Oenothera biennis which is also commonly called as  evening-primrose, evening star, sundrop, weedy evening primrose, German rampion, hog weed, King's cure-all, or fever-plant is a species of Oenothera native to eastern and central North America, from Newfoundland west to Alberta, southeast to Florida, and southwest to Texas, and widely naturalized elsewhere in temperate and subtropical regions. It has yellow flowers which open at sunset and close during the day. The oil from the seeds of evening primrose is used to make medicine. Evening primrose oil (EPO) is produced from the plant.

The plant has traditionally been used to treat bruises, hemorrhoids, digestive problems and sore throats. Its healing benefits may be due to its gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) content. GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid found in plant oils. EPO is generally taken as a supplement or applied topically. Read on to learn how EPO may help treat many common health conditions today. Evening primrose is used for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), symptoms of menopause, arthritis, swelling, and other conditions. Evening primrose oil contains fatty acids. Some women with breast pain might not have high enough levels of certain fatty acids. In foods, the oil from evening primrose is used as a source of essential fatty acids. In manufacturing, the oil from evening primrose is used in soaps and cosmetics.

When taken in appropriate amounts short term, oral use of evening primrose oil is most likely safe. Evening primrose oil can cause upset stomach and headache. Don't take evening primrose if you have a bleeding disorder. Oral use of the supplement might increase the risk of bleeding. If you're planning to have surgery, stop taking evening primrose two weeks beforehand. Also, don't take evening primrose if you have epilepsy or schizophrenia. The supplement might increase your risk of seizures. Evening primrose oil might increase the risk of pregnancy complications.

The GLA in EPO is thought to help acne by reducing skin inflammation and the number of skin cells that cause lesions. It may also help the skin retain moisture. According to a 2014 study, EPO may help relieve cheilitis. This condition causes inflammation and pain in the lips caused by the acne drug isotretinoin. A separate study found that GLA supplementation reduced both inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions. Some countries other than the United States have approved EPO to treat eczema, an inflammatory skin condition. The GLA in EPO may improve the skin’s epidermis. However, a 2013 systematic review concluded that oral EPO doesn’t improve eczema and isn’t an effective treatment.

In rare cases, EPO may cause an allergic reaction. Some symptoms of allergic reaction are inflammation of the hands and feet, rash, difficulty breathing and wheezing. If you take blood thinners, EPO may increase bleeding. EPO may lower blood pressure, so don’t take it if you take medications that lower blood pressure or blood thinners. The drug interactions include anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, herbs and supplements, cytochrome P450 3A4 substrates, lopinavir and ritonavir and phenothiazines. The usage of EPO may also lead to withdrawal symptoms.

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