Frequently Asked Questions 31. As its name implies, oil of evening primrose is the natural oil extracted from the seed of the evening primrose, a wildflower.
Prostaglandins are essential to the proper functioning of all organs and of the reproductive system.
Hundreds of well-documented studies of oil of evening primrose have revealed its beneficial effects in the treatment and prevention of cardiac and vascular conditions, arterial tension, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, asthma, allergies, obesity, multiple sclerosis, hyperactivity, and premenstrual syndrome. The symptoms of PMS occur when there are low prostaglandin E1 levels in the bloodstream, caused by the hormonal changes that occur before menstruation. Oil of evening primrose is a rich natural source of GLA and supplementation substantially increases prostaglandin E1 levels, according to researchers who tested hundreds of women. This research, linking prostaglandin E1 to PMS, received a Nobel Prize in 1982. Beware, however, because not all oil of evening primrose products are created equal.