Evening Primrose Oil Benefits

On this page, you will find evening primrose oil benefits and uses for evening primrose oil as natural remedies for various disorders. Find out also the possible evening primrose oil side effects.

The common evening primrose plant of the oenothera biennis species was once known as the "king's cure all" because many people believed that it can treat various conditions and illness. It is also known by other names such as sundrops and night willow herb because the yellow evening primrose flower opens in the evening and stays open at night and closes by noon.

Even though the roots and shoots have medicinal value, the cold pressed oil of evening primrose is obtained from the seeds. Evening primrose seeds contain fatty acids namely gamma linolenic acid or GLA, linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids.

Here is a list of evening primrose oil benefits

1. The human body needs essential fatty acids and one of them is omega-6. It cannot manufacture this essential fatty acid and the only way to obtain it is to eat foods that contain the fatty acid. When you eat foods that contain linoleic acid it will convert to GLA. What's good about evening primrose oil is that you get direct natural gamma linolenic acid which is an omega-6 fatty acid.
   
   
   
2. Another one of evening primrose oil benefits is its ability to maintain hormonal balance. This is why it is used as a remedy from PMS or premenstrual syndrome, fibrocystic breasts and menopause. It may help treat the symptoms such as mastalgia which is breast pain or breast tenderness, hot flashes, mood swings and night sweats. Gamma linolenic acid or GLA which is an omega-6 fatty acid is believed to produce the healing effects.
   
   
   
3. The GLA present in evening primrose oil is also useful in stimulating hair and nail growth. If you have thinning or hairloss problem and brittle nails, taking evening primrose oil supplement may help overcome it.
   
   
   
4. Evening primrose oil is also good for the skin because GLA produces a moisturizing effect. Taking it orally and applying the oil of evening primrose on the skin may help in the treatment of skin disorders such as acne, dry scaly skin and psoriasis.
   
   
   
5. Another one of evening primrose oil benefits lies in its anti inflammatory activities. GLA is believed to reduce inflammations and may help as a natural remedy for arthritis, eczema or atopic dermatitis, lupus and rosacea.
   
   
   
6. Some studies indicate that GLA may help as a natural remedy for rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis which are autoimmune diseases.
   
   
   
7. GLA is also used by the body to produce prostaglandins which are unsaturated carboxylic acids. One of the effects of prostaglandin is causing the uterine to contract. This is why some women use evening primrose oil for inducing labor. Prostaglandin also slows down acid synthesis and increase the secretion of protective mucus in the gastrointestinal tract.
   
   
   
8. A deficiency in eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA which is an omega-3 fatty acid and GLA may lead to osteoporosis. So one of evening primrose oil benefits include reducing the risk of bone loss.
   
   
   
9. The fatty acids in evening primrose oil also contribute to brain functions and development. Even though further studies are required because of mixed results, evening primrose oil may benefit people with schizophrenia and attention deficit disorder or ADD.
   
   
   
10. Studies also indicate that the benefits of evening primrose oil include reducing high blood pressure including pre-eclampsia or hypertension during pregnancy, chronic fatigue syndrome and diabetic neuropathy. Other uses for evening primrose oil are as natural treatments for allergies, bronchitis, headache and Raynaud's disease which among the symptoms are numbness of the fingers, toes, tips of the nose and ears.

Even though there are many primrose oil benefits mentioned here, do talk to your doctor first before taking evening primrose supplements. Some possible evening primrose side effects are seizures for those who have previous seizure disorders, loose stools, nausea and stomach pain.

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