundantly in evening primrose oil.
And, it is this fatty acid that is largely responsible for the remarkable healing properties of the plant. In fact, Evening Primrose contains one of the highest concentrations known of this important substance and only a few other plants contain it at all. The oil contains 74 percent linoleic acid (LA) and 8-10 percent gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
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.
This gamma linoleic acid is converted to a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin E1 which contains anti-inflammatory properties as well as acting as a blood thinner and causing blood vessels to get larger . It is these properties that are believed to give EPO its healing benefits.
What Is Evening Primrose Oil?
Evening primrose oil (EPO) is the oil extracted from the seed of the evening primrose plant. This plant has yellow flowers that bloom at night and is native to North America but grows in Europe and parts of the Southern hemisphere as well.
Primrose Oil Benefits:
- 1. Eczema and dermatitis. Evening primrose oil has been used since the 1930s for eczema (a condition in which the skin becomes inflamed, itchy, or scaly because of allergies or other irritations), psoriasis, and acne. More than 30 human studies report the benefits of EPO for eczema and dermatitis. Dosages in the range of 0.5 to 3 grams of GLA are appropriate.
- 2. Acne and rosacea. 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.
* 3. Arthritis. Many studies on GLA have shown that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis experience significant improvements in their symptoms within the first six months of use.
They also continue to improve by as much as 50 percent in the number of tender joints, 54 percent in the reduction of tender joints, and 42 percent in the reduction in swollen joints. Overall, morning stiffness can decrease on average by 67 percent, and pain can be reduced on average by 27 percent.
- 4. Diabetes. In people with diabetes, one major problem is that the nerves can stop functioning. This can lead to damage to the feet as well as to other parts of the body and also significantly reduces the person’s quality of life.
Research indicates that the GLA in evening primrose oil can help prevent, and in some cases even reverse, the nerve damage (neuropathy).
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.
Individuals with diabetic related neuropathies have been studied using GLA. Significant favorable changes have been observed in muscle strength, hot and cold thresholds, sensation, and reflexes.
- 5. 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 minimize premenstrual breast tenderness.
In women with fibrocystic breasts, the oil’s essential fatty acids can minimize 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.
I wish that nourishment with an evening primrose oil be beneficial to your health.
Here is the link about growing primroses:
Primroses Give Your House And Garden A Bright Look! – Your Organic Gardening Blog
Yours truly for great health, mind and body,
Michelle,good healthy foods advocate.
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January 25 2012 08:24 pm | Fitness and Green Living and Health News and Healthy Eating and Natural Beauty and Natural Remedies and Weight Loss