Evening primrose oil

Evening primrose is a plant native to North and Central America. Its yellow flowers open in the evening for less than a minute, hence the name “evening primrose’ (there are also species with white, pink, purple or even red flowers). 

Young roots of the evening primrose can be eaten like a vegetable, whereas the plants shoots can be eaten as a salad. Oil is also extracted from mature seeds of the evening primrose and it contains 7-10 % gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and 70% linoleic acid. It is used as a dietary supplement and in the production of soaps and cosmetics. As you may already know GLA is an Omega-6 fatty acid, an essential fatty acid which is responsible for maintaining healthy skin. GLA helps reduce skin damage and signs of ageing. It is often used in chronic skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. 

Besides being good for the skin evening primrose oil is also used for high cholesterol, heart disease, osteoporosis, asthma, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and many others. In the past the evening primrose oil was known as the “Kings Cure All” reflecting on the wide range of healing powers ascribed to this plant.

For skin care purposes a good idea is to add a small amount of evening primrose oil to your everyday face cream. This way you can provide your skin with a healthy dose of GLA without buying expensive anti-aging creams. 

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