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Herbal Remedies Information - Evening Primrose

This article is part of a series giving information about herbs and their medicinal properties. We are going to look at evening primrose in this article. You will find out what this herb is, how you can use it and the conditions that could be helped by evening primrose.

What is Evening Primrose?

Evening primrose is a biennial plant that is native to North America. This plat usually grows to quite a tall height, often over 4 or 5 feet. The stems are very upright and strong with soft hairs appearing on them and form a shrub. The leaves are often rough and hairy and can be lemon scented. The flowers appear on small branches coming off the main stems and are bright yellow in colour and usually have four petals. What gives the plant its name is the fact the flowers of the plant open up in the evening but are closed during the day. The flowers also have a very sweet perfume which attracts a lot of moths.

How to use Evening Primrose

Evening primrose is usually used in the form of oil and this can be purchased from all good health food stores. You will also find that you can purchase evening primrose oil in the form of capsules to take orally. It is important to follow the directions to ensure you take the correct dosage.

You could prepare an ointment to apply to the skin. The best way to do this is to combine one part of the diced plant with four parts of heated petroleum jelly. Once it is prepared you are best to keep it in a sealed container in the fridge which will ensure it is kept effective. This ointment can then be applied to the skin as and when it needs soothing.

You can also use the seeds in cooking. The best way to do this is to remove the seeds from their capsules and then to roast them in the oven for around 15 to 20 minutes. You can then use these seeds in salads, on bread or you can grind them up and use them like pepper on a number of different dishes.

Uses of Evening Primrose

The oil, which is extracted from the seeds contains essential fatty acids that are very important to our diet. It is thought that low levels of the essential fatty acids can actually increase the symptoms felt by people suffering from PMS and diabetes. Evening primrose oil has been used to treat conditions such as PMS, menopause symptoms, asthma and to reduce high blood pressure.

There have been a number of studies carried out in Great Britain on evening primrose oil and they suggest it could be helpful for disorders such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition it is also thought to be useful in treating hangovers, helping with dry eyes, acne and to aid in weight loss.

When applied to the skin it is also thought to be helpful for cuts and bruises and can help to speed up the healing process. In addition it may be useful for skin irritations like rashes by helping to reduce the irritation felt.

Side Effects and Precautions

Some of the side effects reported by people using evening primrose oil include headaches, nausea, loose stools and skin irritations. If you suffer from any of these you may want to stop using the preparations immediately.

It is believed that evening primrose oil may interfere with epilepsy medication and make it less effective. For that reason it is not recommended to be taken by people who are suffering from epilepsy. In addition it is best to consult your doctor before giving the oil to children.