Evening Primrose Oil

Is It a Good Herbal Supplement for Health and Skin Problems?

May 15, 2009 Ydalia Tolentino

Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which may be beneficial for certain conditions like eczema.

Evening primrose oil is made from the evening primrose ( Oenothera biennis), a plant that is native to North America. The oil is extracted from the seeds of this plant. Other common names for this plant include sun cup and sun drop. Its name originates from the fact that its yellow flowers bloom at night and fade quickly in the morning sunlight.

The medicinal properties of this plant were first recognized by Native Americans who used all parts of the plant to treat a variety of ailments such as obesity, indigestion, and respiratory illness. Today, the oil from the plant seeds is popularly used as an herbal supplement for a wide range of health and skin problems that include atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and premenstrual syndrome.

Natural medicine practitioners claim evening primrose oil is useful for these conditions because it contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and other nutrients. Researchers have done some preliminary studies, which suggest that GLA may be beneficial for some conditions.

Medicinal Properties of Evening Primrose Oil

The key to the therapeutic value of this plant comes from the rich concentration of linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in its seeds. The seed oil is a good source of GLA, a fatty acid, which plays an important role in many of the body’s biological processes. The body uses GLA to make a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin. Prostaglandin is responsible for bodily functions like soothing inflammations, regulating hormones, and controlling cell growth.

Uses of Evening Primrose Oil

Herbalists and naturopaths suggest that evening primrose oil can be beneficial for treating many health conditions. A partial list of these conditions includes:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Atopic dermatitis/eczema
• Multiple sclerosis
• Depression
• Asthma
• Pre-menstrual syndrome/menopause
• Cancer
• Alcoholism
• Skin Inflammation
• Hyperactivity

Scientific Evidence

In the United States, much of the research done on the efficacy of the healing properties of this plant began in the 1980s. Most clinical studies and research usually involved small groups of patients. In most cases, the research or clinical studies have provided mixed results on the health benefits of using this herbal supplement.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the available scientific evidence does not support the recommendation of evening primrose oil for conditions that include asthma, menopause, schizophrenia, psoriasis, and breast cancer. Small studies did show that this herbal supplement might be useful for the treatment of eczema, diabetes, and diabetic neuropathy. More studies are necessary to determine evening primrose oil's effectiveness as treatment in all these conditions.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine also reports that evening primrose may provide some benefits for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, and breast pain but that the studies conducted were small or yielded mixed results.However, this herbal supplement has been approved in many other countries for skin conditions and breast pain.

Side Effects and Precautions

Evening primrose oil is usually taken in small doses in capsules or gelcaps. For most people, there are no adverse side effects. However, some people may experience some mild effects like nausea, headaches, indigestion, or stomach discomfort.

Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use this herbal remedy. In addition, people who suffer from seizures, epilepsy or schizophrenia are also advised not to take this herb. Likewise, people taking anti-coagulants or anti-psychotic drugs should not use this product. It is well-advised to consult with a medical practitioner before taking any over the counter medication or herbal supplements such as evening primrose oil.

Evening primrose oil may be beneficial for some conditions; however, further clinical studies will be necessary to determine its true efficacy.

The copyright of the article Evening Primrose Oil in Natural Medicine is owned by Ydalia Tolentino. Permission to republish Evening Primrose Oil in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

oenothera biennis flower/evening primrose