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Evening
Primrose Oil (EPO)
Facts on Evening
Primrose Oil (EPO)
What
are some uses for evening primrose oil?
Evening primrose oil contains large amounts of gamma-linolenic acid
(GLA) and omega-6 fatty acid (found in fish
oils).
It
is suggested for treating eczema, breast cancer, breast pain
(mastalgia),
premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause symptoms, hot flashes, inducing
labour, hyperactivity attention-deficit disorder (ADHD), osteoporosis,
eczema, depression, endometriosis, stomach pain, chronic fatigue
syndrome (CFS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), acne
conditions, multiple sclerosis (MS), high cholesterol, heart disease,
diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, weight
loss/obesity, pre-eclampsia, rosacea, ulcerative colitis and irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS).
Which health condition has scientific
research studies to support using EPO?
There
are studies to show that EPO helps with eczema, rheumatoid arthritis
(RA), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), hot flashes, diabetic neuropathy and
mastalgia. In the UK, EPO is approved for treating mastalgia and eczema.
What are some side effects?
There are very few side effects reported. Those reported include
nausea, vomiting, indigestion,
headaches, softening of the stool and diarrhea.
In animal studies, this supplement lowered blood pressure.
However, this was not seen in studies done in human.
Can you use evening
primrose during pregnancy?
There isn't enough studies to show whether taking this supplement
during pregnancy would cause problem. Experts have suggested that
taking
it during pregnancy may be risky as it may delay the membrane from
rupturing and slow down or stop the infant from exiting the womb.
Until we get further evidence, it is best to avoid taking it during
pregnancy to prevent any risk to the unborn child.
What dosage should I use?
For clarification, typically, 4 grams of EPO contains about 300
to 360 mg of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). (That's about a 8 to
10% concentration.)
Dosages
use ranges from 2 to 8 grams daily (divided into two or three times
daily). For treating breast pain, studies have used 3 grams daily. For
use in treating eczema the range is 4 to 8 grams (divided into two or
three times daily).
In children aged 1 to 12, dosages of 2 to 4 grams daily (again divided
up) has been used.
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Evening Primrose Oil

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