Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that most commonly manifests in men between the ages of 20 and 40, reports MayoClinic.com. This condition, which is a type of arthritis, usually affects your spine, eventually causing fusion of your vertebrae. Your sacroiliac joints -- the joints that connect your pelvis and sacrum -- are often the first part of your body affected by this condition. Ask your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of herbal remedies, including primrose oil, before using this natural healing approach.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a relatively rare health condition. According to the University of Washington Medicine Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, approximately 300,000 people in the United States have this health problem, or less than 1 percent of the American population. Only about 5 percent of ankylosing spondylitis cases begin during childhood, and this condition is about three times as common in Caucasian Americans than African Americans. Common signs and symptoms associated with ankylosing spondylitis include back pain and stiffness, fatigue and a worsening of symptoms at night, in the morning and during periods of inactivity.
Plant Description
Evening primrose, also known as Oenothera biennis, is a wildflower that thrives in certain parts of the United States and has long been used by Native Americans to treat a variety of ailments. Evening primrose oil comes from the plants' seeds. The seeds of this plant contain significant amounts of phytosterols, quercetin, tannin, essential fatty acids, zinc, vitamin E, amino acids and calcium. Evening primrose bears flowers, which bloom from June to late September.
Herb Actions and Uses
Evening primrose oil has numerous uses and health actions. Along with treating the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, certified nutritional consultant Phyllis A. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," states that evening primrose oil has traditionally been used in treating other types of arthritis, hot flashes, menstrual problems, multiple sclerosis, skin disorders, high blood pressure and weight gain. Further scientific research testing may be needed to determine this herbs' true efficacy in treating ankylosing spondylitis.
Warning
Complications associated with ankylosing spondylitis, though rare, may include heart valve problems, heart rhythm problems, restrictive lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis. If you develop the characteristic signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, do not avoid seeking treatment from your primary care provider. To better understand the risks, benefits and limitations of herbal remedies, meet with a healthcare provider who has advanced training in botanical medicine. Certain herbs may cause negative drug interactions and unwanted health effects and should be avoided or discontinued immediately.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Ankylosing Spondylitis
- University of Washington: Ankylosing Spondylitis
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2010
