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Known botanically as Oenothera biennis, oil of evening primrose (OEP or EPO) is used by women to help relieve breast pain and symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome. OEP is also believed by some to decrease the risk of other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
The oil of Evening Primrose has been sought after due to its content of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Evening Primrose Oil contains 8-10% GLA (Omega 6), 50-70% cis-linoleic acid (Omega 6), and small amounts of oleic, palmitic, and stearic acid. As a source of both GLA and other the Omega 6 essential fatty acid, EPO is often taken as a daily supplement by many.
Source
EPO can be found in soft-gel capsules containing 500-1300mg. While the oil is not listed, both flower and root preparations of Oenothera biennis are listed as "Approved" for respiratory inflammations by the German Commission E.
Most studies evaluating the use of OEP have used products containing 72% cislinoleic acid and 9% GLA. Patients should use a brand of OEP that contain these amounts of fatty acids, and they should follow the manufacturer's guidelines for dosing.
Function; Reasons For Use
The effects of OEP are attributed to its high concentrations of the fatty acids cis-linoleic acid and cis-y-linolenic acid (GLA). Both are produced in the body in limited amounts. Women with breast pain have reduced levels of GLA (most likely secondary to decreased conversion of cis-linoleic acid to GLA).
GLA has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation and reduce blood pressure. GLA is a precursor to PGE1 prostaglandins, responsible for a number of health benefits.
Evening Primrose Oil is used therapeutically in such things as atopic eczema (listed as such in the Merck Index), mastalgia, and premenstrual syndrome, and diabetic neuropathy.
Supplementation of 2.4-3.2gm/day of OEP (in divided doses) has been shown to decrease pain in 44% of women with cyclical breast pain and 27% of those with noncyclical breast pain. OEP must be taken for at least four months before its effects will be felt, because its onset is delayed.
Women with PMS are also believed to have decreased conversion of cis-linoleic acid to GLA. The resulting reduction in GLA levels leads to deficient synthesis of prostaglandin E1, which is thought to aggravate PMS symptoms. In one study, administration of 4 capsules of OEP (each containing 72% linoleic acid and 9% GLA) twice daily during the last 14 days of the menstrual cycle relieved PMS symptoms. However, conclusive results concerning the effectiveness of OEP for PMS are lacking, because other studies have shown no effect.
Side-Effects
OEP is relatively free of side-effects, although mild gastrointestinal irritation has been reported. OEP has no known drug interactions.
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Evening Primrose Oil can help with the following: | | | | | Circulation |  Intermittent Claudication | In a preliminary trial, supplementing with evening primrose oil (approximately 1,600mg per day) led to a 10% increase in exercise tolerance in people with intermittent claudication. [Christie SB, Conway N, Pearson HE. Observations on the performance of a standard exercise test by claudicants taking gamma-linolenic acid. J Atheroscler Res 1968;8: pp.83-90] |
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Hormones |
 Progesterone Low or Estrogen Dominance |
Infections |
Lyme Disease| | This may help combat the pain and inflammation. 1000mg 2-3 times daily. |
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Mental |
Poor Memory |
Metabolic |
Susceptibility to Hangovers| | If the smallest amounts of alcohol are troublesome the next morning, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in evening primrose oil will often help. |
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Uro-Genital |
 Premenstrual Syndrome PMS C (Craving)| | Treatment of women with PMS using gamma-linolenic acid to promote PGE1 synthesis shows good results in placebo-controlled studies. |
Fibrocystic Breast Disease| | In double blind research, evening primrose oil (EPO) has reduced symptoms of fibrocystic disease. However, the amount of improvement caused by EPO appears to be slight. One group of researchers have reported that EPO normalizes blood levels of fatty acids in women with fibrocystic disease. However, even these scientists had difficulty correlating the improvement in lab work with an actual reduction in symptoms. Nonetheless, most reports continue to show at least some reduction in symptoms resulting from EPO supplementation. As a result, many nutritionally oriented doctors recommend a trial of 3 grams per day of EPO for at least six months to alleviate symptoms of fibrocystic breast disease. |
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KEY | | May do some good | | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Atopic (Atopic Allergy)
Genetically predisposed toward developing immediate hypersensitivity reactions to common environmental allergens.
Cardiovascular
Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.
Claudication
Often Intermittent claudication: Condition caused by interruptions of blood supply to the muscles, characterized by limping and pain chiefly in the calf muscles: symptom characterized by pain during walking.
Commission E
The body of scientists and panel of experts that provides advice on herbal treatments and evaluates the safety, effectiveness and dosage of medicinal herbs; Germany's equivalent of the FDA.
Diabetes Mellitus (Diabetes, Diabetic, Diabetics)
A disease with increased blood glucose levels due to lack or ineffectiveness of insulin. Diabetes is found in two forms; insulin-dependent diabetes (juvenile-onset) and non-insulin-dependent (adult-onset). Symptoms include increased thirst; increased urination; weight loss in spite of increased appetite; fatigue; nausea; vomiting; frequent infections including bladder, vaginal, and skin; blurred vision; impotence in men; bad breath; cessation of menses; diminished skin fullness. Other symptoms include bleeding gums; ear noise/buzzing; diarrhea; depression; confusion.
Eczema
Swelling of the outer skin of unknown cause. In the early stage it may be itchy, red, have small blisters, and be swollen, and weeping. Later it becomes crusted, scaly, and thickened.
Essential Fatty Acid (EFA, EFAs, Essential Fatty Acids)
A substance that the human body cannot manufacture and therefore must be supplied in the diet.
Fatty Acids (Fatty Acid)
Chemical chains of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms that are part of a fat (lipid) and are the major component of triglycerides. Depending on the number and arrangement of these atoms, fatty acids are classified as either saturated, polyunsaturated, or monounsaturated. They are nutritional substances found in nature which include cholesterol, prostaglandins, and stearic, palmitic, linoleic, linolenic, eicosapentanoic (EPA), and decohexanoic acids. Important nutritional lipids include lecithin, choline, gamma-linoleic acid, and inositol.
Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA)
A downline metabolite of linoleic acid, an Omega-6 oil.
Gastrointestinal (GI, GI Tract)
Pertaining to the stomach, small and large intestines, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.
Gram (gm, gms, Gramme, Grammes, Grams)
A metric unit of weight, there being approximately 28 grams in one ounce.
Menstruation (Menses, Menstrual, Menstrual Cycle, Menstrual Cycles, Menstrual Flow, Menstrual Phase, Monthly Cycle)
The periodic discharge of blood, tissue fluid and mucus from the endometrium (lining of the uterus) that usually lasts from 3 - 5 days. It is caused by a sudden reduction in estrogens and progesterone.
Milligram (mg, Milligrams)
0.001 or a thousandth of a gram.
Neuropathy
A group of symptoms caused by abnormalities in motor or sensory nerves. Symptoms include tingling or numbness in hands or feet followed by gradual, progressive muscular weakness.
Platelet Aggregation
Platelets are the small, rather uniform fragments of large bone marrow cells that aid the blood in coagulation, hemostasis, inflammation, and thrombus formation. Mild subclotting and sticking is a common early condition that can lead to thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and strokes, and can be helped by an aspirin a day, better fat digestion, and Ceanothus.
Precursor (Precursors)
A biochemical substance, such as an intermediate compound in a chain of enzymatic reactions, from which a more stable or definitive product is formed.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
PMS consists of various physical and/or emotional symptoms that occur in the second half of the menstrual cycle, after ovulation. The symptoms begin about midcycle, are generally the most intense during the last seven days before menstruation and include: acne; backache; bloating; fatigue; headache; sore breasts; changes in sexual desire; depression; difficulty concentrating; difficulty handling stress; irritability; tearfulness.
Prostaglandin (Prostaglandins)
Any of a class of physiologically active substances present in many tissues, with effects such as vasodilation, vasoconstriction, stimulation of the smooth muscles of the bronchus or intestine, uterine stimulation; also involved in pain, inflammation, fever, allergic diarrhea, and dysmenorrhea. A potent hormone -- similar in structure to an unsaturated fatty acid -- that acts in extremely low concentrations on local target organs; first isolated from the prostate.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
A long-term, destructive connective tissue disease that results from the body rejecting its own tissue cells (autoimmune reaction).
Last updated: Apr 13, 2008
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