Evening Primrose Oil (EPO), derived from the seeds of Oenothera biennis, is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 essential fatty acid. It is commonly used as an alternative therapy for various systemic diseases marked by chronic inflammation such as atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis¹.

EPO is particularly popular for women's health issues, including breast pain (mastalgia), menopausal and premenstrual symptoms, cervical ripening, and labor induction. However, there is insufficient evidence to reliably assess its effectiveness for most of these indications². Though often used, current evidence suggests that EPO does not provide clinically significant improvements in persons with atopic dermatitis, cyclical mastalgia, or premenstrual syndrome. Many studies on EPO suffer from methodological flaws, and results are preliminary².

For nursing mothers, supplementation with EPO has been shown to increase breastmilk content of linoleic acid and GLA, without adverse reactions in infants³. Despite its common usage, the effects of EPO during pregnancy are not well supported in literature and should generally be avoided².

While generally well-tolerated, minor adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset and headaches can occur². More detailed studies are needed to establish optimal dosing standards and treatment regimens for its various purported health benefits.

Footnotes

1. Melika Sharifi, "The effect of Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) oil on inflammatory diseases: a systematic review of clinical trials," BMC Complement Med Ther, 2024. ↩

2. Bryan Bayles, "Evening primrose oil," PubMed, 2009. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

3. "Evening Primrose - LactMed," NCBI. ↩