EVENING PRIMROSE OIL 500mg – for the cardiovascular system, relieves PMS, supports breast health – WITH EXPIRY DATE UNTIL 10/2025

Has a positive effect on the cardiovascular, immune system and skin. Helps maintain a healthy weight and breast health. Relieves symptoms associated with diabetes. Relieves symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Ingredients: Evening primrose oil 1000mg (GLA – gamma-linolenic acid 45mg). Contains no sugar, artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors or preservatives.

Usage: Take 1 softgel capsule up to 3 times daily with food or as directed by a physician.

Packaging: 120 softgel capsules in a container.

What is evening primrose oil?

The evening primrose is native to North America. The plant is a miniature, short-lived wildflower that is not actually a true primrose. When Europeans discovered evening primrose and brought it to Europe, it quickly earned the name King's cure-all because of its ability to heal skin diseases and wounds. Today, evening primrose is grown in over 30 countries, and the oil extracted from its seeds is sold as a natural dietary supplement and is a great source of linoleic acid.

Evening primrose oil is a source not only of linoleic acid, but also of another type of fatty acid called gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). This fatty acid, which is normally produced by the body from linoleic acid, is important for many reasons. It is converted by the body into eicosanoids – hormone-like chemicals that include prostaglandins. Prostaglandins help control processes such as inflammation, blood clotting and cholesterol synthesis.

Why take evening primrose oil?

Premenstrual Syndrome: Evening primrose oil has been shown to relieve premenstrual symptoms such as headaches, depression, irritability, and bloating.

Mammary gland: Evening primrose oil reduces pain and tenderness associated with premenstrual syndrome and fibrocystic breast tissue. Evening primrose oil can also be used to prevent breast diseases such as breast cancer.

Breast cancer: According to one study, women with breast cancer who took GLA had a better response to Tamoxifen (a drug used to treat estrogen-dependent breast cancer) than those who took Tamoxifen alone.

Menopause: Evening primrose oil and other oils containing GLA are popular among women as a way to reduce menopausal symptoms. GLA in the form of evening primrose oil has been found to reduce the nighttime hot flashes associated with menopause.

Pregnancy and fetal development: Essential fatty acids play a unique role during pregnancy, when new cells, new tissues, and new organ systems are rapidly developing in the fetus. The development of the fetus requires essential fatty acids, which can be obtained through evening primrose oil. The supply is carried out by the mother's body.

Allergies: Omega-6 fatty acids, whether taken through food or as supplements (such as GLA from evening primrose oil or other sources), have long been used by humans to treat allergies. Both women and children who are prone to allergies have low levels of GLA in their milk and blood. However, there is no scientific evidence that taking GLA helps reduce allergy symptoms. More research is needed in this area.
If you decide to try GLA for allergies, consult a healthcare professional to determine if it is safe for you. Then, monitor yourself for symptoms or lack thereof.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Clinical studies suggest that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have low levels of essential fatty acids, both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Essential fatty acids are important for normal brain and behavioral function. Some studies, although not as extensive, suggest that taking fish oil (which contains omega-3 fatty acids) may help reduce symptoms of ADHD. Studies using evening primrose oil have found that the reduction in symptoms is no greater than that of a placebo.

Leather: GLA supplements are one of the most important tools in the treatment of eczema. GLA also hydrates the skin and protects it from oxidative damage from the environment. Many scientific studies have used GLA with excellent results related to improving eczema symptoms. Doses of 0.5 to 3gm GLA are appropriate. Evening primrose oil and borage oil were used in these studies.

Eczema: The evidence is mixed about whether evening primrose oil can help reduce eczema symptoms. Some older studies suggest the oil may be helpful, but they are not well-designed. More recent studies of people taking evening primrose oil for 16-24 weeks have not shown any improvement in symptoms. If you're interested in trying evening primrose oil, talk to your healthcare provider about the risks.

Diabetes: In diabetes, abnormalities in the metabolism of essential fatty acids are observed. One of them is a disorder in the conversion of linoleic acid to GLA. By taking additional evening primrose oil, this disorder can be avoided and the body can be given the necessary amount of GLA. In diabetics with neuropathy, examined while taking GLA, significant favorable changes occur in muscle strength, hot and cold thresholds, sensations and reflexes.

Multiple sclerosis: Evening primrose oil is recommended as a complementary treatment (in addition to standard therapy) for multiple sclerosis (MS), although there is no scientific evidence for its effectiveness. MS patients who want to add evening primrose oil to their treatment should consult a healthcare professional.

Cardiovascular system: It has been shown that daily supplementation with 3gm GLA for 4 months increases triglyceride levels by 48%, HDL (“good”) cholesterol by 22%, and significantly reduces total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. It would be good to use evening primrose oil as a supplement to other essential fatty acid oils in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

High blood pressure (readings over 140/90) is another risk factor for developing heart disease. More than 60 studies have shown that fish oil and flaxseed oil supplements are effective in lowering blood pressure. But we shouldn't forget the potential of evening primrose oil. In a study combining evening primrose oil and fish oil as dietary supplements, blood pressure was significantly reduced compared to the combination of evening primrose oil plus sunflower oil and evening primrose oil plus flaxseed oil.

Osteoporosis: A number of published studies have shown that increased intake of essential fatty acids improves calcium metabolism and maintains bone strength. More and more evidence and research is accumulating in this direction. Essential fatty acids have been shown to improve calcium absorption from the intestines (partly by enhancing the action of vitamin D), reduce calcium excretion in the urine, and help retain it in the bones, thereby strengthening them.

Rheumatoid arthritis: Research is mixed on whether evening primrose oil helps reduce symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Some preliminary data suggests that it may reduce symptoms, swelling, and morning stiffness; other studies have not reported any such effect. When using GLA to manage arthritis symptoms, it may take 1 to 3 months to see improvement. Evening primrose oil is unlikely to stop the progression of the disease, so joint damage will continue to occur.

Evening primrose oil can be used to treat the following conditions:

• Hypertension, angina pectoris and complications after stroke or heart attack;
• Hormonal problems associated with decreased levels of sex hormones in both men and women;
• Prevention of endometriosis;
• Impaired vision due to retinopathy;
• Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system;
• Recovery of the body after severe infectious diseases and intoxications;
• Treatment of non-healing wounds;
• Pain of various origins;
• Rejuvenation and rapid regeneration of the skin after weight loss diets and plastic surgery;
• Relieves unpleasant symptoms of menopause;
• Reduces the side effects of cytostatics;

Attention:

• If you suffer from epilepsy or other types of seizures, have schizophrenia, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a doctor before taking evening primrose oil.

• Evening primrose oil may cause headaches and nausea if taken on an empty stomach.

 Possible interactions: 

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not take additional omega-6 fatty acids without first consulting your doctor:

Blood thinners – People taking blood thinners, including Warfarin (Coumadin) or Clopidogrel (Plavix), should not take omega-6 fatty acid supplements without consulting a doctor. Both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids increase the risk of bleeding.

Ceftazidime – Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) may increase the effectiveness of Ceftazidime. The antibiotic Ceftazidinme is used against a variety of bacterial infections.

Cancer chemotherapy – GLA may increase the effects of anti-cancer treatments such as Doxorubicin, Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Idarubicin, Mitoxantrone, Tamoxifen, Vincristine, and Vinblastine.
Cyclosporine – a medication used to suppress the immune system after an organ transplant. Taking omega-6 fatty acids along with Cyclosporine might increase the immunosuppressive effects of this medication. It might also protect against kidney damage (a potential side effect of this medication).

Phenothiazines – People taking phenothiazines to treat schizophrenia should not take evening primrose oil. It can interact with these medications and increase the risk of seizures. The same goes for other omega-6 fatty acids. These medications include:
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) – Chlorpromazine
Fluphenazine (Stelazine) – Fluphenazine
Perphenazine (Trilafon) - Perphenazine
Promethazine (Compazine) - Promethazine
Thioridazine (Mellaril) - Thioridazine

Origin: USA