Can evening primrose help for a women in pain?

for my stomach its in agony

Can evening primrose help for a women in pain?
It's been a godsend for me. I take 1000mgs every day (lower didn't help), and I only use Healthcrafts (no other brand worked for me). It took two months for the effects to kick it, but it's been great.



My PMT has eased, but the big improvement is in the period pain. I don't have it anymore. I started Evening Primrose a few years ago and the pain has never come back. It's such a relief. My period is no longer a big deal, there's no pain, no breast soreness, very little belly swelling and minimal PMT.



I love Evening Primrose!
Reply:it takes a while to work but does work for monthlys mood swings that kind of thing not sure about pain mother nature is so cruel try feminax i even give them to my daughter she is only 13 but they are fantasitc pain relief designed especially for that kind of pain
Reply:Evening primrose oil (EPO) contains an omega-6 essential fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is felt to be the active ingredient. EPO has been studied in a wide variety of disorders, particularly those affected by metabolic products of essential fatty acids. However, high-quality evidence for its use in most conditions is still lacking.





SynonymsReturn to top



Echte Nachtkerze, EPO, fever plant, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), herbe aux anes, Huile D'Onagre, kaempe natlys, King's Cureall, la belle de nuit, nachtkerzenol, night willow-herb, Oenothera communis Leveill, Oenothera graveolens Gilib, omega-6 essential fatty acid, Onagra biennis Scop, Onogra vulgaris , onagre bisannuelle, scabish, Spach, stella di sera, sun drop, Teunisbloem.





EvidenceReturn to top



These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.



Uses based on scientific evidence Grade*

Eczema (children and adults)



Several small studies of eczema suggest benefits of taking evening primrose oil by mouth. Large well-designed studies are needed before a strong recommendation can be made. Evening primrose oil is approved for eczema in several countries outside of the United States. B

Skin irritation (atopic dermatitis in children and adults)



Several small human studies of atopic dermatitis suggest benefits of taking evening primrose oil by mouth. Large well-designed studies are needed before a strong recommendation can be made. Evening primrose oil is approved for atopic dermatitis in several countries outside of the United States. B

Breast cancer



Not enough information is available to advise the use of evening primrose oil for breast cancer. People with known or suspected breast cancer should consult with a qualified healthcare professional about possible treatments. C

Breast cysts



The limited available research does not demonstrate that evening primrose oil has a significant effect on treating breast cysts. C

Breast pain (mastalgia)



Although primrose oil is used for breast pain in several European countries, no high-quality human studies are published in this area. Therefore, the available information does not allow recommendation for or against the use of primrose oil in this condition. C

Chronic fatigue syndrome/post-viral infection symptoms



Not enough information is available to advise the use of evening primrose oil for symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome or fatigue following a viral infection. C

Diabetes



A small number of laboratory studies and theory suggests that evening primrose oil may be helpful in diabetes, but more information is needed before a recommendation can be made. C

Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage)



Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), one of the components of evening primrose oil, may be helpful in people with diabetic neuropathy. Additional studies are needed before a recommendation can be made. C

Multiple sclerosis (MS)



It is theorized that primrose oil may be helpful in patients with MS based on laboratory studies. Limited evidence is available in humans, and a firm conclusion is not possible at this time. C

Obesity/weight loss



Initial human study suggests that evening primrose oil may have no effects on weight loss. C

Pre-eclampsia/high blood pressure of pregnancy



Evening primrose oil is proposed to have effects on chemicals in the blood called prostaglandins, which may play a role in pre-eclampsia. However, more studies are needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn. C

Raynaud's phenomenon



Not enough scientific information is available to advise the use of evening primrose oil for Raynaud's phenomenon. C

Rheumatoid arthritis



Benefits of evening primrose oil in the treatment of arthritis have not clearly been shown. More information is needed before a recommendation can be made. C

Scale-like dry skin (ichthyosis vulgaris)



Early studies do not show a benefit from evening primrose oil. However, larger studies are needed to confirm this result. C

Asthma



Small studies do not show evening primrose oil to be useful in the treatment of asthma. Further research is needed to confirm this conclusion. D

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)



Small human studies show no benefit from evening primrose oil in ADHD. Further research is needed to confirm this conclusion. D

Cardiovascular health



Early study of evening primrose oil shows a lack of significant beneficial effects on cardiovascular function and health. D

Menopause (flushing/bone metabolism)



Available studies do not show evening primrose oil to be helpful with these potential complications of menopause. D

Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)



Small human studies do not report that evening primrose oil is helpful for the symptoms of PMS. A large, well-designed study is needed before any recommendation can be made. D

Psoriasis



Initial research does not show a benefit from evening primrose oil in the treatment of psoriasis. However, studies have been small with design flaws, and many have combined primrose oil with other agents such as fish oil. D

Schizophrenia



Results from studies of mixed quality do not support the use of evening primrose oil for schizophrenia. D





*Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use;

B: Good scientific evidence for this use;

C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use;

D: Fair scientific evidence against this use;

F: Strong scientific evidence against this use.



Grading rationale



Uses based on tradition or theory

The below uses are based on tradition or scientific theories. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

Alcoholism, antioxidant, atherosclerosis, bruises (primrose oil applied to the skin), chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (nerve damage), Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, disorders of the stomach and intestines, fibroadenomas, hangover remedy, heart disease, hepatitis B, high cholesterol, hot flashes, inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney stones, melanoma, multiple sclerosis, pain, post-menopausal symptoms, post-natal depression, preventing preterm delivery, promoting easier birth, Sj?gren's syndrome, skin conditions due to kidney failure in dialysis patients, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ulcerative colitis, weight loss, whooping cough, wound healing (primrose oil poultice applied to the skin).









The below doses are based on scientific research, publications, traditional use, or expert opinion. Many herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested, and safety and effectiveness may not be proven. Brands may be made differently, with variable ingredients, even within the same brand. The below doses may not apply to all products. You should read product labels, and discuss doses with a qualified healthcare provider before starting therapy.



Standardization

Standardization involves measuring the amount of certain chemicals in products to try to make different preparations similar to each other. It is not always known if the chemicals being measured are the "active" ingredients. Standardizedcapsules of evening primrose oil (EPO) may contain about 320 milligrams of linoleic acid (LA), 40 milligrams of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and 10 international units (IU) of vitamin E. Some preparations are labeled with percent content (70% LA, 9% GLA). LA from normal daily food intake provides approximately 250 to 1000 milligrams of GLA daily.



Adults (18 years and older)

Studies in the treatment of eczema or atopic dermatitis have used doses of 4 to 8 grams of evening primrose oil (EPO) daily, taken by mouth, divided into several smaller doses throughout the day. Studies of breast pain have used doses of 3 grams EPO daily, taken by mouth, divided into several smaller doses throughout the day.
Reply:A lot of women swear by it for their 'monthlys' but I've never tried it.

Ibuprofen is the best of all for period pain, but if you don't want pills, one of those little magnets they sell in Avon seems to help. It's a set of two blue magnets, the bigger magnet goes against your skin, and a little round magnet goes on the other side of your knickers to hold it in place... seems to work for me. Wear it throughout your period, only take off to wash, etc.
Reply:not for pain
Reply:You don't say whether this is related to periods specifically. Evening primrose should help if this is the case. Take the maximum dose and consult your doctor if you are on medication.

Other things you could try are reflexology, aromatherapy and acupressure, which you can use on yourself.

My daughter has bad period pains and I usually give her a reflexology treatment which does help.

Magnesium Phosphate homeopathic remedy is said to be good
Reply:Evening primrose oil contains substantial amounts of polysaturated omega-6 fatty acids, essential fatty acids (EFAs) which are needed by the body to regulate a number of activities including insulin utilization, heart function, and mood. Since the body does not produce EFAs, they must be ingested through proper diet or supplementation. In addition to omega-6 fatty acids, evening primrose oil contains linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Both linoleic acid and GLA are believed to have very positive health and medicinal indications. Linoleic acid may affect how the body utilizes insulin, maintains weight, and fights cancer and heart disease. GLA may help to inhibit the body's production of chemicals that cause inflammation. Consequently, evening primrose oil has been used in connection with inflammatory conditions including both rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Some studies have also suggested that evening primrose oil may be useful in treating chronic fatigue syndrome, but more research is needed before evening primrose oil can be recommended for that condition.



Evening primrose oil may help to relieve pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), symptoms of menopause, and breast pain due to hormonal changes during menstruation. Supplementary GLA, such as is supplied by evening primrose oil, appears to relieve some PMS symptoms. However, many of the suggested uses of evening primrose seed oil have not been substantiated by sound clinic studies and research.



Both oral and topical forms of evening primrose oil have also been studied for treating acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. When used as a topical application on the skin, evening primrose oil has moisturizing and softening effects.



Additional research indicates that individuals suffering from diabetes, scleroderma, Sjorgen's syndrome, and tardive dyskinesia may be deficient in GLA. In preliminary studies, supplementation with Evening Primrose Oil aided individuals with these conditions.



Dosage



Most experts have recommended 3000 to 6000 mg of Evening Primrose Oil per day, which, when standardized, provides approximately 270-540 mg of GLA.



EPO is usually standardized to contain 8% gamma-linolenic acid.
Reply:no its for PMS mood swings try codeine and paracetamol for your period pain
Reply:pain in the tummy may indicate something else get checked out by ur doc x
Reply:be better if you went to your gp