In clinical trials, evening primrose oil was taken by mouth at doses between 6 and 8 g per day. Evening primrose oil preparations usually contain 8% to 10% of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) .
Evening Primrose Oil can cause uterine contractions in pregnant women, thus it should only be taken from menstruation to ovulation.
Evening Primrose Oil has been studied various disorders. However, high-quality evidence to support its claims for its use in most conditions is still lacking.
There are several trials on the efficacy of evening primrose oil for eczema, but large well-designed studies are needed before a strong recommendation can be made.
Although primrose oil has gained some popularity for treating symptoms of menopause, premenstrual syndrome and breast pain, available information suggests little evidence to support the use of evening primrose oil for the conditions.
Evening Primrose Oil or EPO promotes fertility by improving the quality of cervical fluid, making the mucus a more hospitable medium for the sperm. This aids the sperm to swim through the uterus and into the fallopian tube and to the egg. Cervical fluid of good quality also helps the sperm to stay alive for up to five days inside the fallopian tube, thus increasing the chance of conception.
Evening Primrose Oil's healing properties is largely attributed to its high concentration of the essential fatty acid known as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).This fatty acid is converted to prostaglandin E1, a substance which has anti-inflammatory properties. Prostaglandin E1 may also act as a blood thinner and blood vessel dilator. A lack of GLA is thought to cause premenstrual syndrome. Evening Primrose Oil can help in relieving the discomforts that occur with premenstrual syndrome because it replenishes the gamma linolenic acid (GLA).
Evening Primrose Oil or EPO promotes fertility because it improves the quality of cervical fluid, making the mucus a more fertile medium for the sperm. This aids the sperm to swim through the uterus and into the fallopian tube, and to the egg. Cervical fluid of good quality also helps the sperm to stay alive for up to five days inside the fallopian tube, thus increasing the chance of conception. Evening Primrose oil is also used as treatment for other disorders including asthma, high cholesterol, diabetic neuropathy, heart disease and arthritis.
Quick access patient information on conditions, herbs & supplements By Integrative Medicine Communications
Medicinal natural products: a biosynthetic approach By Paul M. Dewick
http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.aspx?ID=1856
drugs.com
Evening primrose oil is generally well tolerated when taken in recommended dosages. Incidence of side effects is low.
Side Effects
The reported side effects that occur with evening primrose oil use include:
If you develop signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, you should stop taking evening primrose and seek emergency care.
Warnings
Evening primrose oil should not be taken by patients who have allergies to its components. If any of the conditions below applies to you, do not take evening primrose without the advice of a doctor:
Talk to your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to get pregnant during the treatment. It is not known whether evening primrose could pass into breast milk or if it is harmful for a nursing baby. If you are breastfeeding, ask your doctor before using evening primrose.
Drug interactions
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:
You should inform your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Evening primrose oil must be taken by mouth as directed. Check all directions on the product package. In case you're uncertain of any information, ask your doctor or a pharmacist. The usual adult dose for EPO capsule which is standardized to contain 8%GLA is 2 - 8 grams daily. Some patients may need higher dosages, ask your health care provider for the appropriate dose for your condition.
Several studies suggest that evening primrose helps relieve joint pain, tenderness, and swelling that may occur with rheumatoid arthritis. One of these was a study done by scientists from the University of Pensylvania in which 37 patients took part. The participants were given either GLA or placebo. After 6 months of treatment, the GLA group reported 36% fewer tender joints, they also had 45% less joint pain. The placebo group, on the other hand did not experience improvement of symptoms.
In one British study, 40 people were given either evening primrose oil or placebo as an addition to their routine drug regimen. After 6 months the people who were given evening primrose oil reported significant improvement of symptoms, while the placebo group had no change in their symptoms.
The oil extracted from the seed of the evening primrose or Oenothera biennis is rich in an essential fatty acid called linoleic acids. It also contains gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA which has been found to have a number of health benefits including relief from the discomforts caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
Evening primrose is a biennial plant native to North America, it is also being cultivated in temperate countries. Native Americans used the boiled root, and leaf poultices of the evening primrose plant for treating bruises and hemorrhoids. Today, the oil extracted from evening primrose is commercially available as an oil or capsule. It widely used as a dietary supplement and claims to provide the body with essential fatty acids which play a role in many bodily functions.
Evening In addition, evening primrose oil is used as a natural treatment for many health conditions including:
The seeds of evening primrose contain up to 25% essential fatty acids including linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Essential fatty acids carry out many important roles, GLA is a precursor of prostaglandin E1 which help inhibit or reduce inflammation, platelet aggregation, thrombosis, cholesterol synthesis, blood vessel tone, and the formation of abnormal cells.
