A popular myth believed is that primrose oil regulates the symptoms of perimenopause. Many believe it helps alleviate night sweats and hot flashes.
A study conducted at the Keel University in New Staffordshire, Trent, went through 28 trial tests on women going undergoing perimenopause. They gave them primrose oil extracts to see if primrose oil, which contains gamolenic acid, had any benefits in decreasing hot flashes.
A study was conducted over a period of 17 months where women were asked to write down their experiences of their symptoms of perimenopause while on a primrose treatment. The other 18 women were given a placebo.
Over the trial period, women's body temperatures were watched and hot flush cases did not lessen for those on the primrose tablets. Some women on the primrose treatment also showed withdrawal symptoms of nausea, dyspepsia and diarrhea.
HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) is the most advertised and advised solution to hot flashes and other symptoms of perimenopause. Yet, doctors forget that there are women who do not want to adhere to hormonal therapies and prefer a more calmer and natural approach. Many women fear the risks of hormonal therapy and there are those who have had previous sicknesses that will not allow them to have most HRT treatments.
Primrose oil does contain a very important fatty acid called linoleic acid which can be found in a variety of foods. It can be found in most plant seeds and has virtually no saturated fat in it. Primrose solutions can be healthy, but as the study conducted it had no evidence of alleviating hot flashes.
Conclusions: Primrose oil has no conclusive evidence linking it to alleviate perimenopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.
