Evening Primrose Oil for Breast Cysts..

Breast Cysts...

Breast cyst formation is an unpleasant and sometimes painful occurrence in some women, it can however be remedied through proper diagnosis. The cyst may arise due to a variety of reasons, and one of them called fibrocystic breast disease has been identified as the most common cause of breast cysts. And the physical manifestations of this illness are the formation of fluid filled masses that are encysted in lumps that can be felt through the skin, breast cyst can affect one or both the breast with telltale lumps that are recurrent and can cause pain.

Changes in hormonal levels and subsequent hormonal fluctuations within the body which usually occur one to two weeks before menstruation can cause glands present in the breast to fill with fluid and increase or decrease in size according to the hormonal level. These chemical changes lead to the formation of a breast cyst, the breast can become uncomfortably swollen and inflamed and this results in varying degrees of pain.

Another probable cause of breast cyst formation and one of the contributing factors is a deficiency in one of the essential fatty acid, gammalinolenic acid or (GLA), which is used as a raw material in the formation of a hormone like substance known as prostaglandin in the body. This hormone-like substance or prostaglandin, is also though to play a role in the onset of breast disease, since a dietary supplement consisting of Evening Primrose Oil, which is a very rich source of GLA, is beneficial and often very helpful in the therapeutic process.

What Is Evening Primrose Oil?

Evening primrose oil is sourced from Oenothera biennis, a plant native to North America. It contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a fatty acid required by the body for growth and development.

Evening primrose oil, or EPO, is made from the seeds of the evening primrose wildflower common to North America. A rich source of healthy omega-6 fatty acids, EPO is also taken for a host of ailments, including eczema, PMS, arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, symptoms of menopause, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, Raynaud's disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, pregnancy-induced hypertension, ADHD, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, breast pain and other conditions. There are indications EPO may help with some of these, while for others there is little to no evidence.

Benefits of Evening Primrose Oil

Evening primrose oil can treat certain conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For example, when evening primrose is taken orally, it can reduce the symptoms of eczema. While evening primrose is approved for skin disorders outside of the United States, the NIH notes that more evidence is needed from clinical studies. However, the NIH warns that "the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary."

Research suggests that evening primrose oil may be of little value in the management of premenstrual syndrome or menopausal symptoms. However, other studies indicate that evening primrose oil may help with the following conditions:

1) Eczem

Evening primrose oil may help relieve the itching, crusting, redness, and swelling associated with atopic eczema, according to a meta-analysis published in 2006. Fatty acids are thought to play a role in these beneficial effects.

2) Rheumatoid Arthritis

To date, there's little research on the effectiveness of evening primrose oil in treating rheumatoid arthritis (an inflammatory condition that causes pain and swelling of the joints). However, a report published in 2001 suggests that evening primrose oil may have indirect anti-inflammatory actions and may help manage this autoimmune disease.

3) Breast Cancer

Preliminary research suggests that GLA may help destroy tumors without inducing damage to normal cells or causing harmful side effects. And in a small study published in 2000, researchers found that participants who took GLA supplements in addition to the breast cancer drug tamoxifen responded more quickly to breast cancer treatment than those who took tamoxifen alone.