Evening primrose contains essential fatty acids, like omega-6 fatty acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), according to the National Institutes of Health; the gamma-linolenic acid is thought to be the active ingredient. Evening primrose has some benefits and has been used to treat certain diseases; however, side effects can occur from its use.
Benefits
Evening primrose oil can treat certain conditions, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). For example, when evening primrose is taken orally, it can reduce the symptoms of eczema. While evening primrose is approved for skin disorders outside of the United States, the NIH notes that more evidence is needed from clinical studies. However, the NIH warns that "the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary."
Unclear Scientific Evidence
The NIH warns that there is not enough evidence to prove evening primrose's effectiveness in the treatment of certain conditions. This includes using evening primrose to treat breast cancer, breast cysts, breast pain, bronchitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, obesity, osteoporosis, pre-eclampsia, Raynaud's phenomenon, rheumatoid arthritis and ichthyosis vulgaris. Both the Mayo Clinic and NIH give a "C" rating, meaning there is unclear evidence about evening primrose treating these conditions.
Side Effects
According to the NIH, seizures are a possible side effect from evening primrose oil use, especially in people who have a previous seizure disorder. The NIH recommends discontinuing evening primrose two weeks before surgery to reduce a patient's seizure risk. In addition, users of the drugs chlorpromazine, thioridazine, trifluoperazine and fluphenazine should be cautious when using evening primrose due to drug interactions and the risk of seizures. Other side effects from evening primrose use include occasional headaches, abdominal pain, nausea and loose stool, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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