Research, however, does not support taking evening primrose oil as a treatment for any medical condition.
It gets its name from its yellow blossoms, which bloom in the evening.
The oil contains linoleic acid,gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and other omega-6 fatty acids.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says.
No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
The medicinal properties of evening primrose are not well understood.
Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak
Some of these studies were done with GLA alone rather than evening primrose oil.
The research is limited, and conclusions about its effects cant be drawn yet.
However, the results of this research have been mixed.
The researchers concluded that the oil may be helpful for improving cyclic breast pain.
The researchers concluded that evening primrose oil was not better or worse than the other treatments for breast pain.
The placebo studies suggested that evening primrose oil reduced pain better than placebo.
Symptoms of PMS vary in severity and can include cramps and mood changes.
Researchers comparedblack cohoshand evening primrose oil as treatments for hot flashes in 80 postmenopausal people.
Another study compared evening primrose oil with a placebo.
Similar to the other studies, there was no decrease in the frequency of hot flashes.
Bone Health
Researchers are interested in the possible connection betweenunsaturated fatand a reduced risk ofosteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone mineral loss causes the bones to get weak and brittle.
The condition primarily affectspeople who have completed menopause.
In one study, researchers reviewed polyunsaturated fatty acids and bone mineral density.
The study showed associations between fatty acids and bone mineral density but not omega-6 fatty acids.
Eczema
Eczema(atopic dermatitis) is a skin condition that causes scaly and inflamed skin.
The studies found that evening primrose oil was not more effective for treating eczema than a placebo.
The researchers found that evening primrose oil, linoleic acid, and other fatty acids were beneficial for psoriasis.
However, the review did not provide specific information about how it could be used as a treatment.
A 2014 study in rats modeled heart attacks in animals eating a high-fat diet.
A review of studies that did include humans looked at whether evening primrose oil might help lower cholesterol.
The review suggested that the supplement might help lower total cholesterol levels and raise HDL or good cholesterol levels.
However, more research is needed to confirm the findings.
High cholesterol is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
It can be relapsing (gets better, then worse) or progressive (continues to worsen).
In one study, researchers compared evening primrose oil and a placebo treatment in 52 people with multiple sclerosis.
However, conclusions cannot be drawn from this study alone because it was very small.
Both treatment groups reported decreased pain and total symptoms compared to the placebo group.
However, there was not a statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups.
Another 12-month study used vitamin E and evening primrose oil to treat 80 people with painful diabetic neuropathy.
The researchers concluded that evening primrose oil combined with vitamin E improved pain in 88% of the participants.
Side Effects
There has not been much research on the long-term safety of evening primrose oil.
Shorter studies have noted some side effects.
Severe Side Effects
Information about the severe side effects of using evening primrose oil is lacking.
Its possible that some people have serious side effects from a supplement like evening primrose oil.
Precautions
Evening primrose oil should be used with caution if you have certain medical conditions.
Always talk to your provider before starting any supplement, even one available over-the-counter (OTC).
Its important to always tell your healthcare provider about all the supplements you take.
They can help check that they wont interact with any medications or conditions you have.
Evening primrose oil is generally considered safe for use in adults.There is no recommended dosage of evening primrose oil.
Sources
Evening primrose oil is not present in foods.
Summary
Evening primrose oil comes from the seed of the evening primrose plant.
It contains linoleic acid and GLA, which are omega-6 fatty acids.
Some studies have supported using evening primrose oil for some conditions that cause pain or inflammation.
Evening primrose oil can be purchased as a dietary supplement at most pharmacies and health food stores.
Talk about it with your healthcare provider first before trying evening primrose oil.
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