Evening Primrose Oil Benefits For Hormonal Balance

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Evening primrose oil benefits for hormonal balance include relieving PMS symptoms, balancing hormones, reducing inflammation, balancing estrogen levels, and treating conditions like PCOS. Hormonal balance is the term used to describe the state of equilibrium among the hormones in your body. When your hormones are in balance, you feel energized and healthy. However, when your hormones are out of balance, you may experience a wide range of unpleasant symptoms, such as fatigue, mood swings, and infertility.

There are many factors that can contribute to hormonal imbalance, including stress, diet, and lifestyle choices. However, the most common culprit is estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance occurs when there is too much estrogen in the body relative to other hormones, such as progesterone. This can be caused by a number of factors, including exposure to environmental toxins, the use of birth control pills, and estrogen-containing foods.

Natural supplements can be very beneficial in restoring hormone balance. Trying natural treatments before going to hormone replacement therapy can be a healthier alternative. One such supplement is evening primrose oil, which can help to improve symptoms of PMS, menopause, and other hormone-related conditions.

Evening primrose oil is a natural supplement that has numerous benefits for hormonal balance. It is high in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is an essential fatty acid that the body cannot produce on its own. GLA helps to support optimal hormone health, including estrogen and testosterone levels. Evening primrose oil has been shown to be helpful in relieving symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and researchers believe that it may be helpful for women who suffer from infertility, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids.

Evening Primrose Oil Benefits For Hormonal Balance

Treat PMS Symptoms

One of the primary evening primrose oil benefits for hormonal balance is its ability to relieve PMS symptoms. GLA has been shown to help regulate the production of prostaglandins, which can help to alleviate pain and inflammation associated with PMS. Additionally, evening primrose oil can help to improve mood swings and fatigue commonly associated with PMS.

Reduce Inflammation

When your hormones are imbalanced, it can lead to inflammation throughout the body. Evening primrose oil benefits for hormonal balance also include its ability to support a healthy immune system and reduce inflammation. GLA is needed by the body to produce leukotrienes, which are chemicals that prevent inflammation and suppress the immune system in cases of autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and asthma. It can also be used to reduce the inflammation of autoimmune diseases.

Balance Estrogen Levels

In addition to relieving symptoms of PMS, evening primrose oil benefits for hormonal balance also include balancing estrogen levels. The body’s hormones are in constant flux and healthy hormone levels and ratios ensure that the body is running smoothly. However, when there is too much estrogen relative to other hormones such as progesterone, it can lead to estrogen dominance. Evening primrose oil helps to maintain a healthy estrogen-to-progesterone balance, which is essential for optimal health.

Treat Conditions Like PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that affects women of childbearing age and is characterized by symptoms such as irregular periods, acne, infertility, and excess hair growth. PCOS is also associated with insulin resistance and high testosterone levels, leading to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome. Women who have PCOS are more likely to experience estrogen dominance because their bodies produce too much estrogen relative to progesterone. Researchers believe that evening primrose oil benefits for hormonal balance include helping to restore proper hormone balance and lowering high hormone levels, reducing the risk of PCOS development.

Improve Digestion

When your hormones are imbalanced, it can also lead to digestive issues. Your gut is directly connected to your endocrine system and hormones such as serotonin and dopamine are synthesized in the digestive tract. Serotonin is the precursor for melatonin, which regulates sleep and mood, and dopamine regulates carbohydrate cravings. When you have too little of these neurotransmitters it can lead to poor sleep, depression, and sugar cravings. Excess estrogen can also lead to poor digestion by disrupting the balance of gut bacteria.

Evening primrose oil benefits for hormonal balance can also include improved digestion and healthy skin. GLA is transformed into gamma-linolenic acid, which has been shown to help improve a variety of digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and colitis. Gamma-linolenic acid has also been shown to improve the appearance of skin by reducing acne, eczema, psoriasis, and dryness.

Skin Issues

Hormones and acne are also closely linked. When your hormones are imbalanced it can lead to the overproduction of oil, which is one of the main causes of acne. This is commonly seen in a premenstrual syndrome where women experience an increase in acne prior to menstruation. Researchers believe that evening primrose oil benefits for hormonal balance include regulating sebum production and balancing hormone levels, which can reduce acne.

Fibroids and Endometriosis

Evening primrose oil is also beneficial for women who suffer from fibroids and endometriosis. Fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the uterus and can cause pain, heavy periods, and infertility. Endometriosis is a condition where uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, leading to pain, cramps, and infertility. One theory behind why evening primrose oil is beneficial for these conditions is that GLA reduces inflammation. Inflammation is thought to play a role in the development of both fibroids and endometriosis. Gamma-linolenic acid is converted into prostaglandins, which regulate inflammation and help to control bleeding in cases of endometriosis.

Night sweats and Hot flashes

Women who experience menopause often report symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes. These can be extremely disruptive to sleep, leading to daytime fatigue and irritability. Studies have found that supplementation with evening primrose oil benefits hormonal balance by regulating estrogen levels and reducing the severity of symptoms. In a pilot study conducted on postmenopausal women experiencing severe hot flashes, taking 250 mg of evening primrose oil for eight weeks reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes by 50% in 12 out of 15 women.

Estrogen dominance

Evening primrose oil benefits for hormonal balance include regulating estrogen levels, which can reduce estrogen dominance symptoms such as heavy periods, bloating, cramping, PMS, and acne. Estrogen dominance is a condition where the body.

How much to take for benefits?

It is important to take the correct dosage of evening primrose oil in order to experience its health benefits. Women who are trying to balance hormones should start with 500–1000 mg each night before bed. Women experiencing fibroids or endometriosis should take 1500–3000 mg per day, divided into three doses. Women who are experiencing hot flashes should take 500–1000 mg twice per day.

Be sure to read the label for directions as everyone is different, and speak with a medical professional if you have any questions.

Herbs to Avoid While Taking Evening Primrose

Some herbs can interact with evening primrose oil, so it is important to speak with a health care professional about your current medications before taking this supplement. Do not take evening primrose oil if you are taking blood thinners such as Coumadin, aspirin, or ibuprofen, or herbs that thin the blood such as ginger, garlic, and ginkgo biloba. Evening primrose oil can also interact with other supplements such as probiotics, fish oils, and multivitamins.

It is important to note that some medications may interact with evening primrose oil, so it is best to check with your doctor before beginning supplementation.

Where to buy Evening Primrose Oil?

You can purchase evening primrose oil in most health food stores and online. Be sure to buy a quality product that has been third-party tested for purity and potency.

Our Verified Evening Primrose Oil Brands

Sports Research Evening Primrose Oil (500mg)

When purchasing evening primrose be sure to look for a supplement that has at least 80% GLA.

GLA can be found in other foods such as black currant oil, borage seed oil (starflower oil), spirulina, and hemp seed oil.