Evening Primrose:What about its aroma essentials and natural gamma-linolenic acid.

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Herbalism medicinal uses of Evening Primrose.

Evening Primrose Seed Extract INCI Name Oenothera Biennis Extract CAS 90028-66-3 EINECS ELINCS No 289-859-2 photo picture image Primrose, also known as Fairy Cup, Key Flower, Key of Heaven, Paigle, Crewel, Buckles, Arthritica, and Cowslip, is a common plant native to Great Britain, Europe, and parts of Asia, is not to be confused with Evening Primrose, which is different in action. The yellow flowers, the part most often used medicinally, are collected in early spring. They are still used to make wine in some of the more rural sections of Britain. Primrose is one of the most useful and versatile herbs used in alternative medicine. Primrose combines well with other herbs to treat a wide variety of ailments. It was mainly used to treat nervous conditions and headaches. For headaches it was used in combination with Wood Betony. Primrose contains flavonoids, including Quercetin, which are responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties, leading to its use in treating arthritic conditions. Primrose also contains saponin glycosides, the same constituents responsible for the beneficial actions of Panax Ginseng and Sea Cucumber. Primrose is famous for its sedative properties, and has been used in combination with Skullcap and Lady Slipper to treat anxiety, with Valerian Root to treat hysteria, and with Hops and Passion Flower to treat insomnia. Primrose is also a strong expectorant, and is useful in treating bronchitis and congestion, often in combination with Coltsfoot. Primrose is also a mild diuretic and laxative. The herb has a reputation for being effective in easing the symptoms of measles. Topically, Primrose has often been used to treat sunburn and was used in lotions to give the skin a healthy glow. Primrose is a great herb for the relief of mild nervousness and is known to reduce trembling.

 Summary Main uses Medical PMS and many other disorders:

 Were it not for an increasingly substantial body of scientific evidence backing the extraordinary therapeutic range of the oil extracted from the evening-primrose plant, the claims made on its behalf would seem mere quackery. Evening primrose oil can have startling effects in the treatment of the premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

 In 1981, at St Thomas's Hospital, London, 65 women with PMS were treated with oil of evening primrose. Of these 61% experienced complete relief, and 23% partial relief. One symptom, breast engorgement, was especially improved. 72% of the women reported feeling better.'

 In November 1982, an edition of the prestigious medical journal, the Lancet carried the results of the double blind crossover study on 99 patients with ectopic eczema. This showed that when high doses of evening primrose oil were taken about 43% of the patients in the trial experienced an improvement of their eczema.

 Studies of the effect of evening primrose oil on hyperactive children also indicate that this form of treatment is beneficial in calming the children down. About two-thirds of the children treated responded favourably.' Evening primrose oil, it appears, is also useful to counteract alcoholic poisoning. It is highly effective in preventing hangovers. A study in Inverness, Scotland, demonstrated that the oil will encourage a liver damaged by alcohol to regenerate. Other work indicates that oil of evening primrose can help withdrawal from alcohol and ease post-drinking depression.

 Another Scottish study has shown that evening primrose oil can help dry eyes and brittle nails. When combined with zinc the oil may be used to treat acne. More controversially, oil of evening primrose is also claimed to be of benefit to sufferers of multiple sclerosis. Its use for MS sufferers has been recommended by Professor Field who directed MS research at the UK Medical Research Council's Demyelinating Diseases Unit.

 Oil of evening primrose is also effective in guarding against coronary artery disease. Its active ingredient, gammalinoleic acid (GLA), is a powerful anti-blood-clotter. It has also been shown to reduce blood pressure in animals with high blood pressure. A New York hospital discovered that people more than ten percent above their ideal body weight lost weight when taking the oil. It is thought that this occurs because the GLA in evening primrose oil.stimu-lates brown-fat tissue.

 Perhaps the most remarkable study of all was completed at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1987 using evening primrose oil to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 60% of patients taking the oil were able to stop their normal anti-arthritis drugs, and those taking fish oil in addition to evening primrose oil fared even better.

 There is scientific explanation for these extraordinary results. GLA is a precursor of a hormone-like substance called PGEI which has a wide range of beneficial effects in the body. The production of this substance in some people may be blocked. GLA has been found in oil extracted from blackcurrant seeds and borage seeds, both of which are now commercial sources of this substance. Research continues into treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, benign breast tumours, hyperactivity, schizophrenia, alcoholism, anorexia nervosa, Parkinson's disease, and certain forms of infertility.

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citations1.Evening Primrose:What about its aroma essentials and natural gamma-linolenic acid.

last edit date:26th,June.2009.