Essential Fatty Acids Archives

Evening Primrose (Archive in EFAs.)

Comments?
Misty L. Trepke
http://www.searching-alternatives.com

Evening Primrose

Evening primrose is an indigenous plant to North America. The flowers
have a strong, sweet scent, and only bloom at night during the
months of June through October. Evening primrose has been used for
hundreds of years to treat various ailments of the skin and muscular
system. Several Native American tribes discovered that the entire
plant is edible, and could be used as a painkiller in addition to
everyday consumption. In Europe it is a proven treatment for PMS.
The bark and leaves of evening primrose are said to have astringent
and sedative properties. It has been proven to be effective
treatment in regards to gastro-intestinal disorders, asthma and
chronic or whooping coughs.

Evening primrose is rich in amino acids and essential amino acids
such as omega 6. Essential fatty acids magnetize oxygen as well as
produce electrical currents. Once in the body amino acids and
essential amino acids are transformed into hormone-like substances
called prostaglandins, which condense allergic response and
inflammation.

Existence without essential fatty acids is impossible because they
are vital to the electrical reactions of cells. Essential fatty
acids carry vitamins, enhance metabolism and transport oxygen to the
tissues. They are indispensable to the adrenal glands, brain cells,
retinas, sensory organs, synapses and testes. Essential fatty acids
act as solvents to eliminate hardened fat inside the human body.
They are also involved in generating the electric currents that
maintain regular heartbeats, regulating chromosome stability and
will even help with weight loss.

Here is a list of major constituents found in evening primrose:
Alanine (0.5%), arginine (1.5%), aspartic acid (1.2%), beta-
sitosterol (1.2-2.5%), calcium (1.3-1.8%), cellulose (27%), gamma-
linolenic acid (0.5-10%), glutamic acid (2.7%), glycine (1%), fat
(15-32%), fiber (43%), histidine (0.4%), isoleucine (0.5%), leucine
(1%), lignin (16%), linoleic acid (12-22%), lysine (0.3%),
methionine (0.6%), phenylalanine (0.7%), proline (0.6%), protein (15-
17%), serine (0.9%) threonine (0.4%), tryptophan (up to 1.6%),
tyrosine (0.4%), valine (up to 0.8%) and other lesser constituents.
Gamma linolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Gamma linolenic
acid (or GLA) aids the body to manufacture energy, and it also helps
to form parts of the structural fats that encompass bone marrow, the
brain, cell membranes and muscles. Gamma linolenic acid is
transformed by the body into prostaglandins. Prostaglandins help the
body because of their anti-inflammatory properties. Prostaglandins
can also act like a blood thinner and blood vessel dilator. They are
hormone-like substances produced in the body's tissues.

Prostaglandin deficiency can result in disruption of the nerve
impulse transmission, increase blood clotting time, inflammation and
weaken immune response. Evening primrose oil with a high
concentration of gamma linolenic acid is favorable for ailments
related to essential fatty acid deficiency and the inability to
metabolize essential fatty acids.

Evening primrose oil is beneficial in the treatment of
arteriosclerosis, lowering blood cholesterol levels, asthma,
allergies, PMS, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, skin irritation,
rashes, anxiety, water retention, breast soreness, depression,
coughs, irritability, and the prevention of benign prostatic
hypertrophy. It can also act as a stimulant for the digestive
system, liver and spleen.

Evening primrose oil has also been indispensable in the treatment of
acne, brittle nails, eczema, hyperactivity, multiple sclerosis,
peripheral neuropathy and alcohol related liver damage. There are
other conditions where evening primrose is currently being tested
for effectiveness, including breast cancer, heart disease, high
cholesterol, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, stomach
ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.

Scientists have said that the studies on evening primrose have been
promising, however there is not enough conclusive data available at
this time. People with seizure disorders should only use omega-6
supplements of any kind, under the care and supervision of a
licensed medical doctor, because omega-6 including gamma linolenic
acid has had reports of inducing seizures in seizure-vulnerable
persons.

When purchasing evening primrose oil it is important that the company
states the percentages of gamma linolenic acid as well as the
percentage of linoleic acid. Most quality oils will have between 7-
10% GLA and 40-75% LA (the higher the percentages the better). If
the company you are ordering the evening primrose oil doesn't list
the GLA or LA content with their product it is advised to call them
and get the percentage information on the 2 major constituent levels
in their evening primrose oil.

Florapathics' evening primrose contains 10.3% gamma linolenic acid
and 75% linoleic acid, available as carrier oil. Evening primrose
can be used all over the body. Use it as a base to blend a
therapeutic mix of essential oils for your specific ailment or as
facial and body treatment to combat acne, dry, scared, mature,
discolored and irritated skin. Of course it can also be used alone
to produce beneficial therapeutic action. Evening primrose is a
beautiful flowering plant, and an invaluable therapeutic
emollient for general well being.

Bibliography:
Viable Herbal Solutions (online) (2002), Evening Primrose,
Morrisville,
PA
Dreampharm (online) (2003), All about Evening Primrose, Glendale, CA
Herbal Fields® Supplements (online) (2003), Evening Primrose Oil -
Food
for the Active Lifestyle,
Jacksonville, FL
Institute for Scientific Information (online) (2002) Tissue Culture
and
Transformation of Oenothera
biennis, website www.isinet.com, Philadelphia, PA
American Botanical Council (online) (2003) Common Herbs, website
www.herbalgram.org, Austin, TX
Florapathics (online) (2003) Product Profile for Evening Primrose
Oil,
website www.florapathics.com,
Houston, TX

© 2003 Florapathics, LLC (USA) All Rights Reserved

https://www.florapathics.com/

Re: Evening Primrose (Archive in EFAs.)