New Leaf Online

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Evening Primrose Oil - for women & eczema

The evening primrose plant is native to North America and has yellow flowers that bloom in the evening. Evening primrose oil is extracted from the plant’s seeds and contains the essential fatty acids: Linoleic Acid and the main active ingredient Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA).

Why should I use Evening Primrose Oil?

· Treating women’s health conditions including menopausal symptoms, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast pain associated with the menstrual cycle, and during pregnancy to shorten the duration of labor.

· Treating eczema - skin which has become inflamed, itchy or scaly because of allergies or other irritations.

· Conditions involving inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis. GLA has been shown to reduce inflammation and excessive immune reactivity of arthritis, autoimmune disease, allergic and chronic inflammatory disorders.

· Other potential uses include the prevention of migraine (in combination with other nutritional supplements), and the treatment of alcoholism & schizophrenia.

How much does your body need?

As with other essential nutrients, essential fatty acids must be supplied by you diet. Unlike other essential nutrients, no minimum daily intake has been determined for GLA. It is however suspected that a relative lack of GLA in the diet can contribute to a number of conditions such as dermatitis.

Supplements:

If you suffer from hormonal & women’s health conditions, evening primrose oil is typically taken as soft gel capsules of 1,000mg with a dosage of 1 to 3 tablets daily - example brands include Microgenics & Thompsons. It is also available in combination with other essential fatty acids in products such as Efamol Efalex in capsule and liquid form. For the treatment of skin disorders, evening primrose oil can be applied topically. To read more refer to our New Leaf Online range of evening primrose oil products available for purchase on our web-site.

Note:

Evening primrose oil is generally well tolerated although in some it may cause minor stomach upset if not taken with food. Known medicine interactions include neuroleptic drugs for treatment of epilepsy, and some blood thinning drugs. If you are pregnant, we advise that you check with your healthcare practitioner before taking evening primrose oil. If you have any concerns please consult your healthcare practitioner.

References

· “Herbs & Natural Supplements - an Evidence-based Guide”, Lesley Braun, Naturopath & Pharmacist - published 2005, Page 155.

· “Evening Primrose Oil” - Hyperhealth Pro 2006 (v6.0)