Evening primrose oil

Evening primrose

Evening primrose oil is extracted from the seeds of the evening primrose, oenothera biennis; contains gla. It has yellow flowers that bloom in the evening. Evening primrose oil contains the fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).

Other names

Common Names: evening primrose oil, EPO

Latin Names: Oenothera biennis

Information about Evening primrose oil

• Evening primrose is a plant native to North America
• It also grows in Europe and parts of the Southern hemisphere also.
• Many studies in people have evaluated evening primrose oil for eczema, PMS, or breast pain.
• Smaller numbers of studies have evaluated it for other health conditions.

Use as a dietary supplement

• Native Americans used the whole plant for bruises and its roots for hemorrhoids. The leaves were traditionally used for minor wounds, gastrointestinal complaints, and sore throats.
• Today, people use evening primrose oil dietary supplements for eczema (a condition involving red, swollen, itchy skin, sometimes caused by allergies), rheumatoid arthritis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast pain, menopause symptoms, and other conditions.
• Evening primrose oil is obtained from the seeds of the evening primrose and is usually sold in capsule form.

Evidence

• There’s not enough evidence to support the use of evening primrose oil for any health condition.
• According to a comprehensive 2013 evaluation of the evidence, evening primrose oil, taken orally (by mouth), is not helpful for relieving symptoms of eczema.
• Most studies of evening primrose oil for PMS have not found it to be helpful.
• Studies of evening primrose oil for breast pain have had conflicting results.
• A small amount of evidence suggests that evening primrose oil might be helpful for diabetic neuropathy (nerve problems caused by diabetes).

Herbal and dietary supplements

• Aloe Vera, Ashwagandha, Astragalus, Bilberry, Black Cohosh, Butterbur, Cat's Claw, Cascara, Chaparral, Comfrey, Crofelemer, Echinacea, Ephedra, Fenugreek, Flavocoxid, Garcinia cambogia, Germander, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Greater Celandine, Green Tea, Hoodia, Hops, Horse Chestnut, Hyssop, Kava Kava, Kratom, Lavender, Maca, Margosa Oil, Melatonin, Milk Thistle, Noni, Passionflower, Pennyroyal Oil, Red Yeast Rice, Resveratrol, Saw Palmetto, Senna, Skullcap, Spirulina, St. John's Wort, Turmeric, Usnic Acid, Valerian, Yohimbine

Chinese and Other Asian Herbal Medicines

• Ba Jiao Lian, Bol Gol Zhee, Chi R Yun, Jin Bu Huan, Ma Huang, Sho Saiko To and Dai Saiko To, Shou Wu Pian

Multi-Ingredient Nutritional Supplements

• Herbalife, Hydroxycut, Move Free, OxyELITE Pro, SLIMQUICK

See also Nutritional supplements