Evening Primrose

[Guest guest]

Comments?

Misty L. Trepke

http://www..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)

 

https://www.florapathics.com/