Evening primrose oil

Evening primrose oil is a herbal extract traditionally used for a wide range of ailments, commonly premenstrual and menopausal symptoms in women, particularly breast pain and hot flushes.

There is no scientific evidence that evening primrose oil is any more effective for breast pain linked to the menstrual cycle than a dummy medication. This "placebo" effect is acknowledged to be considerable with evening primrose oil and that leads some healthcare professionals to recommend it to patients.

Evening primrose oil has been tested in clinical trials for such conditions as eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, various cancers, Raynaud's phenomenon, ulcerative colitis, pre-eclampsia, schizophrenia and hyperactivity. However there is no scientific evidence of any benefit in treating these conditions with evening primrose oil.

Some herbal products are registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) under the Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) scheme. Unlike licensing for mainstream medicines, registration doesn't mean a herbal remedy has been tested and proven to actually work. It does mean the MHRA is satisfied the product is made to good quality standards with appropriate labelling and a product information leaflet. It also means the herb has been used in traditional remedies for more than 30 years. However, no registration is listed for evening primrose oil.

The oil is extracted from the seed of the evening primrose plant (Oenothera biennis).

Evening primrose oil is not recommended for women trying to get pregnant or people with epilepsy.