Traditional Uses

• Relief of PMS and Endometriosis
• May slow progression of Multiple Sclerosis according to some studies
• Lowers blood cholesterol and blood pressure
• Arthritis
• Sjogren’s Syndrome
• Obesity
• Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity
• Disorder (ADHD)
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Atopic Eczema

Mode of Action

• A rich source of essential fatty acids, particularly linoleic and gamma linoleic acid (GLA), which have two distinct functions:
  • they help build healthy cell membranes and
  • they convert inside the body to a variety of prostaglandin  (PG 1), which acts as a regulator
• PG 1 and GLA combine to
  • inhibit inflammation
  • reduce platelet aggregation
  • reduce blood pressure
  • regulate the immune system

Drug Interactions

• Caution with anticoagulants ("blood thinners")
• Therapeutic action may be decreased by beta-blockers (a class of heart medicines)
• Patients on phenothiazines (a class of tranquilizers) may have an increased risk of temporal lobe epilepsy
• Linoleic acid may decrease lithium neurotoxicity

Cautions

• Do not use if suffering from epilepsy
• May cause mild stomach upset, headache, nausea and/or softening of stool

Recommended Dose

• 750–1000 mg once a day. (Dose may vary from brand to brand)

References

• Chevallier, 1996; Newell, 1996; Nutriceutica, 1998; Smith & Boon, 1997; Tyler, 1993; Tyler, 1994