Flaxseed / Evening Primrose

Flaxseed provides approximately 50% more omega-3 oils than the amount available from fish oil. This truly useful plant has been cultivated for over 7,000 years. In the 8th century, the French king Charlemagne passed a law requiring citizens to consume Flaxseed so that they would be healthy subjects. The fibers of some of the species of this plant are used to make paper, linen and twine. Linen from Flax was used to wrap mummies in ancient Egypt. Flaxseed contains omega-6 and omega-9 essential fatty acids, linolenic, linoleni and oleic acids, linamarin (a cyanogenic glycoside), mucilage, cyanogenic glycosides, B vitamins, fiber, protein, potassium, lecithin, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A and E. The body does not naturally produce certain essential fatty acids, so it is necessary to receive them via the diet. Flaxseed supplements the body with these fatty acids, which are vital for maintaining body temperature, building nerve insulation, protecting tissues and producing energy. Fatty acids are important for building prostaglandins, which are necessary for several body processes, including dilation of blood vessels, cholesterol metabolization, and other critical bio-chemical functions. Prostaglandins are essential hormone-like substances that help regulate systems functions, including immune, reproductive, cardiovascular and systems. Several scientific studies show that consumption of sources of omega-3 oils leads to a substantially lower risk of death from coronary heart disease. Until recently, experts believed the best sources of omega-3 were fish oils. However, Flaxseed contains twice as much omega-3 essential fatty acids as fish oil products, without the fishy aftertaste.

Evening Primrose is indigenous to North America, but is now found in Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. The parts of this plant used medicinally are the seeds, leaves, and root. This plant is called Evening Primrose because its flowers open at night so that they can be pollinated by night-time insects such as the nocturnal sphinx moth. Evening Primrose was also known as "King's Cure-All" for at least 500 years. The primary chemical constituents of this herb include gamma linolenic acid, essential fatty acids, prostaglandins, calcium, and B vitamins. The gamma linolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that helps the body produce energy and forms part of the structural fats that comprise the brain, muscle, bone marrow and cell membranes. Those with premenstrual syndrome, diabetes, and eczema can have a metabolic block that interferes with the body's ability to make gamma linolenic acid. Studies have shown that about seven 500 mg. capsules of Evening Primrose oil daily, in conjunction with vitamins B-3, B-6, C and zinc, can achieve remarkable results in the treatment of schizophrenia and PMS. In two separate Canadian studies using animals, the main constituent in Evening Primrose, gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and the plant oil itself, significantly reduced blood pressure. In the first study, the GLA greatly strengthened the heart's response to chronic stress, while in the second a general lowering of blood pressure was observed. Deficiencies of GLA may result in the metabolic blockage of a key enzyme. Evening Primrose supplement is one good means of getting around this blockage and possibly preventing and treating many chronic disorders as well.