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Article: Black Currant Seed Oil
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 The Gale Group, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Black currant seed oil
Description
The black currant (
Ribes nigrum)
, is a deciduous shrub of the Saxifragaceae family. Though all parts of the shrub are used
—
berries, bark, leaves, and seeds
—
it is the oil of the seed that is used most commonly today. Black currant seed oil is rich in
essential fatty acids
, which promote and maintain the body's vital functions. Essential fatty acids provide energy, regulate body temperature and metabolism, protect tissues, and insulate nerves. Approximately 17% of black currant seed oil consists of an omega-6 fatty acid, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Another 13% consists of an omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid.
Evening primrose oil
...