Evening primrose what is it used for

Herbal remedies tend to be associated with numerous health claims because the regulation of these products is less rigorous than for prescription drugs. Many conditions are said to be eased by evening primrose oil. The following lack any supporting evidence:. In Britain, evening primrose oil used to be approved for treating eczema and breast pain. However, in , the drug regulator concluded there was not enough evidence of the effectiveness of evening primrose for these uses.

It is possible to be allergic to EPO or its forms. The FDA does not monitor supplements and care should be given to choosing a brand that is know for purity, accuracy of dose, and quality. There is a blood-thinning effect with evening primrose oil, so there is a higher risk of bleeding for people taking the blood thinner warfarin.

Therefore, these patients should not use the oil. Other drugs that thin the blood may also be a problem taken alongside the oil, including clopidogrel and aspirin. People with epilepsy or other seizure disorder should avoid taking evening primrose oil as it may increase the chances of having a seizure.

Also, people with schizophrenia treated with certain drugs may be at risk of seizure, so medical advice should be sought. Evening primrose oil should not be taken within 2 weeks of going for a general anesthetic because of the increased seizure risk. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Evening primrose oil. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Accessed Aug. Evening primrose oil.

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NCCIH has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider s.

We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. Evening Primrose Oil. Common Names: evening primrose oil, EPO. Latin Names: Oenothera biennis. Evening primrose is a plant native to North and South America that also grows throughout Europe and parts of Asia.

It has yellow flowers that open at sunset and close during the day. The oil from evening primrose seeds contains omega-6 fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic acid GLA. Native Americans made poultices from the evening primrose plant for bruises and wounds and used its stem and leaf juices as topical remedies for skin inflammations.

The leaves were taken orally for gastrointestinal complaints and sore throats. Evening primrose oil may also be included in products that are applied to the skin. Evening Primrose oil is rich in Omega 6 essential fatty acids and comes from cold-pressing the seeds of the Evening Primrose plant. The Evening Primrose plant, Oenothera biennis, is a wildflower with yellow flowers that open at sunset and close during the day.

It was traditionally used by Native Americans to treat swellings, bruises, haemorrhoids, sore throats and digestive upsets. In the 17 th century, it was introduced to England and Europe where it was used for its edible root, leaves and seeds. The oil from Evening Primrose seeds contains two omega-6 essential fatty acids — linoleic acid LA and, most importantly, gamma-linolenic acid GLA.

They are referred to as essential fatty acids because your body does not manufacture them, so they need to be included in your diet. GLA is an important anti-inflammatory fatty acid for the body. This in turn converts to a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin E1 PGE1 which fights inflammation.