What exactly is the evening primrose and what is evening primrose oil?

The evening primrose is also known as yellow nightshade or night rose. It gets its name from the fact that it opens its bright yellow flowers even at dusk to attract moths for pollination. This perennial was introduced to Europe from North America in the 17th century, where it quickly spread among the flora.

Evening primrose oil derives its special properties from its high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, which u.aStrengthen the immune system and support cell regeneration. Evening primrose oil is one of the few oils that contain gamma-linolenic acid in high concentrations. This triple-unsaturated fatty acid regulates the hormonal balance and supports skin healing. Due to this valuable combination of ingredients, evening primrose oil is often recommended for treating skin damaged by eczema or neurodermatitis.

What exactly is borage and what is borage oil?

Borage originated in Asia and is now cultivated in almost all of Europe and North America. It is also known as cucumber herb, cucumber herb, love-eye, blue starflower, salad herb, starflower, heart's delight, or cheerful flower. This globally grown herb is indispensable for one dish in particular: Frankfurt Green Sauce.

Borage oil is a natural compound with a high content of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). This fatty acid is only found in certain plant oils and has strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Most people only ingest very small amounts of GLA through their diet.

GLA is an essential omega-6 fatty acid that the body cannot produce itself. Our bodies are able to convert other omega-6 fatty acids (such as linoleic acid from nuts or seeds) into GLA to a certain extent. However, it is more effective to consume GLA directly and supply it to our bodies.

Since borage oil is highly perishable, it is recommended to take it in capsule form.

Fresh borage contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). These are secondary plant compounds that the plant produces as a defense against predators and can be harmful to human health. Although borage is an ingredient in dishes like the typical Frankfurt green sauce and in teas, the Federal Institute for Nutrition advises against its consumption. PAs are found exclusively in... fresh Contains borage. Pressed borage oil and capsules for dietary supplementation no longer contain PAs and can therefore be used without hesitation.

The ingredients of evening primrose oil && Borage oil

The health-promoting effects of both oils are based on their high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids. Evening primrose oil contains 60-80% linoleic acid. This is an important component of cell walls and is responsible for building a healthy skin barrier, which protects against external influences and simultaneously regulates moisture levels. Linoleic acid belongs to the group of essential fatty acids. The body cannot produce these itself; they must be obtained through diet.

Both oils also contain the omega-3 fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Borage oil has a particularly high GLA content of about 23%, whereas evening primrose oil – second only to blackcurrant oil in terms of GLA content – ​​contains approximately 9% GLA.

Furthermore, the following are included: u.a.:

• Saponins
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• tannins
• Silica
• Mucus
• resin
• Potassium nitrate

Typical applications for evening primrose && Borage oil (Sources: s.u.):

• Itchy skin prone to neurodermatitis and eczema:
• Recent research indicates that some patients with atopic dermatitis lack an enzyme called delta-6-desaturase. This enzyme converts linoleic acid ingested in food into gamma-linolenic acid, which is necessary for anti-inflammatory processes. Patients with this enzyme deficiency may benefit from taking evening primrose oil. &Borage oil can help because it directly supplies the body with gamma-linolenic acid.
• In a study with people suffering from skin inflammation, it was demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory substances leukotriene B4 and C4 as well as prostaglandin E were inhibited.

• Dry skin: In dry skin, the skin barrier no longer functions properly, leading to water loss. If dry skin cannot produce enough protective oils, this can cause a dysregulation of the immune system. This can trigger increased inflammation, and the immune system responds to the deficiency in the form of eczema. Some studies have shown a significant improvement in the skin barrier after participants used up to 720 mg of GLA daily for a period of two months.

• Rheumatoid arthritisGamma-linolenic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, can be found in evening primrose oil. &Borage oil has a positive effect on inflammation by controlling the release of messenger substances such as prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and cytokines, which are responsible for the body's inflammatory responses. Studies show that in some patients, joint pain, swelling, and sensitivity of the affected joints are reduced after just six weeks of use.
• Gamma-linolenic acid naturally lowers the blood pressure and can have a positive effect on a slightly increased cholesterolThe value in the blood can affect the blood.
• The oil is said to have a balancing effect on the hormonal system. Therefore, it is very often used for... hormonal fluctuations during menstruation (d.h. PMS symptoms such as breast pain or tender breasts, anxiety and skin reactions) as well as in the case of Menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.
• Evening primrose &Borage oil is said to act like a natural antihistamine act and u.a. to alleviate the symptoms of hay fever.

dosage

In most cases, the dose for healthy adults is between 500 mg and 3 grams per day.

Users who have experience with borage- &For those wishing to alleviate acute inflammation and pain due to rheumatoid arthritis with evening primrose oil, higher doses of up to 3 grams are recommended in the literature. For example, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, approximately 7 grams daily.

Important: These are nutritional supplements, not medications. Instead of treating symptoms, the aim is to replenish micronutrient stores until homeostasis is achieved. Therefore, an effect arises. i.d.R...only after several weeks or months. Some users report that a pain-relieving effect only became noticeable after about six months.

Interactions and side effects

In general, evening primroses are considered &Borage oil is considered safe when used both internally and externally.

Some people report digestive problems, especially after taking larger doses of borage oil. These symptoms include loose stools, diarrhea, belching, and flatulence.

Pregnant women should not consume evening primrose oil. &Do not take borage oil, as it can induce premature labor.

If you are taking certain medications, you should consult your doctor before taking borage oil:

• Anticoagulants: Blood thinners (z.B. Warfarin), which may lead to an increased tendency to bleed.
• Anticonvulsants: drugs for epilepsy

Sources:

Bühring, U.: Practical Textbook of Medicinal Plant Science, Georg Thieme Verlag, 2014 edition

Federal Institute for Risk Assessment: "Questions and answers on pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food", www.bfr.bund.de (Accessed: March 25, 2022)

Kötter, E.: The Big GU Practical Handbook of Herbs, Gräfe and Unzer Publishing House 2009, 1st edition

Mayer, J.G. et al.: Handbook of Monastic Medicine, Zabert Sandmann Publishing House, 2006

Van Wyk, B.-E. et al.: Handbook of Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Guide, Scientific Publishing Company, 2nd edition, 2004

Werner, M.: Mind-Maps® Aromatherapy, Haug Verlag, 2nd edition, 2012

Brosche T., Platt D. (2000). Effect of borage oil consumption on fatty acid metabolism, transepidermal water loss and skin parameters in elderly people. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 30(2):139-150. doi:10.1016/s0167-4943(00)00046-7

Henz BM, Jablonska S, van de Kerkhof PC, et al. (1999) Double-blind, multicenter analysis of the efficacy of borage oil in patients with atopic eczema. Br J Dermatol. 140(4):685-688. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.02771.x

Kapoor R., Huang Y.S.(2006). Gamma linolenic acid: an anti-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acid. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 7(6):531-534. doi:10.2174/138920106779116874

Cast R.E. (2001). Boarge oil reduction of rheumatoid arthritis activity may be mediated by increased cAMP that suppresses tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Int Immunopharmacol.1:2197-9. View abstract.

Takahashi Y., Ide T., Fujita H. (2000). Dietary gamma-linolenic acid in the form of borage oil causes less body fat accumulation accompanying an increase in uncoupling protein 1 mRNA level in brown adipose tissue. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 127(2):213-222. doi:10.1016/s0305-0491(00)00254-6

Takwale A, Tan E, Agarwal S, et al. (2003). Efficacy and tolerability of borage oil in adults and children with atopic eczema: randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group trial. BMJ. 2003;327(7428):1385. doi:10.1136/bmj.327.74.138528

Tasset-Cuevas I, Fernández-Bedmar Z, Lozano-Baena M.D., Campos-Sánchez J., de Haro-Bailón A., et al. (2013) Protective Effect of Borage Seed Oil and Gamma Linolenic Acid on DNA: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies. PLOS ONE 8(2): e56986. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056986

Tso P, Caldwell J, Lee D, Boivin PG, DeMichele JS (2012). Comparison of growth, serum biochemistries and n–6 fatty acid metabolism in rats fed diets supplemented with high-gamma-linolenic acid safflower oil or borage oil for 90 days.Food Chem Toxicol. 2012 Jun; 50(6): 1911–1919.

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