Evening primrose oil, also lesser known as Oenothera Biennis, has been called highly praised since its discovery, often called the greatest preventive discovery since vitamin C. Evening primrose oil contains a pain reliving compound known as phenylalanine which is more commonly being used to treat headaches and migraines.
It is believed that evening primrose oil can be used to treat early ageing problems, alcoholism, acne, heart disease, hyperactivity, relieve symptoms of menopause, helping in curing or easing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, help with weight control, obesity, PMS and schizophrenia. These are not one hundred percent guaranteed to helped by evening primrose oil but are currently under studies all over the world to see if evening primrose oil can help aid in these areas.
Evening primrose oil contains a high concentration of GLA, this is a type of fatty acid that is highly responsible for the healing properties of the plant. It contains one of the highest concentrations of the substance GLA and only a few other plants contain the fatty acid. This is why evening primrose oil is considered one of the most important herbal medicines available.
The gamma-linoleic acid, linoleic acid and the other nutrients in evening primrose oil are considered essential for cell structure and helps the elasticity of the skin. The fatty acids contained in evening primrose oil help regulate hormones and improve nerve functions, helping aid problems ranging from PMS to migraines. It is also commonly used to balance hormones that contribute to healthy breast tissue.
It is commonly used to ease joint pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis, due to the sources and levels of the GLA fatty acid it has been shown to lessen joint pain and swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis. A study taken over the course of six months reported that people using evening primrose oil reported fewer signs of inflammation than those taking the placebo.
In some cases, evening primrose oil has been known to help reduce the effects of eczema. Eczema often develops when the body has problems converting dietary fats into GLA. By taking evening primrose oil eczema sufferers may tolerate reduced applications of steroid based creams and drugs which often causes unpleasant side effects in higher doses.
