Aromatherapy - Evening Primrose Essential Oil

Evening Primrose, this plant is ingenious to Northact as blood thinners and vaso-dilators.
America. The flowers of this plant have a veryThese hormone like substances are produced in the
strong, sweet scent, which only bloom at night 4tissue of the body. A deficiency in prostaglandin may
months out of the year. June through October.result in a significant decrease in the transmission of
This flower has been used for centuries to treatimpulses from a nerve, increase in clotting time,
various skin and muscular system ailments. Our Nativeinflammation and a weakened immune response.
American ancestors discovered that the completeEvening primrose oil is favorable for ailments related
plant was edible, and could also be used as a painkillerto the essential fatty acid family, since it has a high
as well as food. In Europe, it has been a provenconcentration of gamma linolenic acid. It is of benefit
treatment for PMS. It is said that there are astringentin the treatment of arteriosclerosis, high blood
as well as sedative properties in the bark and leavescholesterol levels, asthma, allergies, PMS, headaches,
of the evening primrose.RA, skin irritations, anxiety, water retention, breast
It has been effective in the treatment of intestinalsoreness, depression, coughs, and irritability.
disorders, whooping cough and asthma. EveningIt also is used to stimulate the digestive system, liver
primrose is a rich source of essential amino acids,and spleen.
such as omega 6. Omega 6 is a fatty acid that whenOther uses for evening primrose are acne treatment,
in the bloodstream helps the body transfer oxygeneczema, hyper-activity, MS and to strengthen nails.
as well as produce electrical currents.There are numerous other other conditions that
Amino acids also help the body fight allergicevening primrose is being tested on for
responses and inflammation. As stated earlier theeffectiveness, including breast cancer, heart disease,
fatty acids also produce electrical currents which isADHD, stomach ulcers and some types of bowel
vital to the conductivity of the cells. Essential fattydisease. Even though the studies have been
acids also transport vitamins and oxygen to the cellspromising, there is not enough conclusive evidence at
as well as enhance or aid in metabolism. They arethis time.
basically indispensable, every part of your bodyA person with seizure disorders should only use
needs fatty acids. The brain, the heart,the eyes, mainomega-6 supplements under the care and supervision
sensory organs as well as many glands. Theseof a licensed medical doctor. Omega-6 fatty acids
essential fatty acids act like cleaners to eliminatehave been reported to cause seizures in people that
hardened fat that is stored up in your body.have seizure disorders.
They are also involved in a healthy heart, theyRemember when purchasing evening primrose oil, it is
regulate the stability of DNA and RNA and may evenimportant that the bottle states the amount of
help with weight loss.gamma linolenic acid as well as linolenic acid. The
Here is a list of the components found in eveningpercentage for a quality oil is, GLA 7-10% and LA
primrose: Alinine [0.5%], arginine [1.5%], aspartic acid40-75% ( more percentage is always better).
[1.2%], beta-sitosterol [1.2-2.5%], calcium [1.3-1.8%],If you are ordering from a company, and they do
cellulose [27%], gamma-linolenic acid [0.5-10%],not list at least these two ingredients with the
glutamic acid [2.7%], glycine [1%], fat [15-32%], fiberproduct. It is advisable to contact them and get the
[43%], histidine[0.4%], isoleucine [0.5%], leucine [1%],percentages of these two compounds.
legnin [16%], linoleic acid [12-22%], lysine [0.3%],Evening primrose that contains GLA 10.3% and LA
methionine [0.6%], phenylalanine [0.7%], proline75% is probably the best one can get, it is available
[0.6%], protein [15-17%], serine [0.9%], threonineas a carrier oil. Evening primrose can be used all over
[0.4%], tryptophan [1.6%], tyrosine [0.4%], valinethe body. It may be used as a base oil to blend a
[0.6%], as well as many other smaller quantities offavorite mix of essential oils for any specific ailment
compounds.of your body. To treat or combat acne, dry, scared,
One of the compounds mentioned, gamma linolenicdiscolored or irritated skin. Although you can use it
acid, is known as a polyunsaturated fatty acid. GLAalone to produce therapeutic benefits.
for short, helps the body make energy. Once GLA isThe beautiful flowering plant named Evening Primrose,
introduced to the body it is transformed to ahas a very therapeutic emollient for the general well
substance called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins havebeing of a body.
anti-inflammatory properties. Prostaglandins can also