Primrose Oil Benefits

It is beneficial to focus on evening primrose, if you are finding a cure to improve for your diabetic condition. If you are tired of using pills and injections, taking a food supplement like evening primrose oil can get you rid of them. All the parts of the plant, evening primrose are of medicinal importance. This plant belongs to the genus Oenothera and is commonly called the evening primrose, fever plant, sundrops, suncups, night willow-herb, king’s cureall, etc.

Evening Primrose oil is one of the best herbal remedies for “neuropathy” which is a common problem faced by diabetic patients. When a diabetic patient faces problem in conversion of linoleic acid to GLA, the circulation problem occurs. This is caused by lower supply of oxygen to the neuro system due to GLA deficiency. Evening Primrose oil being a direct and rich source of GLA works as an effective cure for this ailment.

In diabetics, insulin is either not produced or not used properly. In such cases, the conversion of essential fatty acids in the body does not occur. Hence, diabetics need more essential fatty acids. Evening primrose oil (EPO) with its omega-3-fatty acids and gamma linolenic acid, used as a food supplement can meet up with this requirement.

This oil prepared contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and omega-6-essential fatty acids. GLA is thought to be the active ingredient which is responsible for the medicinal properties. In fact, benefits of primrose oil is that it has this fatty acid in a higher concentration than any other food supplements. This fatty acid is an important constituent which cannot be produced in the body, but has to be taken as a dietary supplement in food. It maintains the cell structure and skin elasticity, regulates hormones, insulin absorption and proper nerve function and thus proves useful for diabetic patients.

Disordered metabolism of essential fatty acids (EFA) may lead to neuropathy. The oil prepared from the mature seeds of this plant stimulates prostanoid metabolism which induces a vasodilatory effect increasing the blood flow in the neurons. The adverse effects of diabetic neuropathy such as numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in the foot can be cured by this oil. GLA present in this oil also improves glucose uptake.

The Omega-6-fatty acids are essentially needed for maintaining the fluidity and flexibility of the cell wall, so that the glucose can be taken up efficiently by the cells for their energy needs. This fatty acid cannot be synthesized in the body. Hence, primrose oil can provide omega-3-fatty acids, when taken as a food supplement.