EPO EN

Contents 1 What is Everning Primrose Oil (EPO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Relieve Hot Flushes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 Improves PMS Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 Improves Dry Skin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5 Reduces Acne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 6 Promotes Heart Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 7 Relieves Rheumatoid Arthritis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

CHAPTER EPO e Night Elixir 1 What is Everning Primrose Oil (EPO) w.nhf.com.myvening primrose oil is Ethe oil extracted from the seeds of the yellow evening primrose wild ww flower, Oenothera biennis, a plant native to North America. www.nhf.com.my It is a rich source of Linole- ic acid and gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), both omega-6 essential fatty acids. GLA is used to make hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, which can help calm inflammation. 1

EPO e Night Elixir Evening Primrose Oil has traditionally been referred to as the ‘King’s Cure-All’ due to the belief that its ‘majestic’ benefits and ‘honorable’ properties made it fit for Kings and Queen’s to apply medicinally. www.nhf.com.mywww.nhf.com.my 2

CHAPTER EPO e Night Elixir 2 Relieve Hot Flushes T w.nhf.com.myhere’s a lot of evidence from menopausal women that using evening primrose wwoil can ease hot flushes. One 2013 study found taking EPO for six weeks could re- lieve the frequency, intensity and length of hot flushes [1]. The study found that women www.nhf.com.my who took 500 mg daily of EPO for six weeks experienced less frequent, less severe, and shorter hot flashes. Women also had im- proved marks for social activity and relations with others, on a question- naire on how hot flashes impact daily life. 3

CHAPTER EPO e Night Elixir 3 Improves PMS Symptoms w.nhf.com.myany women take EPO Mfor PMS symptoms such as water retention, breast tenderness and low ww mood; the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynae- cologists reports that it can ease breast tenderness [2]. www.nhf.com.my A 1983 study concluded that taking EPO was ‘highly effective’ for treating symptoms of PMS [3]. Researchers believe some women experience PMS because they’re sensitive to normal prolactin lev- els in the body. GLA converts to a substance in the body (prostaglandin E1) thought to help prevent prolactin from triggering PMS. 4

EPO e Night Elixir According to 2010 study, a supplement containing vitamin B-6, vitamin E, and EPO was effective in relieving PMS [4]. If you experience breast pain so severe during your period that it inter- feres with your life, taking EPO may help. According to another study, the GLA in EPO is thought to reduce inflammation and help inhibit pros- taglandins that cause cyclical breast pain. The study found that taking daily doses of EPO or EPO and vitamin E for six months decreased the severity of cyclical breast pain [5]. www.nhf.com.mywww.nhf.com.my 5

CHAPTER EPO e Night Elixir 4 Improves Dry Skin T w.nhf.com.myhe European Medicines Agency says EPO can be used for relief of itching in short-term and long-term wwdry skin conditions, and is often taken by people with eczema to help prevent dry, itchy skin [6]. According to a 2005 study, www.nhf.com.my oral supplementation of EPO helps smooth skin and improve its: Elasticity, Moisture, Firmness, Fa- tigue resistance [7]. 6

EPO e Night Elixir According to the study, GLA is necessary for ideal skin structure and function. Because the skin can’t produce GLA on its own, researchers believe taking GLA-rich EPO helps keep skin healthy overall. www.nhf.com.mywww.nhf.com.my 7

CHAPTER EPO e Night Elixir 5 Reduces Acne w.nhf.com.myhe GLA in EPO is Tthought to help acne by reducing skin inflam- mation and the number ww of skin cells that cause lesions. It may also help the skin retain moisture. A 2014 Korean study found that GLA reduced inflam- www.nhf.com.my mation in acne sufferers [8]. 8

CHAPTER EPO e Night Elixir 6 Promotes Heart Health A w.nhf.com.myccording to a 2014 study on rats, EPO is anti- inflammatory and helps re- duce blood cholesterol [9]. wwThey provided evidence that EPO improve cardiac recov- ery in hypercholesterolemic myocardial infarct rats. These effects are attributed to direct hypocholesterolemic effect and indirect effect on the synt www.nhf.com.my hesis of eicosanoids (prostaglandins, cytokines). Most people with heart disease have in- flammation in the body, although it hasn’t been proven that inflammation causes heart disease. 9

CHAPTER EPO e Night Elixir 7 Relieves Rheumatoid Arthritis w.nhf.com.myPO is often used by Ethose with rheumatoid arthritis to ease pain and stiffness. One study found ww taking it helped ease morning stiffness and re- duction of pain in patients with the condition after 3 months EPO intake .[10] www.nhf.com.my Arthritis Research UK, in a comprehensive report says, mentioned that EPO may ‘help in the regulation of pain and inflammation’ .[11] 10

EPO e Night Elixir References 1. Farzaneh F, Fatehi S, Sohrabi MR, Alizadeh K. The effect of oral eve- ning primrose oil on menopausal hot flashes: a randomized clinical trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2013 Nov;288(5):1075-9. 2. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Managing pre- menstrual syndrome 3. Horrobin DF. The role of essential fatty acids and prostaglandins in the premenstrual syndrome. J Reprod Med. 1983 Jul;28(7):465-8. PMID: 6350579. 4. Kashani L, Saedi N, Akhondzadeh S. Femicomfort in the treatment of premenstrual syndromes: a double-blind, randomized and placebo con- trolled trial. Iran J Psychiatry. 2010;5(2):47-50. 5. http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/15/1/59.pdf .my6. https://www.ema.europa.eu/documents/herbal-summary/eve- w.nhf.comning-primrose-oil-summary-public_en.pdf 7. Muggli, R. (2005), Systemic evening primrose oil improves the bio- physical skin parameters of healthy adults. International Journal of Cos- metic Science, 27: 243-249. w8. MS, Jang MY, Suh DH. Effect of dietary supplementation with ome- wga-3 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid on acne vulgaris: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial. Acta Derm Venereol. 2014 Sep;94(5):521-5. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1802. PMID: 24553997. 9. Abo-Gresha NM, Abel-Aziz EZ, Greish SM. Evening primrose oil ame- liorates platelet aggregation and improves cardiac recovery in myocardi- al-infarct hypercholesterolemic rats. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2014;6(1):23-36. Published 2014 Mar 13. 10. Brzeski M, Madhok R, Capell HA. Evening primrose oil in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and side-effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammato- ry drugs. Br J Rheumatol. 1991 Oct;30(5):370-2. doi: 10.1093/rheumatolo- gy/30.5.370. PMID: 1913008. 11. https://www.versusarthritis.org/media/1337/complementary-and-alter- native-medicines-report.pdf 11