Quick Facts
Botanical Name: Oenothera biennis
Family Name: Onagraceae
Common Names: evening primrose oil and EPO, suncups, sundrops
Part used: flower seeds obtained by crushing
Specific Gravity: 0.915 to 0.935
Optical Rotation: 19 degree
Refractive Index: 1.432 to 1.510
Blends well with: All carrier oils and essential oils
Uses: It can fight hair dandruff; heals wounds and is also helpful in preventing heart problems.
It can be sprinkled on salad, food items or can be gulped isolated. It must not be heated before use. Can be used as it is.
Countries where it is Found
This wild flowery plant belongs particularly to North America. Although Southern Hemisphere, some parts of Asia and Europe also have yield of this yellow flowery plant.
Harvesting Information
Evening Primrose can be grown in poor, sandy soil. Just needs sunshine to grow.
History of the Plant
It is believed that it was found in North America. Its historical traces are nearly 70000 years old. Indians who were native of America used it almost for hundred years. Flambeau Ojibwe is supposed to be the first tribe which used evening primrose oil for its medicinal value. So many other civilizations too used it and are also using it now.
Extraction Process
The evening Primrose oil is drained from the seeds of yellow flower of herbaceous flowering plants, which is known for its fragrance and medicinal effects. The strange fact about this flower is that it blooms within less than a minute in the evening time.
Seeds from the flower are pressed to extract this rare oil and then it is stored and sold.
Commonly known Benefits
Even though lots of people criticize it and blame that it is good for nothing but many researchers have proved that it contains GLA, which is essential for the body. It is used for skin care and keeps the skin healthier and younger looking. This oil also helps to solve problem of acne, itching, oozing etc.
Most of the people believe that it also helps to improve fertility, although any scientific evidence is not there to prove this statement. It is quoted that it enables to move the sperm faster but still it is advised that it should not be taken in the starting weeks of pregnancy as it may cause uterine contractions.
It helps to keep your brain healthy and improves memory. So patients who have cognitive disabilities are recommended to take the oil. It helps to revive your mood too.
It also relieves those patients who are suffering from joint pains.
Many anti-ageing creams also use evening primrose oil as it counteracts on free radicals (which make you look more aged with advancement of time and age).
Intense hunger and depressions can also be treated by the help of evening primrose oil.
It has GLA which is a fatty acid and is required for the growth of the body. Even though intake of evening primrose oil can create headaches and gastric troubles, but it is rare and only few cases.
It is an important ingredient and works as nectar for human. It is a rare species and keeps the mind and body fit.