The oil of Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is proved to be so valuable in many of the conditions from pre-menstrual problems and acne to asthma.
It is most often taken in the forms of capsules, internally, but is also a great essential for topical application if you are looking for relief of eczema, psoriasis, wrinkles. One of the best carrier oils for wrinkles, it is a very strong anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and a blood vessel dilator. The main characteristics of Evening Primrose Oil increase skin resistance to ultraviolet rays and aids in blood circulation. Not only it is one of the best carrier oils for wrinkles, it helps to prevent aging of the skin!
Due to its strong anti-inflammatory properties it should part of any women’s routine who suffers from PMS and acne. Internal supplementation is the key here. Taking 500mg 3 times a day usually is enough to see rapid results in improvement of your skin and PMS symptoms (as instructed on the bottle).
Available without a prescription, evening primrose oil comes in either liquid or encapsulated form. The liquid usually is available only through health-food stores or other natural remedy retailers, but the capsules can be found in almost any drugstore or other large general retailer. The recommended dosage for acne treatment is from 0.1 to 0.2 ounces (3,000 to 6,000 mg) daily, taken internally. That is very high dosage and I would not do that before consulting with the practitioner.
The action of Evening Primrose results from the fact that it contains a high level of gamma linolenic acid (G.L.A.). It is an essential fatty acid, which the body needs to manufacture certain hormones and hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. These are the ones that are responsible for the healthy functioning of many types of body tissue, from pain to inflammation to controlling cholesterol levels. They have a very strong beneficial effect on brain and immune system.
It is a good supplement to take for allergies and asthma, due its strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Other vegetarian source of GLA are borage seed oil, rosehip seed oil, black currant seed oil.
For skin preparation 10- 15% addition of Evening Primrose is sufficient enough to get th
benefits of the oil, without the side effect, such as greasy feeling or strong aroma. But this goes hand in hand with supplementing internally.
Remember first feed from the inside, then treat the outside, naturally!
