Evening primrose oil, Latin name Oenothera biennis, is a native plant to North America, but also blooms in Europe and South America. The evening primrose blooms yellow flowers in the evening, hence the name. Evening primrose oil capsules are produced from the plant seed extracts. Take the capsules either as prescribed by an "alternative" doctor, or as a natural home remedy for a variety of ailments.
Eczema Cure
Eczema is a condition that causes skin to become inflamed, itchy and scaly. Allergies or other irritations cause eczema flareups. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's website, evening primrose oil has been used since the 1930s to treat eczema, and the U.S. National Library of Medicine rated evening primrose oil a grade "B" in the treatment of eczema, meaning "good scientific evidence for this use." Evening primrose oil capsules contain a high concentration of an omega-6 essential fatty acid called gamma-linoleic acid (GLA). The Herb Wisdom website says "Evening Primrose contains one of the highest concentrations known of this important substance (GLA) and only a few other plants contain it at all. This makes Evening Primrose an important medicinal herb." According to the Herb Wisdom site, eczema flareups can develop when the body has problems converting dietary fats into GLA, making the supplemental GLA found in evening primrose oil helpful.
Premenstrual Syndrome Treatment
Premenstrual Syndrome, usually referred to as PMS, is a condition that affects some women before the beginning of a monthly menstrual cycle. Symptoms of PMS might include fatigue, irritability, depression, headaches and bloating. According to the Natural Home Remedies website, women who suffer from PMS symptoms may produce inaccurate amounts of the hormone prostaglandin, and the GLA found in evening primrose oil is "an excellent supplement to increase this prostaglandin in the body."
Fertility Assistance
Healthy women who are having difficulty getting pregnant may benefit from taking evening primrose oil capsules. Evening primrose oil will aid in the production of fertile quality cervical fluid, according to the Baby Hopes website. Quality cervical mucus has an egg white consistency and is thin and clear. Sperm can easily swim through the uterus and to the egg in this environment. The Baby Hopes site advises women trying to get pregnant that evening primrose oil capsules will take one to two months to start producing the quality cervical fluid desired.
References
- U.S. National Library of Medicine: Evening Primrose Oil
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Evening Primrose Oil
- Natural Home Remedies: Health Benefits of Evening Primrose Oil
- Baby Hopes: Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) - Its Role In Trying to Conceive
- Herb Wisdom: Evening Primrose Benefits and Information
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