Like many women, after the birth of my first child I noticed that my mood swings were much more intense and regular at certain times of the month. Tears were all too common and my irrationality was getting out of control. Unlike before he was born, when I had a “moody day”, I found that my mood lasted for quite a few days and that I sometimes felt quite depressed. My doctor recommended taking the pill, which I didn’t want to do, so I tried St. John’s wort. Unfortunately it left a strange taste in my mouth so I stopped taking it. Then one of my friends recommended me to take Evening Primrose and Starflower oil. I had heard of evening primrose oil as a supplement, but not starflower oil and certainly had not heard of the two oils being available in one capsule. I did some research and found that the only difference between evening primrose oil and starflower oil is that starflower (borage) oil contains about twice as much GLA as evening primrose oil, so the concentration of GLA in the capsules is higher.

GLA, found in Evening Primrose and Starflower oils, is a type of omega-6 fatty acid called gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and can be made in our bodies from another fatty acid called linoleic acid, which is a main component of common oils such as sunflower and corn oil. Women suffering from PMS have been found to exhibit different blood fatty acid profiles, with low GLA levels being a common observation. This has led to the suggested use of GLA-containing oils for the relief of PMS.

Taking the Evening Primrose Oil and Starflower Oil combination capsules has certainly worked for me. I take two a day with my lunch and although I still tend to have a “moody day”, I feel completely different than I did before I took them. I have been taking them for about 2 months and in that time I have noticed a change in my overall mood. I take note of every time I feel bad and in the last few months it has been twice, around my period. These capsules may not work for everyone. I am not a doctor and have not done any research on the capsules, just sharing my experience taking them. However, I think they are definitely worth giving them a try.

Doctors readily prescribe other solutions to women struggling with PMS (including antidepressants) and while every individual is different, I would recommend trying other options first before going down that path. It is recommended that the minimum GLA level required to provide the potential to provide the intended benefits is 240 mg per day. This is usually equivalent to approximately 2-3 1000mg capsules of evening primrose oil and 1-2 1000mg capsules of star oil. You can buy them combined as I tell you that I do and they are available at a very good price here. All I can say is that they have changed my life!