Module 16: Barlean's Primrose & Borage Oil

Evening Primrose Oil & Borage Oil | Skin Health | Hormonal Balance | Cellular Wellness

GLA has a bit of a reputation problem — and this training fixes that. Most people have heard that omega-6 is bad for you, and for most omega-6 fatty acids, there's truth to that. But GLA is completely different, and once you understand why, it becomes one of the most compelling wellness conversations you can have on the floor.

The GLA Paradox: The Omega-6 That Acts Like an Omega-3

Most omega-6 fatty acids convert to arachidonic acid in the body, which creates pro-inflammatory compounds. That's the basis of the "omega-6 is bad" argument. But GLA takes a completely different path.

Instead of converting to arachidonic acid, GLA converts to DGLA. DGLA creates anti-inflammatory prostaglandins, blocks pro-inflammatory compounds, and actually competes with and inhibits inflammation. So even though GLA is technically an omega-6, the body uses it to support a healthy inflammatory response — not promote one.

The simplest way to explain it to a customer: GLA is the omega-6 that acts like an omega-3.

Why Direct GLA Supplementation Matters

The body normally creates GLA from dietary essential fatty acids — like those in flax oil — but it requires an enzyme called delta-6 desaturase to make that conversion. Here's the problem: many people don't adequately produce GLA on their own.

Age-related changes reduce enzyme activity over time. Metabolic factors, high stress, high alcohol intake, deficiencies in vitamin B6, zinc, and magnesium, high saturated fat intake, and certain health conditions can all interfere with that conversion.

Evening Primrose Oil and Borage Oil solve this by providing GLA directly, so the body can use it immediately without needing to convert anything.

What GLA Supports

For skin health, GLA supports healthy skin from within, promotes internal moisture, and helps maintain the skin barrier — beauty and wellness support that works from the inside out.

For cellular wellness, it supports healthy cell membranes and provides essential fatty acids for cellular function.

For a healthy inflammatory response, GLA supports the body's natural processes by creating anti-inflammatory prostaglandins and blocking the formation of pro-inflammatory compounds.

For women specifically, Evening Primrose Oil has a long history of traditional use for PMS symptom relief, menopause-related symptom support, cyclical breast comfort, and overall hormonal balance.

For everyone, GLA supports joint comfort, cardiovascular wellness, and overall nutritional balance.

Evening Primrose Oil — The Traditional GLA Source

Evening Primrose Oil is extracted from the seeds of the Evening Primrose plant and has been used for centuries for wellness support. Native Americans historically used Evening Primrose for wellness support, and it was later nicknamed "King's Cure All" in Europe.

Each serving of two softgels delivers 1,300 mg of Evening Primrose Oil with 8-10% GLA — a direct source of gamma-linolenic acid. Barlean's Evening Primrose is pure and refined, non-GMO, gluten-free, processed without solvents, and third-party tested.

Clinical studies have found that Evening Primrose Oil may support a healthy inflammatory response, help reduce the severity of cyclic breast discomfort, support women through hot flashes, relieve PMS symptoms, and support skin health. While Evening Primrose is most famous for women's health, it supports wellness for everyone through its unique GLA content.

Borage Oil — The Highest Concentration of GLA Available

Borage Oil is extracted from borage seeds and contains two to three times more GLA than Evening Primrose Oil — making it the highest GLA concentration available from any natural source.

Each serving of one to two softgels delivers 1,300 mg of Borage Oil with 20-26% GLA. For anyone who wants maximum GLA per softgel, Borage Oil is the answer.

Barlean's Borage Oil is cold-pressed to preserve nutrients, completely hexane-free with no chemical solvents used in processing, non-GMO, gluten-free, and third-party tested. It supports nutritional wellness for everyone, skin health, healthy inflammatory response, heart health, cellular function, and joint comfort.

Which One to Recommend

Recommend Evening Primrose Oil for women experiencing PMS symptoms, women in perimenopause or menopause, women seeking breast health or hot flash relief support, customers who specifically ask for Evening Primrose by name, and anyone who has used it successfully before. It's also excellent for anyone seeking skin health and internal moisture support.

Choose Borage Oil for customers who want the highest GLA concentration available, those who want maximum GLA per softgel, anyone seeking hexane-free processing, men seeking GLA benefits, and those who tried Evening Primrose but want a higher concentration. It's the general nutritional wellness GLA choice for everyone.

How to Use These Products

For Evening Primrose Oil, the serving is two softgels daily, taken with or without food. Some women take it during the second half of their menstrual cycle for PMS support, but consistent daily use delivers the best results — you can't just take it once and expect to notice a difference.

For Borage Oil, the serving is one to two softgels daily, taken with or without food. Starting with one softgel daily and increasing to two if needed is a good approach.

For both products, taking at the same time daily helps build a routine. Allow four to six weeks for noticeable benefits — GLA supports the body's natural processes, so benefits build over time. Pair with healthy fats for absorption, and note that GLA works especially well when combined with EPA from fish oil because they work synergistically.

Common Questions You'll Hear

• "I thought omega-6 was bad for you?" — That's the GLA paradox. Most omega-6s can be pro-inflammatory, but GLA is completely different. Because the body converts GLA to DGLA rather than arachidonic acid, it blocks rather than promotes inflammation. It's the omega-6 that acts like an omega-3.
• "What's the difference between GLA and omega-3?" — Omega-3s like EPA and DHA from fish oil, or ALA from flax, support heart and brain health. GLA is a special omega-6 that supports skin health, cellular function, and a healthy inflammatory response. They work together beautifully, and many people take both.
• "Why can't I just get GLA from flax oil?" — The body normally makes GLA from the omega-6 in flax oil, but many people don't convert it efficiently due to age, stress, or nutritional factors. Evening Primrose and Borage provide GLA directly so the body can use it immediately without needing to convert anything.
• "Which one should I choose?" — Evening Primrose has extensive research for women's health issues like PMS and menopause. Borage has the highest GLA concentration — two to three times more per softgel. Both are excellent. It comes down to whether the customer needs women-specific support or just maximum GLA concentration.
• "How long before I see results?" — Most people notice benefits within four to six weeks with consistent daily use. GLA supports the body's natural processes, so it takes time to build up.

Key Takeaways

Barlean's GLA line gives you two distinct products built around the same remarkable fatty acid — one with a deep tradition in women's wellness, one delivering the highest GLA concentration available anywhere.

• Evening Primrose Oil: 1,300 mg per serving, two softgels, 8-10% GLA. The traditional women's health choice for PMS, menopause, and hormonal balance — and excellent for skin health for everyone.
• Borage Oil: 1,300 mg per serving, one to two softgels, 20-26% GLA. The highest GLA concentration from any natural source, two to three times more than Evening Primrose. For everyone seeking maximum GLA and nutritional wellness support.

Both are non-GMO, gluten-free, solvent-free, and third-party tested. Both support skin health, healthy inflammatory response, cellular wellness, and overall nutritional balance. The GLA paradox makes this one of the most interesting and important conversations you can have with a health-conscious customer.

Questions? Contact us or visit Barleans.com. Our customer service team is ready to help with anything you need.

Up Next: Module 17 covers Super Seeds — Forti-Flax, Chia, and specialty blends for complete nutritional support.