Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) is a plant native to the Americas. Its yellow flowers open at sunset. The oil in its seeds contains omega-6 fatty acids.

Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). GLA is an omega-6 essential fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory effects in the body.

People use evening primrose oil for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause symptoms, arthritis, high cholesterol, acne, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don’t confuse evening primrose oil with other plants or oils that are sources of GLA and omega-6 fatty acids, such as black currant, borage, and flaxseed oil.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Possibly Effective for

• Nerve damage caused by diabetes. Research shows that taking evening primrose oil daily for 6-12 months improves symptoms of nerve damage caused by diabetes.
• Osteoporosis. Taking evening primrose oil with fish oil and calcium seems to decrease bone loss and increase bone density in elderly people with osteoporosis.

Possibly Ineffective for

• Asthma. Taking evening primrose oil by mouth doesn’t seem to improve asthma symptoms.

Likely InEffective for

• Breast pain (mastalgia). Taking evening primrose oil by mouth doesn’t seem to reduce breast pain.

There is interest in using evening primrose for a number of other purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Evening primrose oil is likely safe for most people when taken in doses up to 6 grams daily for up to 1 year. It might cause mild side effects including upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, and headache in some people. There isn’t enough reliable information to know if other parts of the evening primrose plant are safe or what the side effects might be.

When applied to the skin: There isn’t enough reliable information to know if evening primrose is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Evening primrose oil is likely safe for most people when taken in doses up to 6 grams daily for up to 1 year. It might cause mild side effects including upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, and headache in some people. There isn’t enough reliable information to know if other parts of the evening primrose plant are safe or what the side effects might be.

When applied to the skin: There isn’t enough reliable information to know if evening primrose is safe or what the side effects might be. Pregnancy: Taking evening primrose oil by mouth is possibly safe during pregnancy. Taking up to 4 grams by mouth daily for up to 10 weeks seems to be safe. But until this is confirmed, be cautious. Taking evening primrose oil during the last weeks of pregnancy might delay labor. Don’t use this product close to the end of pregnancy.

Breast-feeding: It is possibly safe to take evening primrose oil while breast-feeding, but it’s best to check with your healthcare provider first.

Children: Evening primrose oil is possibly safe when taken by mouth in doses up to 6 grams daily. It is also possibly safe when applied to the skin.

Bleeding disorders: Evening primrose oil might increase the chance of bruising and bleeding. Don’t use it if you have a bleeding disorder.

Epilepsy or another seizure disorder: Evening primrose oil might make seizures more likely in some people.

Surgery: Evening primrose oil might increase the chance of bleeding during or after surgery. Stop using it at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions ?

Major Interaction

Do not take this combination

• Evening primrose oil might slow blood clotting. Taking evening primrose oil along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

• Taking evening primrose oil with phenothiazines might increase the risk of a seizure in some people.

• Evening primrose oil might decrease how quickly the body breaks down lopinavir / ritonavir. Taking evening primrose oil along with lopinavir / ritonavir might increase the effects and side effects of lopinavir / ritonavir.

• Evening primrose oil might decrease the levels of lithium in the body. Taking evening primrose oil along with lithium might decrease the effects of lithium.

Minor Interaction

Be watchful with this combination

• Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Evening primrose oil might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.

Dosing

Evening primrose oil has most often been used by adults in doses of 2-6 grams by mouth daily for 3-12 months. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

View References

CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.

Evening Primrose Oil: Uses and Risks

Written by Matt McMillen

• Why do people use evening primrose oil?
• Can you get evening primrose oil naturally from foods?
• What are the risks of taking evening primrose oil?

Evening primrose is a plant that’s native to Europe and North America. It has a long history of medicinal uses. Native Americans, for example, used its leaves, roots, and seedpods in preparations for hemorrhoids, bruises, wounds, and skin problems.

Evening primrose oil contains an omega-6 essential fatty acid that is necessary for good health. However, while there is some evidence that taking evening primrose oil supplements may benefit some health conditions, the study results are mixed.

Most of the studies have been small and further research is needed.

Evening primrose oil supplements usually come in capsule form. People take it to try to treat conditions such as:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Eczema, atopic dermatitis, and other skin conditions
• Breast pain during menstruation
• ADD
• Asthma

Reviews of the available scientific evidence have found no reason to recommend evening primrose oil to help the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or breast pain.

Current research does not show primrose oil to be helpful in eczema or atopic dermatitis. And some studies suggest that supplements that contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), including evening primrose oil, may be of some benefit to people with rheumatoid arthritis. But more research is needed before it could be recommended.

Evening primrose oil has also been used as a complementary treatment for some cancers. Again, evidence to support such use is lacking.

GLA, thought to be the active ingredient in evening primrose oil, can be found in small amounts in a variety of food sources. However, it is most concentrated in plant oils such as evening primrose oil and borage oil. The doses used in most clinical trials would be hard to get from food sources.

Most people will tolerate evening primrose oil without complications. But keep in mind that there have been reports of side effects such as:

• Headache
• Stomach upset
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Rash

Evening primrose oil may raise the risk of bleeding among people who take anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications. It may also raise the risk of seizures as well as serious nausea and vomiting for people taking a class of drugs known as phenothiazines. These drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

People should be especially cautious about taking evening primrose oil if they have:

• Bleeding disorders
• Seizure disorders such as epilepsy 
• Mania

Also, people who take medication to lower blood pressure should be careful, because evening primrose oil may cause a further drop in pressure. Evening primrose oil may also interact with certain medicines used to treat depression.

Several other drug interactions have been noted. Evening primrose oil may cause seizures if used with anesthesia. Make sure you tell your doctor if you are taking this before you have any surgery.

Pregnant women should not take evening primrose oil because of the potential for complications.

Before taking evening primrose oil, or any other supplement, talk to your doctor about potential risks and drug interactions. Even so-called natural supplements should be used with caution.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does regulate dietary supplements; however,  it does so under a different set of regulations than it does for “conventional” foods or drugs. Unlike drug manufacturers, the makers of supplements don’t have to show their products are safe or effective before selling them on the market.

Top Picks

10 benefits of evening primrose oil and how to use it.

Indications and contraindications of evening primrose oil

Evening primrose oil, more commonly known as EPO, is obtained by processing the flowers and seeds of the plant of the same name, which grows in North America. For several hundred years, the products of this plant have been used in folk medicine to treat bruises, sore throats, digestive problems, and hemorrhoids.

Scientists report that the benefits of this product are due to the high content of GLA – gamma-linolenic acid, also known as Omega-6.

EPO is mostly used for topical application to problem areas or as a dietary supplement. Next, we look at how evening primrose oil can be used to treat a variety of ailments or improve health conditions.

Eliminates skin rashes burning and eliminate keratinized skin that causes problems. Moreover, this product is able to retain moisture when applied.

According to a study conducted in 2014, evening primrose oil is able to relieve the symptoms of cheilitis, which are manifested in the form of inflammation and pain in the lips. The most common cause of this condition is the use of a special medication for the treatment of acne – isotretinoin.

One of the experiments also showed that gamma-linolenic acid is able to reduce the number of not only inflamed, but also non-inflammatory rashes. To achieve all the above effects, scientists used EPO as a dietary supplement in the amount of 450 milligrams.

May be used to treat eczema

In some countries, including the United States, evening primrose oil has been approved as a drug for the treatment of eczema and various inflammatory skin conditions. A similar decision was made thanks to one of the studies, in which it was found that GLA helps to improve the quality of the skin. Despite this, researchers report that taking EPO as a dietary supplement has a relatively low efficacy in treating eczema, in contrast to topical use.

Scientists recognize both methods of treatment. To eliminate the symptoms of this disease, they recommend taking from 1 to 4 capsules of oil per day or applying its 20% solution to the skin twice a day. In both cases, the duration of treatment is 4 months.

Improves skin quality like:

Scientists attribute this effect to the high content of gamma-linolenic acid in the product, which is necessary to normalize the functions of the dermis and ensure its ideal structure. Based on the fact that the human body is not able to generate GLA on its own, the researchers believe that the topical application of EPO can preserve the health of the dermis. To ensure the desired effect, they recommend taking primrose oil capsules in a volume of 500 milligrams three times a day for 12 weeks.

Improves symptoms of PMS to eliminate some symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, namely:

depression; increased irritability; discomfort in the abdomen.

According to scientists, the above symptoms appear in some women due to high sensitivity to prolactin. When ingested, GLA is converted to prostaglandin E1, which reduces the effect of the first element on the body, which ensures the elimination of PMS symptoms.

According to 2010 data, a supplement that combines EPO with vitamins B6 and E is more effective at reducing the body’s exposure to prolactin. However, its use did not allow us to find out how much evening primrose oil can have such an effect. What’s more, in some studies, EPO failed to eliminate PMS symptoms.

Despite this, to eliminate discomfort and increased irritability during premenstrual syndrome, doctors advise taking evening primrose oil in the amount of 500 to 6000 milligrams per day for 10 months.

Relieves breast pain

During the menstrual cycle, many women experience pain in the breast area. EPO nutritional supplements can help in solving this problem.

According to a 2010 study, gamma-linolenic acid is able to reduce inflammation and inhibit prostaglandins, the main cause of pain. So, one of the experiments showed that the use of evening primrose oil in combination with vitamin E for six months significantly reduced the severity of pain. At the same time, with each cycle, the sensations were weaker and weaker.

To solve this problem, experts recommend taking 1 to 3 grams of EPO every day for six months, combined with 1200 mg of vitamin E.

and the intensity of the tides during menopause

One of the most annoying side effects of menopause is hot flashes. An analysis of the results of studies conducted in 2010 showed that evening primrose oil and other over-the-counter products cannot be used to solve this problem. However, later experiments showed that women who took 500 milligrams of this supplement daily for 6 weeks were able to reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes. At the same time, the intake of appropriate nutritional supplements allowed to increase the level of sexual activity and self-esteem.

The effects described above can be achieved by eating 500 milligrams of EPO daily.

Normalizes blood pressure levels

At the moment, there is a huge amount of conflicting information about whether evening primrose oil can normalize blood pressure levels. Therefore, further studies are needed to confirm this fact.

According to research data from 2013, scientists found that people who took EPO had lower levels of systolic blood pressure compared to other people.

An analysis of the experiments in 2011, however, showed that the amount of data confirming the ability of evening primrose oil to affect blood pressure levels in pregnant women or those suffering from preeclampsia is not enough to draw specific conclusions.

However, 500 milligrams of EPO twice a day should be taken to lower blood pressure. However, this supplement should be included in the diet only after consultation with your doctor.

Improves heart muscle function

About 600,000 people die each year due to heart disease, and that’s just in the United States. At the same time, the number of people suffering from heart failure is estimated in the millions. Some of them turn to folk remedies such as EPO to solve this problem.

According to 2014 data, the benefits of evening primrose oil are to reduce inflammation and lower blood cholesterol levels. As practice shows, every person who has heart muscle disease has an increased number of inflammatory markers. Despite this, scientists rarely associate inflammation with heart failure.

To avoid heart failure, take 10 to 30 milliliters of oil daily for 4 months. At the same time, experts strongly recommend that you be under the supervision of your doctor.

Eliminates the symptoms of neuropathy

limbs and increased weakness. It can be caused by diabetes and a number of other diseases.

Recent studies have shown that EPO supplementation can improve the symptoms of neuropathy. This effect is provided by the daily consumption of evening primrose oil capsules, which contain from 360 to 480 milligrams of GLA.

Reduces bone pain

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which one of the symptoms is chronic inflammation that causes pain in the bones. According to 2011 data, gamma-linolenic acid, which is found in EPO, can reduce pain. To do this, daily should be taken from 500 to 6000 milligrams of oil for 3-12 months.

Potential Risks and Side Effects

For most people, EPO dietary supplements are not dangerous, even if used over a long period of time. Despite this, they should be purchased with extreme caution, as the Food and Drug Administration does not test the composition of supplements.

The number of side effects from misuse of evening primrose oil is negligible. These include: disruption of the gastrointestinal tract; headaches; pain in the abdomen; diarrhea.

You can get rid of these effects by reducing the amount of consumption. But in some cases, the product can also cause an allergic reaction, which will be accompanied by the following symptoms: skin rashes; difficulty breathing; swelling of hands and feet.

If this supplement is taken in combination with blood thinning medications, the properties of evening primrose oil may increase the effect of the medications and lead to internal bleeding.

One of the most common uses of EPO is to increase the elasticity of the cervix in preparation for childbirth. But, according to doctors, the use of oil orally slows down dilation and leads to an increase in the duration of labor.

Conclusion

There is a lot of evidence supporting the benefits of evening primrose oil. However, the number of facts refuting them is also quite large. Therefore, further studies are needed to confirm the beneficial properties of this product.

Despite this, some physicians recommend the use of dosages for health promotion and the treatment of certain diseases that correspond to those used in the experiments. At the same time, experts advise taking the appropriate supplements only under the supervision of a doctor and only after consultation.

Sources

• Abo-Gresha NM, et al. (2014). Evening primrose oil ameliorates platelet aggregation and improves cardiac recovery in myocardial-infarct hypercholesterolemic rats.
  ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3961099/
• Bamford JTM, et al. (2013). Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema. DOI:
  10.1002/14651858.CD004416. pub2
• Cameron M, et al. (2011). Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis. DOI:
  10.1002/14651858.CD002948.pub2

Evening primrose oil: effects and tips for use

May 28
2021

Today, evening primrose oil is used quite often both in the home treatment of epidermal problems and in professional medical centers under the guidance of cosmetologists and other specialists. Manufacturers such as Solgar, American Health, Royal Brittany are considered leaders in the market. All these options differ from each other not only in price, but also in the components that are included in the composition, method of exposure and effectiveness. That is why, before choosing a product, you should always first familiarize yourself with the product in detail in order to protect yourself from potential troubles in the form of an allergic reaction.

This article is for guidance only. Before starting to use evening primrose oil, it is recommended that you first consult with a specialist to make sure there are no contraindications and correctly calculate the dosage.

Evening primrose oil: Benefits

Christel van Gol, in one of his papers on evening primrose oil, writes that it is the world’s only source of the very rare gamma-linolenic acid. Because of this, the plant is very much appreciated all over the world: in addition to alpha acids, it allows a person to quickly restore his body after a cold, infection, and even a rash. Many experts recommend the use of oil in preventive measures, since it has a good anti-inflammatory effect and, in principle, can regulate the functioning of human organs at the cellular level. More details about this information can be found at the link.

Evening primrose oil is not just so popular, its benefits are really great. For example, GLA can monitor water-salt metabolism, which means it improves metabolism, as well as the quality of blood flow. In his work, Gol notes that for the most part evening primrose oil is used to combat skin imperfections, since it is thanks to its anti-inflammatory effect that it quickly copes with all acne and at the same time does not leave scars, which is very important for maintaining aesthetics.

Primrose oil for acne

In one of her latest fundamental works, Maryam Kashanian writes that primrose oil for acne shows simply incredible results. It is really suitable for the treatment of hormonal problems and acne of 1-3 degrees. Many endocrinologists now recommend this remedy for use. The high GLM content quickly brings the face back to normal without acne and oily sheen. It is important to note that the product is suitable for any type of skin.

The benefits of evening primrose oil for the face are as follows:

• antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect;
• suppression of seboproducts;
• improved keratinization;
• lipid barrier formation;
• long-term result.

To achieve a visible effect for a long time, it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment, but it must be discussed with your doctor without fail, otherwise the consequences may be irreversible.

In theory, the oil can be used as a spot treatment, simply by applying it to the affected areas, by no means using it all over the face. But in her work, Magdalena Timoszuk notes that the best effect can only be obtained with the internal use of evening primrose oil. Capsules with different contents of this remedy are now being sold in the public domain. The best option is to take one capsule per day, but this point is still better to check with your doctor.

Evening primrose oil: contraindications

Before you buy evening primrose oil, contraindications should be studied in some detail. Experts note that they practically do not exist, but this does not mean that you do not need to consult a doctor and take tests.

A person may have an individual intolerance to any of the components that make up this oil. It is also forbidden to use the product externally or internally during pregnancy or lactation, as this may adversely affect the condition of the child.

Evening primrose oil: side effects

Brian Bels, studying evening primrose oil, practically does not describe side effects in his works.