If you are beginning to experience irregular periods, weight gain, thinning hair, insomnia and the occasional hot flash, it could be the start of menopause. Mayo Clinic reports that American women usually enter full-blown menopause around the age of 51. A wildflower known as evening primrose produces seeds that contain gamma-linolenic acid or GLA, which can help relieve menopausal symptoms in some women.
Identification
Evening primrose preparations derive from the extracted oil of the plant. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that evening primrose seeds contain 25 percent fatty acids, which includes GLA. A member of the omega-6 group of fatty acids, the GLA found in evening primrose oil relieves some of the menopausal symptoms that women experience.
Effects
The effects of evening primrose oil vary from woman to woman. While some women experiencing menopause claim that evening primrose oil produces no significant change in their symptoms, others claim that the herbal remedy shows promising results, especially in regard to hot flashes. In fact, Breast Cancer.org reveals that the use of evening primrose for hot flashes is an age-old remedy.
Speculation
The jury is still out on the benefits of evening primrose in regard to menopause. In fact, scientific research appears to dismiss the wildflower as an ineffective herbal remedy. But according to the Cleveland Clinic, alternative treatment therapies do include the use of evening primrose oil for the relief of menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes.
Warnings
Like most herbal remedies, evening primrose does have side effects. According to National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, women who take evening primrose oil to relieve their menopausal symptoms may experience mild headaches and gastrointestinal upset. It is recommended that you inform your physician if you are taking evening primrose oil, especially if you are taking medications in conjunction with evening primrose. Evening primrose oil can cause seizures in patients taking phenothiazines. It also may cause an adverse reaction in patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and blood thinners.
Considerations
If evening primrose does not help to relieve your menopausal symptoms, maybe another herbal remedy can help. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that the black cohosh herb may offer some relief, especially when it comes to hot flashes, mood swings, irritability and sleep problems. Unlike evening primrose, black cohosh has no known drug interactions.
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