One of the plant extracts was gamma linolenic acid, but it is not clear whether its evening primrose oil vs. borage oil or another source. Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, occurs when the skin is abnormally sensitive to allergens, causing the skin to become red, flaky and itchy. In these studies, along with the placebos, EPO and BO have the same, fairly common, mild, transient adverse effects, which are mainly gastrointestinal. Like evening … Cost wise, evening primrose oil is much more expensive than borage oil. It can tolerate a wide range of climatic conditions as it grows naturally in New Foundland which is very cold, to the tropical climates of Florida. Practitioners of alternative medicine believe that gamma-linolenic acid can improve overall health by reducing the level of inflammatory proteins, known as cytokines, in the body. Please consult a health practitioner before taking EPO supplements. Borage oil is one of your best bets for alleviating eczema. Learn more about moisturizers. to be less bioavailable. A comparison study carried was out in between evening primrose oil and borage oil (also containing GLA), and was found that the biological activity of GLA found in evening primrose oil was much better than that found in borage oil. Oral BO and EPO are not effective treatments for eczema. in the last few weeks of pregnancy to ripen the cervix. Borage oil may contain higher levels of GLA than EPO, but it is known. Borage Oil and Evening Primrose Oil Studied For Eczema Borage oil (BO) and evening primrose oil (EPO) taken by mouth may lack affect on symptoms of eczema, according to a study. As a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), GLA found in … Evening primrose seeds are a rich source of Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA), an essential omega 6 fatty acid that our body can’t make on its own. Black currant, or Ribes nigrum, is a shrub native to Europe and Asia. Its scientific name is Oenothera biennis. Supplemental sources include the oils of: borage (Borage officinalis), 20-26% GLA; black currant (Ribes nigrum), 15-18%; and evening primrose (Oenoethera biennis), 8-12%. However, there is twice the GLA in borage oil as compared to Evening primrose oil. Your skin will take to evening primrose oil’s GLA content and, in seemingly no time, begin to look and feel more like normal skin. It seems the magic potion in borage seed oil is a fatty acid called gamma linolenic acid (GLA). Eicosenoic Acid (20:1) - an omega 9 with soothing emollient and permeation enhancing properties. Cytokines are essential to triggering inflammation, a natural immune response used to neutralize infections and heal injuries. Women may take evening primrose seed oil to treat menopausal symptoms or use it to ease breast tenderness. Originating from the Mediterranean, the annual borage plant is also called a starflower. Blackcurrant oil and evening primrose oil are often lauded as excellent sources of this, but borage oil actually boasts almost twice the concentration, gram for gram. I fail to see how the conclusion that Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) is. Not looking to induce labor early, just prep the cervix for a possible induction that maybe needed for medical reasons. Use it: Borage oil makes an excellent facial moisturizer, but it can also be used anywhere on the body or scalp. oil. Because of its soothing properties, evening primrose oil for face can be a great additional to toners designed for dry to very dry skin. Store evening primrose oil products away from the sunlight in light-resistant containers to avoid degradation. It’s high in gamma-linolenic acid, a nourishing essential fatty acid. Both Starflower Oil and Evening Primrose Oil contain Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) – an Omega 6 fatty acid that is lacking in the average person’s diet. GLA is present in evening primrose oil, another natural supplement you … Evening primrose oil acts as a barrier on the skin, keeping moisture in. Find out … Research into the complementary therapies evening primrose oil and borage oil shows little, if any, benefit for people with eczema compared with placebo, according to a new systematic review. Borage oil. Both borage oil and evening primrose oil are promising oils for treating acne in adults and teenagers thanks to their high GLA content. Both evening primrose oil and fish oil contain essential fatty acids, but while evening primrose oil falls under the heading of Omega 6, fish oil is an Omega 3. Bamford JT, Ray S, Musekiwa A, van Gool C, Humphreys R, Ernst E Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013 Apr 30;(4):CD004416. In the body, GLA is converted into hormone like compounds called prostaglandins. Learn more about dry skin. Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema. Of the few available sources of GLAs, evening primrose oil seems to deliver the best results (versus borage oil and other GLA sources), and is thought to support your female health and vitality in … The supplement contains the fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).People take evening primrose oil orally to treat a wide variety of conditions. Conclusion. Are there dietary supplements that can help with atopic dermatitis? In a word—calm. The best sources are evening primrose oil, black currant oil and borage oil, taken in capsules as dietary supplements. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004416.pub2. In addition to the plants, they tested finasteride (Propecia) for comparison. It is naturally astringent, so it will tighten pores and keep oil production balanced. Found in black currant seed, borage, and evening primrose oil. Borage oil also promotes skin elasticity and has itch-reducing properties. Borage oil and Evening Primrose Oil are not the same. You can increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids by eating more wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, fortified eggs, freshly ground flaxseeds or walnuts, or taking a fish oil supplement. Omega 6 and Omega 3 are both necessary for good health but cannot be made by the body. It is an herb that can grow to heights of 1.50 meters. However, evening primrose oil is most commonly used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. Evening primrose is very common along the eastern states of United States of America. By altering the substrate EFA, for example, the ingestion of a diet rich in evening primrose oil (EPO) or borage oil (starflower oil) elevates DGLA concentrations, resulting in an increase in the 1-series PGs, eg PGE 1 (2). This too was only an animal study, in which the compounds were topically applied to rodents for 6 weeks. That is why the name “Evening” primrose. According to Tufts researchers, black currant seed oil is a preferred source because it contains 13-16% of the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic as well as GLA . I was just wondering if anyone has any input on the use of either evening primrose oil or borage oil (or both at the same time?) These are found in every cell in the body where they help to regulate inflammation. The seed oil has been used traditionally as a diuretic, to promote sweating and to reduce fever. Evening primrose oil primarily benefits in diabetic neuropathy by … With more than twice the amount of GLA found in evening primrose oil, [2] borage oil is a powerful supplement for anti-aging and they are often used in conjunction to revitalize skin. The oil is extracted from the seeds of the herb. It bears yellow flowers and they have a characteristic feature that they spring open in the evenings. 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