Evening primrose
No discussion of herbal treatments in the menopause would be complete without mention of oil of evening primrose. It has been discovered to contain a substance that is found in high concentration only in mother’s milk. This substance is known as gamma linoleic acid (GLA for short) and it is this essential fatty acid which imparts to oil of evening primrose its miraculous properties.
Oil of evening primrose and more specifically GLA, stimulates the body’s production of hormone-like substances known as prostaglandins which act as the body’s regulators and messengers and which are involved in the growth and regeneration of the body cells, regulation of the blood pressure and significantly in maintaining the health of the endocrine system. Evening primrose is of particular value in the menopause as it appears to regulate the body’s production of oestrogen and exerts a beneficial action in reducing the severity of menopausal symptoms including hot sweats, fatigue and irritability.
A deficiency of essential fatty acids can cause poor skin tone and lifeless complexion, eczema, hair-loss, poor resistance to infection, painful swollen joints, liver damage, lethargy and fatigue and may inhibit the body’s absorption of calcium. For these reasons it may seem wise to include primrose oil as a nutritional supplement in the diet, particularly during the menopause and other times of menstrual discomfort, in order to take advantage of its fatty acid profile. For use during the menopause, between 1000mg and 3000mg of primrose oil can be taken daily, preferably in the form of 500mg capsules 2-6 daily.
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