Evening primrose oil

Written by Living Well Webmaster

Introduction
This fact sheet provides basic information about evening primrose oil—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Evening primrose is a plant native to North America, but it grows in Europe and parts of the Southern hemisphere as well. It has yellow flowers that bloom in the evening. Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid. Essential fatty acids are required by the body for growth and development, and must be obtained from the diet.

Common Names—evening primrose oil, EPO

Latin Name—Oenothera biennis

What Evening Primrose Oil Is Used For
Evening primrose oil has been used since the 1930s for eczema (a condition in which the skin becomes inflamed, itchy, or scaly because of allergies or other irritation).
More recently it has been used for other conditions involving inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Evening primrose oil is used for conditions affecting women's health, such as breast pain associated with the menstrual cycle, menopausal symptoms, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Other conditions for which evening primrose oil is used include cancer and diabetes.
 

How Evening Primrose Oil Is Used
Evening primrose oil is extracted from the seeds of the evening primrose. The oil is usually put into capsules for use.

What the Science Says
Evening primrose oil may have modest benefits for eczema, and it may be useful for rheumatoid arthritis and breast pain. However, study results are mixed, and most studies have been small and not well designed.
Evening primrose oil does not appear to affect menopausal symptoms.
Although some clinical trials have shown a benefit of evening primrose oil for PMS, the best-designed trials found no effect.
There is not enough evidence to support the use of evening primrose oil for other health conditions.
 

Side Effects and Cautions
Evening primrose oil is well tolerated by most people. Mild side effects include gastrointestinal upset and headache. 

5th Annual Peddlers, Potions & Practitioners Holistic Marketplace

Written by Living Well Webmaster

Teen Pregnancy Is a Public Health Issue, Not a Political One!

Written by Dr. Michelle Golland

 “The story about first graders possibly getting condoms in Massachusetts showed, yet again, how the issue of sex education in our country has become politicized in such a ridiculous way that we lose sight of the importance of informing our children about their sexuality and reproductive health. This issue should not be placed in the Liberal vs. Conservative category. Rather, it squarely falls within “public health.”  - 

Dr. Michelle Golland

 Teen pregnancy is a public health issue that should cause us all a great deal of concern. 

Read More Teen Pregnancy

Protect Your Hair on Vacation

Written by Lisa Cohen Lee

Ahhh, vacation! Cool dips in the pool, lounging on the beach, soaking up the sun -- you can finally relax. Unfortunately, your hair may have other plans. Vacation -- and more specifically, the sun, humidity, chlorine and other things that come with it -- can damage your strands. If you don’t protect your hair properly, you may end up with a frizzy style, fading color, dry hair and more as souvenirs.

Protect Your Hair on Vacation

Sunscreen Facts You Need to Know

Written by Stephanie Tweito Jacob

You know sunscreen is a must whenever you’re outside, but sunburn has probably still caught you by surprise at some point. By slathering on sunscreen, you may have thought you were playing it safe, but there’s actually more to it than that.

“Sunscreen is a misconstrued skin care category,” says Ranella Hirsch, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Boston University School of Medicine. Not applying often enough or misunderstanding labels can add up to lousy protection and sun damage.  

Check out these commonly held sunscreen myths, then the facts that will keep your fun in the sun safe.

Myth: You’re protected as long as you apply sunscreen as soon as you get to the beach or park.

Fact: You must apply it about 30 minutes before you head outside.

“Never, never, never wait to apply sunscreen until you get to the beach,” says Hirsch. “Skin needs time to absorb the active ingredients in many sunscreens for them to be effective.” Your skin starts taking in rays from the minute you walk outside, so by the time you get to your destination, you may have already sustained some UV damage.

Myth: Hair provides your scalp all the sun protection it needs.

Fact: You can get burned through your hair.

Exposed areas on your scalp (e.g., your part and around the hairline, where hair tends to be thinnest) are hot spots for sunburn. And your head is just as vulnerable to sun damage and skin cancer as the rest of your body, says Hirsch. 

Your best defense is a hat, which provides a physical barrier from the sun’s rays. You can also apply a spray or gel sunscreen (neither of these is as greasy as lotions) to your part and hairline area. Whatever you do, don’t rely on UV-shielding hair sprays or styling creams. While they may keep hair color from fading, they can’t protect your skin, says Hirsch.

Myth: A high SPF will protect you all day.

Fact: There’s no such thing as all-day protection.

Whether it’s SPF 15 or 50, all sunscreens stop working after about two hours. A sun safety rule: Use a minimum of SPF 30 and reapply after two hours outdoors, says Hirsch. It doesn’t matter how many coats you put on, either, she says. Aim to use about a shot glass full of sunscreen for your whole body: “Most people put on only a third of that,” says Hirsch.

Myth: You don’t need to reapply waterproof or water-resistant sunscreen after a swim.

Fact: Those terms only mean you’re protected in the water.

Don’t confuse “water-resistant” and “waterproof” with towel-proof. By drying off, you’re probably wiping off the sunscreen too, says Hirsch. Even though waterproof sunscreens have strong staying power, none of them is 100 percent waterproof. Lotions only protect skin for about 40 minutes in the water.

Myth: You can skip sunscreen if you tan or have dark skin.

Fact: All skin tones need protection.

The truth is, sun damage doesn’t discriminate. And a burn isn’t the only sign of unhealthy sunning: “A tan is a sign of damage, and dark skin is susceptible to skin cancer and wrinkles too,” says Hirsch.

Myth: Babies under six months are too young for sunscreen.

Fact: Children of all ages can wear sun protection.

“The damage sun can inflict far surpasses any inconvenience or potential risk (like skin irritation) of using sunscreen on small children,” says Hirsch. Whenever possible, use physical blockers (e.g., cotton pants, long-sleeve shirts and hats). But for areas like the face and back of hands, a small amount of sunscreen is safe even for babies younger than six months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Look for SPF formulas made specifically for infants with mineral-based blockers (like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide), which tend to be gentle and non-irritating. “Don’t underestimate how much sun your kids get,” says Hirsch. “Even if you’re at the park for an hour, they need a sun hat and sunscreen.”

Supplements: A Guide for Men

Written by Michael Castleman

Supplements: A Guide for Men

By Michael Castleman for Live Right Live Well

Visit any health food store or pharmacy, and the supplement aisle seems to extend forever. But do men really need all those vitamins, minerals and herbs? Here’s what you need to know if you’re a guy:

Food First
Supplements should be just that: supplemental. They are no substitute for a good diet -- which means “eating at least five one-cup servings of fruits and vegetables every day -- preferably more,” says Amy Lanou, Ph.D., an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, Asheville. If you eat fewer than five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, spend less time in the supplement aisle (and at McDonald’s) and more in the produce section.

Take a Basic Multivitamin/Mineral Supplement
A one-a-day formula is a cheap, prudent form of nutritional health insurance, just in case. But keep in mind that the evidence in favor of supplements is maddeningly inconsistent. University of California, Berkeley researchers compared the health of 278 longtime vitamin-takers and 602 nonusers. The vitamin group was considerably healthier -- 73 percent less risk of diabetes and 52 percent less risk of heart disease. However, Danish researchers analyzed 67 studies and found that those who took antioxidant supplements (A, C, E, beta-carotene and selenium) had the same death rates as nonusers -- and in some reports, the death rates were actually higher.

Meanwhile, megadoses of some nutrients can cause problems. Large amounts of vitamin C can cause diarrhea. High doses of vitamin A can cause liver damage. Megadoses of vitamin B6 can cause nerve damage. In addition, some nutrients can interfere with the action of others. High doses of iron impair zinc absorption.

The safest, most cost-effective course, therefore is “a low-dose, broad-spectrum multiple vitamin-mineral formula,” says Elizabeth Somer, a registered dietitian in Salem, Ore., and the author of The Essential Guide to Vitamin and Minerals (HarperCollins). This will “meet the needs of most people, providing a convenient, cost-efficient balance of nutrients without risk of toxicity.”

Best Herbs for Men
Assuming you’re eating a good diet, the most useful supplements for men are not vitamins and minerals, but herbs:

• Rhodiola Also known as arctic root, rhodiola sharpens mental faculties, increases stamina, reduces stress, lowers the risk of heart disease and improves resistance to illness.

• Ginseng Worried about your erections? Medication, like Viagra, might help -- but so does ginseng, according to several studies. An added bonus: Ginseng also provides energy-boosting, illness-fighting benefits similar to rhodiola.

• Saw palmetto As you get older, your prostate begins to enlarge, which causes urinary symptoms, such as trouble getting started, problems finishing and having to get up at night -- often several times -- to urinate. Prescription medication helps. But according to many studies, so does saw palmetto.

• Pygeum Like saw palmetto, the bark of this African tree helps prevent prostate enlargement.

So despite how it may seem, when faced with a wall of supplement bottles, you don’t need to spend a fortune on dozens of vitamins. Eat right, take a simple multivitamin/mineral, consider four herbs and you’re done!

Michael Castleman Michael Castleman has been called "one of the nation's leading health writers" (Library Journal). He is the author of 11 consumer health books and more than 1,500 health articles for magazines and the Web.

www.liverightlivewell.com/partner/content/livingwellmagazineftp/programsend/programunit.js