Evening Primrose Oil £15.95 BUY NOW For centuries, Native Americans have used the roots and leaves of Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) - an edible plant with bright yellow, lemon-scented flowers - to treat wounds and respiratory disorders. Modern research, however, has focused on evening primrose oil (EPO) as a treatment for hormonal problems, schizophrenia and heart disease. Made from the crushed seeds of the plant, evening primrose oil is often cited as the perfect herbal supplement. Rather than introduce harsh new chemicals - the "magic bullet" approach of orthodox medicine - it provides raw materials which the body then converts into the compounds it needs to stay healthy. What is more, evening primrose oil does not act alone. It works in combination with other vitamins and minerals, relying on the body's innate ability to use all these "building blocks" together to construct what it needs. One group of compounds the body needs are the prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that play a part in everything from cell rejuvenation and the regulation of blood pressure, to how we feel when we get up in the morning. Normally, these chemicals are manufactured from linolenic acid - a fatty acid found in nuts, seeds and vegetable oils - but in some people the conversion process fails. Poor diet, stress, ageing, alcohol abuse and glucose intolerance can all compromise the production of prostaglandins, as can metabolic disorders such as diabetes. The solution is to take linolenic acid in the form of evening primrose oil, usually in capsules. This converts more reliably into prostaglandins. Evening primrose oil is also a source of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), responsible for the production of a particular prostaglandin, known for its anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning properties. GLA is also found in the oil of blackcurrant seed and borage. In particular, evening primrose oil has been shown to be effective at treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In a 1985 trial, evening primrose oil in the journal of reproductive medicine concluded that evening primrose oil was beneficial to women suffering from PMS, alleviating symptoms such as irritability and breast pain. This finding was backed by two American studies in 1987 but a 1994 paper in the British medical journal concluded that evening primrose oil was no more effective than a placebo at treating hot flushes. In Canada, researchers have shown that evening primrose oil can lower blood pressure and protect the heart against chronic stress and atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), while other studies have recommended it as a treatment for schizophrenia, and even for easing withdrawal symptoms in recovering alcoholics. Nevertheless, some critics say evening primrose oil's benefits have not been adequately researched. The PMS studies, in particular, are regarded as too subjective, relying on women's own impressions of whether their symptoms have improved. Similar uncertainty surrounds the herb's side effects. Though considered safe in normal doses, excessive use of evening primrose oil can cause headaches and gastro-intestinal upset. It is also known to react badly with some orthodox drugs, particularly those used to treat epilepsy and schizophrenia. Indeed, three cases of seizure have been ravening primrose oil in schizophrenics taking evening primrose oil. Because evening primrose oil has been shown to hinder platelet aggregation (stickiness of the blood), it may also increase the effect of blood-thinning medicines such as warfarin. Anyone taking anti-coagulants should talk to a GP before taking evening primrose oil. As with most herbs, it should not be taken when pregnant or while breast-feeding. The herb, however, has a good safety record throughout centuries of documented folk use. Perhaps some reassurance can be had from the fact that the entire plant is edible and has never been known to cause ill effects when taken on its own. Externally, it has been used throughout history to treat wounds and abrasions. BUY NOW

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