Evening Primrose Oil (a.k.a EPO)

Someone I was recommending EPO to recently implied that it is only good for the ladies - but the fact is - guys can take it too!

A summary of what I found out about EPO today:

EPO eases a variety of conditions, especially those resulting from an imbalance of essential fatty acids, inflammation of the skin, or an immune deficiency.

Alcoholism. EPO helps recovering alcoholics cope with withdrawal symptoms experienced during the first three weeks they stop drinking. Patients who take EPO may require fewer tranquilizers, and their livers may begin proper functioning more quickly.

Arteriosclerosis. When cholesterol, lipid, and calcium deposits line the arteries, causing them to harden, arteriosclerosis is the dangerous result. When combined with a low-cholesterol diet, EPO reduces risk of arteriosclerosis, probably because it contains anticlotting compounds.

Asthma. This disease causes wheezing and tightness in the bronchial airways. It's often triggered by an allergic reaction. People with asthma can breathe easier thanks to evening primrose leaves. They contain quercetin a good remedy for asthma and hay fever sufferers alike.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Evening primrose works for men as well as women. When the prostate gland becomes inflamed and grows larger in aging men, it can cause numerous side effects including urinary difficulties and impotence. This condition, BPH, is also called noncancerous prostate enlargement. Research indicates that 50 percent of men have some degree of prostate enlargement by age 50. Further, at least 90 percent of all men 70 to 90 years old, by some estimates, must contend with BPH and its symptoms. Thirty percent of them undergo surgery. Doctors take matters of the prostate very seriously because prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men of all ages. EPO was reported in the Journal of Urology to help prevent prostate problems because it acts as a powerful 5-alpha-reductase type II inhibitor, which helps reduce enlarged prostates.

Depression. Tryptophan, a chemical compound found in evening primrose seed, may help to alleviate depression, perhaps as well as--and surely as safely as--the synthetic alternatives, including Prozac. Tryptophan is a precursor of brain serotonin, known for its mood-boosting effects.

Diabetes. People with diabetes may experience a condition called diabetic neuropathy, which can cause loss of feeling in their extremities. Naturopaths often prescribe evening primrose oil because it's rich in tryptophan, which helps stimulate the central nervous system.

Eczema. EPO is approved in the United Kingdom to treat eczema, a skin condition that causes inflammation, redness, itchiness, burning, and scabbing. Studies on laboratory animals have shown that the seed oil can reduce swelling. Research shows the oil's GLA can be effective when applied to other skin irritations such as dermatitis.

Endometriosis. When the membrane that lines the uterus becomes inflamed, low back and abdominal pain, constipation, and vaginal discharge may occur. EPO can treat this condition.

High blood pressure. When blood pressure is higher than normal, the heart's workload is increased. EPO is effective in lowering both cholesterol and blood pressure.

High cholesterol. Elevated blood cholesterol levels can increase your risk for heart disease. The GLA in evening primrose is reported to lower cholesterol levels.

HIV. The life expectancy of HIV patients more than doubled when GLA and omega-3 fatty acids were included in their diets, according to studies done by researchers in Tanzania. These two compounds are essential to maintaining cell structure membranes and making hormone-like substances known as eicosanoids, which help regulate blood pressure, blood clot formation, blood lipids, and the immune response to injury and infection. The body can make all other fatty acids except for these two, which must come from the diet. EPO could also be good for autoimmune disorders.

Multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system, causing nerve damage, vision problems, and muscle weakness. EPO is recommended for MS by certain physicians.

PMS. Discomforts such as irritability, bloating, breast soreness, and depression occur before and during menstruation in many women. Clinical studies show that GLA found in evening primrose oil contains essential fatty acids that seem to alleviate symptoms.

Raynaud's disease. Raynaud's disease is a condition that causes a loss of blood flow to the fingers, toes, nose, or ears. The affected areas turn white from the lack of circulation, then blue and cold, and finally numb. When the attack subsides, the affected parts may turn red and may throb, tingle, or swell. Research on GLA suggests that it can help relieve these symptoms.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with this condition complain of chronic inflammation, pain, and tightness in the muscles or joints. When given evening primrose oil in one clinical trial, patients showed significant improvement and experienced less pain and stiffness in the morning.

You can take evening primrose in two forms: as seeds, or preferably, as standardized supplements. Both contain GLA. Seeds. If you use the seeds of the evening primrose, grind them first with a mortar and pestle. Unmashed seeds may pass straight through the digestive system undigested, which means you may eliminate--quite literally--the health benefits. Supplements. You have to eat an awful lot of seeds to get the equivalent of a standardized supplement, and buying the herb in capsules, or in bottle form as an extract, at your health food store is a far more practical alternative. Suggested dosages are usually two 1,300-milligram capsules per day or up to four to eight grams of evening primrose oil daily.

EXPLANATION OF SOME MEDICAL JARGON... 3 ways EPO works: First, its oil (EPO) is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a fatty acid essential to human health. GLAs help make prostaglandins, compounds that do important tasks such as regulating brain function, blood flow, gastrointestinal activity, fluid balance, and fat decomposition. There are only a few other food sources that contain large quantities: borage, black currant, hemp seed oil, and mother's milk. Second, evening primrose leaves are our best source of the bioflavonoid quercetin which are not produced by the human body but are found in many leaves, bark, seeds, and flowers. These protect blood vessels, aid in circulation, stimulate bile production, and lower cholesterol levels. The third major active ingredient in evening primrose is tryptophan, an amino acid. The evening primrose seed (though not the oil) is one of the better sources of tryptophan. Our bodies convert some of it into serotonin, a brain chemical, which acts as a natural mood enhancer and antidepressant.

Caution and contraindications:

EPO is generally safe and causes very few known side-effects. Still, keep an eye out for the following.

Headaches. Some scientific findings have shown that headaches and even nausea can occur in some people who take EPO.

Pharmaceutical alert. Schizophrenic patients on phenothiazines (Thorazine) may experience mild breathing difficulties or even increased risk of epilepsy, on taking EPO.

Pregnancy and lactation. EPO is generally given the go-ahead for breastfeeding mothers, since GLA is found in breast milk. However, it's probably better to check with your physician if you are pregnant or lactating.