Benefits of Evening Primrose Oil
The many benefits of evening primrose oil have been the subject of research for many years now.
In the past it was prized by the early American settlers and Native Americans as remedy for many ailments and illnesses.
Today, many people continue to take it orally or use it externally for a wide range of medical and health conditions.
The potential beneficial effects of evening primrose oil, or EPO, are thought to come from the active ingredient called gamma-linolenic acid or GLA, which is an essential fatty acid.
GLA is believed by some to have potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties.
This essential fatty acid is found in EPO in highly concentrated amounts, making up 7 to up to 10% of its fatty acid content.
Evening primrose oil is also believed to be one of the safest sources of GLA, with very few, if any, side effects.
The Many Benefits When ingested in the body, the fatty acid GLA becomes converted to prostaglandins, which help regulate bodily functions and control inflammation.
As such, it is believed by some people to contribute to overall health in a variety of ways.
These are not health claims; always ask your doctor their opinion before taking a supplement.
1.
May help promote the body's healthy response to pre-menstrual syndrome.
GLA can interfere with the production of prostaglandins during menstruation and can potentially help minimize menstrual cramps, bowl flare-ups, breast tenderness and endometriosis.
It may also help increase iodine absorption for women with fibrocystic breasts.
2.
May help alleviate joint pains EPO has potent anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent join pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis in healthy individuals.
3.
May help reduce eczema, acne and Rosacea Evening primrose oil benefits can potentially be experienced by those who have skin conditions like eczema, which is caused by problems in fatty acid metabolism.
It has also be found to be effective in treating acne and Rosacea, as GLA can help dilute the oil secreted by the skin (in excess amounts by acne sufferers), promote healthier blood circulation and reduce inflammation.
4.
May help prevent nerve damage caused by diabetes GLA in evening primrose oil has been shown to have the potential to help prevent diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) in healthy individuals.
5.
Help for memory and mental disorders EPO supplements are thought to help strengthen the nerve impulses that can help improve memory loss associated with the brain.
6.
Help for the alcoholics One of the most prominent evening primrose oil benefits is its potential ability to alleviate withdrawal symptoms in alcoholics.
Its GLA content can promote the production of prostaglandin that protects the nervous system and the liver as well.
Are All the Benefits of EPO Real? This is a good question.
In reality, human clinical trials involving the benefits of EPO have had mixed results.
For instance, it has been found that lower doses of 500mg a day did not achieve the desired anti-inflammatory effect for alleviating pains due to rheumatoid arthritis (but sometimes higher doses at 1,400mg did).
Negative studies on the effect of EPO and the essential fatty acid GLA also exist.
Is it just the placebo effect or is there something to these beliefs? Is Fish Oil A Better Alternative? Although there are many proposed benefits of evening primrose oil due to its omega 6 fatty acid GLA content, it has been found that more health benefits can be obtained with omega 3 fatty acid supplementation from fish oil instead.
Omega 3 fatty acids not only have anti-inflammatory properties but can also help boost immunity, promote cardiovascular health, and even weight loss.
Recent studies have shown that purified fish oil is the best source of omega 3 fatty acids today.
So instead of counting on the few benefits of evening primrose oil, you may do better to go for the much studied and proven benefits of fish oil.
In the past it was prized by the early American settlers and Native Americans as remedy for many ailments and illnesses.
Today, many people continue to take it orally or use it externally for a wide range of medical and health conditions.
The potential beneficial effects of evening primrose oil, or EPO, are thought to come from the active ingredient called gamma-linolenic acid or GLA, which is an essential fatty acid.
GLA is believed by some to have potent anti-inflammatory and healing properties.
This essential fatty acid is found in EPO in highly concentrated amounts, making up 7 to up to 10% of its fatty acid content.
Evening primrose oil is also believed to be one of the safest sources of GLA, with very few, if any, side effects.
The Many Benefits When ingested in the body, the fatty acid GLA becomes converted to prostaglandins, which help regulate bodily functions and control inflammation.
As such, it is believed by some people to contribute to overall health in a variety of ways.
These are not health claims; always ask your doctor their opinion before taking a supplement.
1.
May help promote the body's healthy response to pre-menstrual syndrome.
GLA can interfere with the production of prostaglandins during menstruation and can potentially help minimize menstrual cramps, bowl flare-ups, breast tenderness and endometriosis.
It may also help increase iodine absorption for women with fibrocystic breasts.
2.
May help alleviate joint pains EPO has potent anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent join pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis in healthy individuals.
3.
May help reduce eczema, acne and Rosacea Evening primrose oil benefits can potentially be experienced by those who have skin conditions like eczema, which is caused by problems in fatty acid metabolism.
It has also be found to be effective in treating acne and Rosacea, as GLA can help dilute the oil secreted by the skin (in excess amounts by acne sufferers), promote healthier blood circulation and reduce inflammation.
4.
May help prevent nerve damage caused by diabetes GLA in evening primrose oil has been shown to have the potential to help prevent diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage) in healthy individuals.
5.
Help for memory and mental disorders EPO supplements are thought to help strengthen the nerve impulses that can help improve memory loss associated with the brain.
6.
Help for the alcoholics One of the most prominent evening primrose oil benefits is its potential ability to alleviate withdrawal symptoms in alcoholics.
Its GLA content can promote the production of prostaglandin that protects the nervous system and the liver as well.
Are All the Benefits of EPO Real? This is a good question.
In reality, human clinical trials involving the benefits of EPO have had mixed results.
For instance, it has been found that lower doses of 500mg a day did not achieve the desired anti-inflammatory effect for alleviating pains due to rheumatoid arthritis (but sometimes higher doses at 1,400mg did).
Negative studies on the effect of EPO and the essential fatty acid GLA also exist.
Is it just the placebo effect or is there something to these beliefs? Is Fish Oil A Better Alternative? Although there are many proposed benefits of evening primrose oil due to its omega 6 fatty acid GLA content, it has been found that more health benefits can be obtained with omega 3 fatty acid supplementation from fish oil instead.
Omega 3 fatty acids not only have anti-inflammatory properties but can also help boost immunity, promote cardiovascular health, and even weight loss.
Recent studies have shown that purified fish oil is the best source of omega 3 fatty acids today.
So instead of counting on the few benefits of evening primrose oil, you may do better to go for the much studied and proven benefits of fish oil.