Evening Primrose Oil

The wild primrose flower found in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia only opens its pale yellow petals in the evening and because of this, it came to be known as the evening primrose. The evening primrose oil is extracted from Oenothera biennis whose seeds contain special fatty oil that is used in various healing procedures today.

During the early days, the Native Americans and early settlers gathered the evening primrose and its root to treat ailments, such as hemorrhoids, stomachaches, sore throat, and bruises. Today, modern research has shown that the power of the evening primrose lies in its seed oil. The evening primrose oil contains an essential fatty acid called gamma-linolenic acid. Gamma-linolenic acid in evening primrose oil is an omega-6 fatty acid. This means that once processed in the body, the substance exerts anti-inflammatory and other healing actions.

Certainly, gamma-linolenic acid is not exclusive to evening primrose oil. A number of foods actually contain small amounts of this substance and often, the body produces its own gamma-linolenic acid derived from a number of dietary fats. However, for a more concentrated source of gamma-linolenic acid, one must turn to the evening primrose oil. About 7 per cent to 10 per cent of fatty acids in evening primrose oil are in the form of gamma-linolenic acid.

Evening Primrose Oil: Health Benefits

The high content levels of gamma-linolenic acid in evening primrose oil make this herb valuable to the field of herbal science. It has various health benefits. When taken internally, gamma-linolenic acid is converted into prostaglandins by the body. These compounds act like hormones and the help regulate various body functions. The prostaglandins produced by inducing evening primrose oil can also control inflammation in some cases and promote it in others. Cell membranes of the body rely on gamma-linolenic for balance and maintenance.

More specifically, evening primrose oil may help relieve the discomforts of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menstruation, endometriosis, and fibrocystic breasts. Evening primrose oil interferes with the production of inflammatory hormones released during menstruation and thus helps lessen menstrual cramps. This same anti-inflammatory property may also minimize premenstrual breast tenderness, carbohydrate cravings, and irritable bowel flare-ups, as well as help control endometriosis-associated inflammation.

Research indicates that evening primrose oil may help prevent diabetes-associated nerve damage. In the year-long study, the symptoms associated with diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage), such as numbness, tingling, and loss of sensation were less marked in participants who took evening primrose oil than those who took a placebo.

When the body has problems converting dietary fats into gamma-linolenic acid, eczema may develop. The supplemental gamma-linolenic acid in evening primrose oil is helpful in avoiding this. Some studies have shown that evening primrose oil relieve eczema-related inflammation, itching, oozing, and flaking.

Other uses of evening primrose oil are as follows: help treat acne and rosacea; alleviate inflammation associated with lupus; lessen numbness and tingling; combat damage from multiple sclerosis; treat Alzheimer’s-related memory deficiencies; protect against the effects of aging; counter impotence and female infertility; alleviate Raynaud’s disease symptoms; nourish nails, scalp, and hair; and prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Evening primrose oil may come in three forms – softgel, oil, or capsules.