Where is evening primrose oil from

In the 17 th century, it was introduced to England and Europe where it was used for its edible root, leaves and seeds. The oil from Evening Primrose seeds contains two omega-6 essential fatty acids — linoleic acid LA and, most importantly, gamma-linolenic acid GLA. They are referred to as essential fatty acids because your body does not manufacture them, so they need to be included in your diet.

GLA is an important anti-inflammatory fatty acid for the body. This in turn converts to a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin E1 PGE1 which fights inflammation. It is also a potent vasodilator which means it dilates the blood vessels and also helps thin the blood. Having enough nutrients like magnesium, zinc, vitamins B3, B6 and C are important to help support this conversion. Because of its GLA contents, Evening Primrose oil can support joint discomfort as well as skin health challenges.

Versus Arthritis About arthritis Complementary and alternative treatments Types of complementary treatments Evening primrose oil. Evening primrose oil EPO. Download complementary and alternative medicines report. Print this page. What is evening primrose oil? How can you tell if primrose oil has gone bad? Any product rich in unsaturated oil can go rancid, including bottled primrose oil and primrose oil gel caps.

Because primrose oil only has a faint scent, it can often be difficult to tell if it has gone bad. It may darken or smell funny, but not always.

As such, you should always play it safe and discard any supplement after its use-by date. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

National Toxicology Program. Evening Primrose Oil Oenothera biennis L. Published November Mahboubi M. Evening primrose oil in management of female ailments. J Menopausal Med. A comparative study on the effect of "black cohosh" and "evening primrose oil" on menopausal hot flashes. J Educ Health Promot. Associations of polyunsaturated fatty acid intake with bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. J Osteoporos. Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis with Dietary Interventions. Front Nutr. Calcium, gamma-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation in senile osteoporosis.

Aging Milano. The effects of evening primrose oil on nerve function and capillarization in streptozotocin-diabetic rats: modulation by the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor flurbiprofen.

Br J Pharmacol. Bamford, J. Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. DOI: Cameron, M. Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Farzaneh, F. The effect of oral evening primrose oil on menopausal hot flashes: a randomized clinical trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet. However, in , the drug regulator concluded there was not enough evidence of the effectiveness of evening primrose for these uses.

It is possible to be allergic to EPO or its forms. The FDA does not monitor supplements and care should be given to choosing a brand that is know for purity, accuracy of dose, and quality. There is a blood-thinning effect with evening primrose oil, so there is a higher risk of bleeding for people taking the blood thinner warfarin.

Therefore, these patients should not use the oil. Other drugs that thin the blood may also be a problem taken alongside the oil, including clopidogrel and aspirin.

People with epilepsy or other seizure disorder should avoid taking evening primrose oil as it may increase the chances of having a seizure. Also, people with schizophrenia treated with certain drugs may be at risk of seizure, so medical advice should be sought.

Evening primrose oil should not be taken within 2 weeks of going for a general anesthetic because of the increased seizure risk. Evening primrose oil products are available for purchase in health stores and online. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is an uncommon condition that affects people during their menstrual cycle and can cause symptoms such as irritability….

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