Does primrose oil go bad or expire?
Any product rich in unsaturated oil can go rancid, including bottled primrose oil and primrose oil gel caps. Because primrose oil has only a faint scent, it can often be difficult to tell if it has gone bad. It may darken or smell funny, but not always. As such, you should always play it safe and discard any supplement after its use-by date.
What are the risks of evening primrose oil?
Evening primrose oil, like other omega-6 fatty acid supplements, may increase the risk of abnormal bleeding. People with a bleeding disorder or taking medications or herbs with blood-thinning effects should be cautious about taking evening primrose oil, according to the UMMC.
What is primrose oil and what are its benefits?
Primrose oil is made up almost entirely of unsaturated fat and is believed by some to counter the bone loss seen in women with osteoporosis. 4
Should you take evening primrose oil supplements?
However, while there is some evidence that taking evening primrose oil supplements may benefit some health conditions, the study results are mixed. Most of the studies have been small and further research is needed.
Does evening primrose oil go rancid?
It's best to throw them out. Ditto for oil supplements in gelatin capsules including fish oil, flax oil, cod liver oil and evening primrose oil. These fats oxidize much more readily than do vitamins and minerals sold as tablets. Once expired, toss them out.
Can evening primrose oil be toxic?
Evening primrose oil may raise the risk of bleeding among people who take anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications. It may also raise the risk of seizures as well as serious nausea and vomiting for people taking a class of drugs known as phenothiazines.
How do I insert evening primrose oil into my cervix?
Evening primrose oil contains essential fatty acids, which are precursors to prostaglandins, that can soften and prepare the cervix for labour. You can begin taking evening primrose oil at 37-38 weeks, take 500 mg orally two times per day and/or insert one gelcap deep into your vagina at night.
What happens if you take evening primrose oil everyday?
When taken by mouth: Evening primrose oil is likely safe for most people when taken in doses up to 6 grams daily for up to 1 year. It might cause mild side effects including upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, and headache in some people.
Who should not take evening primrose oil?
Don't take evening primrose if you have a bleeding disorder. Oral use of the supplement might increase the risk of bleeding. If you're planning to have surgery, stop taking evening primrose two weeks beforehand. Also, don't take evening primrose if you have epilepsy or schizophrenia.
What does evening primrose do to hormones?
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome and Menopause: Evening primrose oil helps support hormonal balance and has been found to be effective at reducing menstrual cramping, bloat, water retention, breast tenderness and irritability due to hormonal shifts during a women's cycle.
How long should you lay down after inserting evening primrose oil?
It's best to consult your healthcare provider before taking evening primrose oil to determine what dose – if any – is safe. In the 2019 study involving vaginal evening primrose oil, participants inserted 1000 milligrams (ml) each night starting at 38 weeks of pregnancy, and remained lying down for at least 2 hours.
How quickly does evening primrose work?
How long does evening primrose oil take to work? It may take up to 6 weeks for you to notice any difference, but most people report changes after 1 to 2 weeks.
Does primrose oil soften your cervix?
According to American Family Physician, evening primrose oil may help the cervix soften and efface (thin out). Other studies suggest that it can help shorten labor duration. This is due to linolenic acid found in EPO, which may trigger a prostaglandin response in the body.
Does EPO cause weight gain?
Erythropoietin (Epo) is a pleotropic cytokine with several nonhematopoietic tissue effects. High-dose Epo treatment-mediated effects on body weight, fat mass and glucose tolerance have recently been reported, thus extending its pleotropic effects to fat and glucose metabolism.
Does Primrose help with weight loss?
There was no significant difference in the weight loss achieved by those taking EPO compared with placebo, either in the subjects with refractory obesity or in those treated at time of initial referral. It would appear that any antiobesity property possessed by EPO is clinically insignificant.
Is evening primrose oil good for hormonal imbalance?
Evening Primrose Oil is one of the richest sources of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid that provides the building blocks for female hormones. It thereby helps to provide hormonal balance. It plays a key role in female metabolism by maintaining hormonal balance, healthy skin and supple joints.
Can primrose oil be taken for surgery?
Use evening primrose oil in small doses for short periods. Overdoses and prolonged use may increase the risk of side effects. Consult your doctor before taking this supplement, especially if you're under medical treatment or preparing for surgery.
Is primrose oil safe for bleeding?
On top of that, it may not be safe for individuals with bleeding disorders and those preparing for surgery.
Does primrose oil help with PMS?
Evening primrose oil benefits are said to include everything from PMS relief to better cardiovascular health. Unfortunately, science does not support these claims. While some studies suggest that evening primrose may reduce inflammation and fight infections, it also carries potential side effects.
Is it safe to take EPO for short periods?
According to the NIH, this home remedy is likely safe when used for short periods. However, you still need to use it with caution, especially if you're pregnant or under medical treatment. EPO may contribute to pregnancy complications and increased bleeding in people taking warfarin and other blood-thinning drugs.
Can you take evening primrose oil with Prozac?
The problem is that it may interact with certain drugs, including anticoagulants, antidepressants and antihypertensives. For example, evening primrose oil should not be used along with Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Does EPO help with asthma?
Supplement manufacturers claim that it may reduce fatigue, clear acne, promote weight loss and improve asthma symptoms. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), current evidence doesn't support the use of EPO for any disease or health concern.
Does primrose oil cause stomach pain?
In fact, its side effects may outweigh any potential benefits. The MSKCC and medical experts warn about its health risks, which range from mild to severe. Evening primrose oil side effects may include headaches, nausea, stomach pain and digestive distress as well as more serious issues, such as lipoid pneumonia.
What is evening primrose oil?
Evening primrose is a plant that's native to Europe and North America. It has a long history of medicinal uses. Native Americans, for example, used its leaves, roots, and seedpods in preparations for hemorrhoids, bruises, wounds, and skin problems. Evening primrose oil contains an omega-6 essential fatty acid that is necessary for good health.
Can you take primrose oil for premenstrual syndrome?
People take it to try to treat conditions such as: Reviews of the available scientific evidence have found no reason to recommend evening primrose oil to help the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or breast pain.
Does primrose oil lower blood pressure?
Also, people who take medication to lower blood pressure should be careful, because evening primrose oil may cause a further drop in pressure. Evening primrose oil may also interact with certain medicines used to treat depression. Several other drug interactions have been noted.
Does primrose oil cause nausea?
Evening primrose oil may raise the risk of bleeding among people who take anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications. It may also raise the risk of seizures as well as serious nausea and vomiting for people taking a class of drugs known as phenothiazines.
Does primrose oil help with eczema?
Current research does not show primrose oil to be helpful in eczema or atopic dermatitis. And some studies suggest that supplements that contain gamma-linolenic acid ( GLA ), including evening primrose oil, may be of some benefit to people with rheumatoid arthritis. But more research is needed before it could be recommended.
Is primrose oil good for you?
Evening primrose oil contains an omega-6 essential fatty acid that is necessary for good health. However, while there is some evidence that taking evening primrose oil supplements may benefit some health conditions, the study results are mixed. Most of the studies have been small and further research is needed.
Can you take primrose oil with anesthesia?
Several other drug interactions have been noted. Evening primrose oil may cause seizures if used with anesthesia. Make sure you tell your doctor if you are taking this before you have any surgery. Pregnant women should not take evening primrose oil because of the potential for complications.
What is the oil of evening primrose used for?
The oil from the seeds of evening primrose is most often used to make medicine. Evening primrose is used for premenstrual syndrome ( PMS ), symptoms of menopause, arthritis, swelling, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its use.
How long does it take for evening primrose to work?
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Early research shows that taking evening primrose, up to 4 grams daily for 4-6 weeks, doesn't seem to improve ADHD symptoms in children.
Is evening primrose good for infants?
Some early research shows that adding evening primrose and fish oil to regular infant formula might provide levels of some types of fats that are closer to those in breast milk. In one study, infants fed this formula had better eyesight than infants fed regular formula, but not better than those who were breastfed.
Does primrose help with asthma?
Asthma. Several small studies show that taking 15-20 mL or 4-6 grams of evening primrose daily for up to 16 weeks doesn't improve asthma symptoms. Breast pain (mastalgia). High quality research shows that evening primrose is no more effective than a placebo (sugar pill) for reducing breast pain.
Does primrose oil help with breast pain?
Evening primrose oil contains “fatty acids.”. Some women with breast pain might not have high enough levels of certain ”fatty acids.”. Fatty acids also seem to help decrease inflammation related to conditions such as arthritis and eczema.
Does primrose oil interact with phenothiazines?
Phenothiazines interacts with EVENING PRIM ROSE OIL. Taking evening primrose oil with phenothiazines might increase the risk of having a seizure in some people. Some phenothiazines include chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), and others. Dosing.
Does primrose oil slow blood clotting?
Taking evening primrose oil along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Evening primrose oil contains GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). GLA is the part of evening primrose oil that might slow blood clotting.
How to Use Essential Oils That Don't Smell Good
Thankfully essential oils still work, even if you dislike the smell. Here are some things to try:
Where to Buy Essential Oils
Essential oils are great because not only do they make you feel good physically but mentally as well. I love having them around since they have so many benefits like clearing the air of bad odors, improving moods by releasing calming scents in your home or office for instance!
What Is Evening Primrose Oil Used for?
Possible Side Effects
- Like most supplements, there hasn't been much research assessing the long-term safety of evening primrose oil. In some cases, primrose oil may cause side effects such as:1 1. Stomach upset 2. Headache 3. Nausea 4. Diarrhea Most of the side effects are low-grade and resolve on their own once the treatment is stopped.
Precautions and Drug Interactions
- Advise your healthcare provider if you are taking evening primrose oil—or any supplement—to avoid drug interactions and potentially serious side effects. Evening primrose oil should be used cautiously if you have certain medical conditions. Among them: 1. Evening primrose oil may increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders. 2. If you have upcoming surgery, …
Dosage and Preparation
- Supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the same way drugs are. As such, there are no universal guidelines regarding the appropriate use of evening primrose oil. Generally speaking, a daily dose of 500 mg is considered safe in adults, although many can tolerate up to 1,300 mg a day without any side effects. Due to the lack of research, ev…
Storage
- Evening primrose oil contains a high proportion of unsaturated fats, which are susceptible to a breakdown process called oxidative deterioration. If this occurs, the quality of the supplements is compromised. Any product rich in unsaturated oil can go rancid, including bottled primrose oil and primrose oil gel caps.
What to Look For
- Dietary supplements like evening primrose oil are not required to undergo the rigorous testing that pharmaceutical drugs do. Instead, the FDA imposes certain standards regarding the manufacturing and labeling of these supplements. Even so, there is often considerable variation in the quality of supplements like evening primrose oil. If you are strictly vegan or vegetarian, only …
Summary
- There's some research that supports the use of evening primrose oil for certain conditions that cause pain. But since the studies are limited and often mixed, no firm conclusions about benefits can be made. If you are interested in trying evening primrose oil, always discuss it with your healthcare provider and mention any medications you are taking and conditions that you have s…