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How Evening Primrose Oil Can Balance Your Hormones and Promote Beautiful Hair, Skin, & Nails

Evening primrose oil, also sometimes referred to as EPO, comes from the seed of evening primrose plants and can be used both topically and ingested orally depending on the results you hope to get from adding the oil into your routine. There are a number of benefits to using evening primrose, but the most commonly recognized involve women’s hormone health. It comes from the seed of evening primrose plants and can be used both topically and ingested orally depending on the results you hope to get from adding the oil into your routine.

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There are a number of benefits to using evening primrose, but the most commonly recognized involve women’s hormone health.

Benefits of Primrose Oil

What Are Evening Primrose Benefits?

The health benefits of adding EPO into your daily routine or vitamin regimen can appear in your skin, hair, bones, and overall hormone health. The oil extracted from the evening primrose plant is high in the fatty acids our bodies love, such as omega-6, and other vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K.Our bodies need these essential fatty acids and vitamins, but because the body is unable to produce them on its own, it relies on a well-balanced diet full of nutritional value. Even with proper meal planning and a careful eye on what we choose to put in our bodies, getting all the nutrients, we need through our meals can be difficult. In these cases, adding an evening primrose oil supplement into our diets can adjust for the vitamins we may be missing. The oil can also be applied topically to deliver a punch of vitamins and moisture to skin problems and breakouts like acne, eczema, or psoriasis.

Evening Primrose Oil Benefits

Using the oil of evening primrose daily can deliver wonderful benefits. From reducing and treating acne to having the ability to induce labor, there are a number of reasons why someone might choose to add EPO into their skincare regimen or as part of their daily supplement intake.

Evening Primrose and Hormone Control

The biggest benefit to taking primrose oil capsules is that it can help adjust for a hormone imbalance and reduce the uncomfortable and unwanted symptoms associated with premenstrual cycles or menopause. Because evening primrose capsules are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids like lactic acid and GLA, they can give your body the nutrients it needs to balance your hormones. When your hormones are balanced and no longer fluctuating and out of control, you can go through the many stages of womanhood as comfortably as possible.

Almost all of the benefits of taking and using EPO comes from the ability to balance hormones. Many of the other conditions that the oil of evening primrose can treat are side effects of having your hormones out of balance, so it is possible that adding an evening primrose oil supplement to your everyday diet and routine can help you cure a number of different ailments or conditions.

Evening Primrose Oil for Skin

Evening Primrose Oil for the beautiful skin

If you’re suffering from a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, or atopic dermatitis, adding a daily evening primrose supplement could help restore your skin back to a comfortable and healthy condition, particularly redness or roughness. This is because the great acids found in evening primrose can help with structural or functional changes in the skin related to age. Eczema sufferers will find relief of itching, redness, or edema because evening primrose can provide the individual with the omega-6 fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA, that the body of someone with eczema suffers from. Eczema sufferers can use the GLA introduced by evening primrose to reduce inflammation and cell growth. For those with psoriasis, using EPO can help cure the condition by helping the body balance hormones and streamlines digestion, which can be major causes of psoriasis break outs. To use evening primrose oil for skin, it can be applied topically or taken as an oral supplement. The oral supplement will give the body the nutrients it needs to heal the condition from the inside out, but applying the oil directly on eczema or psoriasis can help to calm any irritation and moisturize the area.

Evening Primrose Oil Acne Help

Anyone who suffers from acne knows that it can be a challenge to find something that works. From products that are too drying to products that make the skin greasy, it seems like there is always something standing in the way of having clear skin. But as women get older, their persistent acne is most usually caused by hormones and a hormone imbalance. Because one of the benefits of primrose oil is the ability to adjust hormones, taking primrose oil capsules can help control hormonal acne. Hormonal acne can only be cured by treating the imbalance of hormones, so no matter how many products and creams a woman buys, if she isn’t properly treating the hormone imbalance, she isn’t going to see the results she is hoping for. Using an evening primrose oil acne remedy can help clear and moisturize the skin for a beautiful, healthy glow. Again, it is the fatty acids found in evening primrose that make up the evening primrose acne fighting ability. By regulating the hormones and allowing the body to receive the vitamins and fatty acids it was missing, using evening primrose oil for skin beauty can give great results. Like the other conditions evening primrose oil for skin can help solve, you can treat acne with EPO through supplements and capsules orally, or it can be applied directly to the infected area for moisture and to calm irritation. Topical evening primrose oil acne masks should usually be done at night because it is a relatively thick oil, making it difficult to put makeup over or might give a shiny appearance.

Evening Primrose Oil Hair Loss Help

Another one of the evening primrose benefits is that it can help with hair loss in both men and women. Because the cause of a hair loss is usually related to an imbalance of hormones, adding an evening primrose supplement every day can help fight hair loss. Using an evening primrose oil hair loss remedy is easy to do.For women, evening primrose hair loss help comes from assisting the body in restoring the omega-6 fatty acids and GLA it needs to fight things like a hormone imbalance, toxic exposure, or thyroid conditions. By assisting the body to restore the hormones or deal with exposure to toxic conditions from the inside, the vitamins and nutrients associated with evening primrose can help you see the benefits on the outside, with more, stronger, hair regrowth. Adding evening primrose topically can also help reduce the amount of hair loss you might experience. For another evening primrose oil hair loss remedy, add a few drops of evening primrose straight into your shampoo or add a few drops to your scalp in the shower. Because it is an oil, you’ll want to be careful that you don’t add too much and make your scalp appear greasy. For the most effective evening primrose oil hair loss treatment, allow the oil to sit on your scalp for a few moments before washing it away.

Evening Primrose for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is another condition that consistent evening primrose consumption can help cure. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the healthy tissues in joints on both sides of the body. This could leave the individual with chronic arthritis in both their hands or knees, making it difficult and painful to fulfill daily tasks. Because rheumatoid arthritis can occur because of hormonal factors, evening primrose oil can help balance those hormones out. Using primrose oil for rheumatoid arthritis treatment does take some time to appear, even up to a few months, but it can improve symptoms such as pain and stiffness.

Evening Primrose Oil Pregnancy Tips

Because evening primrose oil focuses primarily on adjusting your hormones and maintaining a healthy level of omega-6s and fatty acids, using evening primrose oil pregnancy remedies can be beneficial for a number of reasons. But, it is important to remember that although evening primrose is a natural substance, it is not recommended for all pregnant women. You should consult your doctor before taking any kind of supplement while you’re pregnant. If you choose to use the oil of evening primrose while you are pregnant, you should first try to use the product topically. If you are experiencing hormonal acne associated with being pregnant, you can mix a few drops of the oil with your daily moisturizer to try and deliver the benefits without taking the supplement orally. This also applies to women using evening primrose in their shampoo or conditioner to adjust for hair loss. Evening primrose has often been a remedy for preventing pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. Pre-eclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy, that may result in swollen hands and feet and protein in the urine. While it is a rare disease, it can be a serious one that could possibly lead to fatal outcomes for the mother and the baby. Evening primrose is believed to be a treatment or preventative measure for pre-eclampsia because of the high amount of Omega-6s and fatty acids found in the oil. Some women will choose to continue taking the product orally while pregnant. Others may decide instead to ingest the product vaginally rather than orally. The use of evening primrose oil through vaginal insertion is believed to prepare for the delivery of the baby. In most circumstances, women who choose to insert evening primrose oil vaginally in preparation of the baby’s birth will not need to do so throughout the entire pregnancy. Instead, it should be done for the last few weeks of the pregnancy term, starting as late as week 36 to week 38.

Evening Primrose Oil to Induce Labor

One of the biggest reasons for using an evening primrose oil pregnancy regimen is because it is believed to help induce labor. Introducing EPO to the cervix can help create a better environment for delivering the baby and maintain a healthy cervix during birth. The belief behind introducing evening primrose oil labor routines to the cervix before birth is that it will soften the area, also sometimes holding the belief that it will make labor easier and shorten the duration. If evening primrose oil to induce labor is something you are interested in implementing in the weeks before your baby’s expected due date, you should first talk to your doctor or midwife. The correct evening primrose oil labor dosage will depend on your specific situation and medical history. Whether evening primrose oil to induce labor is realistic or not has not been fully studied and usually depends on the person and situation. Because it is difficult to see what would have gone differently during the birth in the place or absence of evening primrose oil, it is difficult to say if using the oil to ripen the cervix truly works or not. Be sure to talk to a medical professional about using evening primrose oil to induce labor before you begin adding it into your regimen or routine.

Evening Primrose Oil Fertility Assistance

Evening primrose oil benefits extend also for women trying to get pregnant. Although evening primrose oil labor regimes can help the delivery process, an evening primrose oil fertility routine can assist in getting pregnant as well.EPO can help maintain a healthy hormone balance, help PMS symptoms, and increase cervical mucus that can promote sperm moving through the cervix. With the introduction of a supplement regime for evening primrose oil fertility promotion, a woman can create a better environment for egg fertilization.

Evening Primrose Oil Dosage

Evening Primrose Oil Capsules

To get the most out of the evening primrose oil benefits, it is important to get the right dosage. Depending on the benefits you want from taking the evening primrose supplement, you may need to take more or less than others. Each person will need a different amount of the supplement, depending on their specific hormone imbalance and what needs to be adjusted. If you are only using EPO topically, the amount you use should be small, but you can easily apply more if it is needed.

Just adding a few drops to your moisturizers, shampoos, or body soaps can drastically improve the condition of your skin or hair. Begin slowly, as you do not want to make your hair or skin greasy, and add more if you think it is needed. If you are planning to use the oil orally, begin slow to see if you have any unwanted side effects. It is important to note that you will not see results immediately, as it will take time for your hormones to adjust and for the benefits to appear. Approach finding the right evening primrose oil dosage for your situation slowly and don’t expect to be cured overnight.

The easiest way to ease into the consistent use of EPO is to purchase 500 mg capsules.

At such a low dose per capsule, you can more easily control how much or how little your body needs until you find the results you’re looking for. Begin by taking one 500 mg capsule two or three times a day, preferably with a meal to reduce the risk of side effects. This dosage is recommended for everything from hair loss to fertility. Taking two or three doses of 500 mg capsules a day should begin to show signs that it is working within a few months. If you have taken this dosage for several months without any benefit or reduction in symptoms, consider upping your dosage.

As you continue increasing your dosage, you may want to consider buying more potent capsules and supplements. It is not uncommon for women to take 3,000 mg of EPO every day. Each woman has different hormone imbalances and it will take a different amount of EPO and GLA to get those hormones back to normal. Be sure to consult your doctor and keep them informed of your evening primrose usage while you find the correct dosage for you and your situation.

Evening Primrose Oil Side Effects

Although there are a number of benefits of evening primrose oil, it is important to acknowledge that it isn’t correct for everyone. Many women can find that it will assist in balancing hormones and provide comfort and beautiful hair, skin, and nails, but there are a few evening primrose oil side effects to watch out for while introducing EPO into your routine. First, it is possible for an individual to be allergic to EPO. If you have a known allergy to GLA, it is important that you don’t try to use EPO in your supplement routine.

One of the biggest symptoms of an evening primrose allergy is having inflammation in the hands or feet.

If you notice that your hands or feet appear swollen after the introduction of an EPO supplement, stop talking your pills immediately and check in with your doctor. Another side effect of taking EPO is that you may experience low blood pressure. It may also increase your risk of bleeding. If you have had problems with low blood pressure or bleeding in the past, or are taking other supplements or medications with similar side effects, be careful when taking EPO supplements. Individuals who are prone to seizures should also be cautious before adding EPO supplements to their diet. If you are getting surgery that requires going under anesthesia, stop taking EPO supplements. Medications for depression can also interact with evening primrose, so if you are prescribed to anti-depressants, talk to your doctor before adding an EPO supplement.

Although evening primrose oil benefits can extend to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is important to talk to your doctor or nurse before adding the supplement into your diet. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the body’s hormones change drastically. Even if you took EPO prior to getting pregnant, discuss the benefits and potential dangers of EPO supplements with a medical professional.

Other evening primrose oil side effects include:

  • acne,
  • bloating,
  • vomiting,
  • pneumonia,
  • abdominal pain,
  • anxiety,
  • belching,
  • difficulty swallowing,
  • diarrhea,
  • increased risk of inflammation,
  • nausea,
  • seizures or lower seizure threshold,
  • short temper,
  • stomachache,
  • tension,
  • fullness,

  • gas,
  • dizziness,
  • belching,
  • constipation,
  • cramping,
  • heartburn,
  • headache,
  • slower dilation during childbirth,
  • loose stools,
  • irritability,
  • weight gain,
  • cervix ripening,
  • depression,
  • skin lesions in newborns,
  • and decreased or increased duration of childbirth.

If you experience any of these side effects while taking an evening primrose supplement, stop your usage immediately and consult a doctor if the side effects do not stop.

The best evening primrose supplement products you should try

Not all EPO supplements are created equal. You’ll see that some have a higher milligram count, some will be more potent than others, and some will be more expensive. Depending on the results you hope to get from the supplements, you may want to purchase one brand over the other.

Nature’s Way Evening Primrose Cold Pressed Soft Gels

The Nature’s Way Evening Primrose Cold Pressed capsules come in a jar of 120 soft gels, each containing 1300 mg of the oil. The product is made and sold in the U.S. and unfortunately does not ship internationally. Because this particular supplement is high in dosage, just one of these soft gels every day can give you your daily dose of recommended primrose oil and all the benefits that come with it. This particular EPO supplement has been proven to help suffers of hormonal acne. With 345 customer reviews on Amazon, the Nature’s Way Evening Primrose Cold Pressed capsules have a 4.4 star rating with over 65% of ratings at five stars. The Nature’s Way Evening Primrose Cold Pressed capsules are high in potency, with 10% GLA, so you can receive even more of the great benefits of adding this EPO supplement into your regime. These particular capsules are relatively large, so if you have difficulty swallowing pills, they might not be the right for you. But the capsules can be punctured and the oil extracted if you would like to use the EPO topically.​

Evening Primrose Oil, Cold-Pressed with No Fillers or Artificial Ingredients, Non-GMO & Gluten Free

This evening primrose supplement is brought to you by Sports Research. Sports Research promises to deliver a natural product that is free of any artificial ingredients or fillers, and does not contain any gluten products. If you are sensitive to certain foods or need to remain on a gluten-free diet, this particular supplement might be a good choice for you. The Sports Research team also promises a money back guarantee if you are not happy with the supplement product. The Sports Research EPO supplement contains 1300 mg of EPO with 10% GLA, so only one capsule a day is needed. Because the product is contained within a gelatin capsule, the supplement can be broken open to use topically. This is a great product for those suffering from hormonal acne or other hormonal skin problems. With 667 Amazon reviews, the Sports Research EPO supplement has a rating of 4.7 stars with about 78% of 5 star reviews, and only 4% of total reviews under 4 stars.

NOW Foods Evening Primrose Oil

This particular EPO product comes in oil form, making it the perfect product for someone who would only like to use EPO topically or does not want to deal with breaking open gel capsules. Because you will only need a few drops of EPO regardless of how you choose to use it topically, this 4 ounce bottle can last you a while. This particular oil can also be mixed with other oils for an even more moisturizing experience. For every 1 ml of oil you use, you are putting 80-100 mg of EPO directly on your skin, allowing the fatty acids your skin loves to sink right into the effected area. Because this comes as an oil product, rather than in a capsule or supplement pill, this form of EPO is much easier to add to shampoos, moisturizers, body washes, or serums. You can also take this product orally if you choose to, by adding the product into your own empty capsules, ingesting the product in a glass of water, or taking it orally by spoonful. It is important to note that this topical form of EPO is recommended primarily for skin or hair issues. Unlike when you take the oil orally, this specific product will not adjust your hormones from the inside out.​

Evening Primrose Oil 1300 mg Royal Brittany Twin Pack

American Health brings another great EPO supplement product that can give you all the even primrose oil benefits. This supplement markets itself as having super potency, with 1300 mg per capsule and 117 mg GLA. Each bottle comes with 120 soft gels and this package comes with two bottles. With a 4.7 star rating and 236 reviews on Amazon, this product can deliver all the benefits you’re looking for. These capsules are also made of gel, so they can easily be opened if you would like to use the product topically. It is suggested to take this product one pill three times a day, but that will depend on your individual situation and what results you are looking for. Adding this product into your daily supplement routine can give reduce your PMS symptoms, help with hormonal acne, or potentially assist in an easier pregnancy.​

Organic Evening Primrose by Renewalize, Highest Quality

Another topical option for an EPO supplement, this particular oil comes in a dark amber glass bottle to promote longevity. This protects the oil from light and stops the oil from absorbing chemicals that could come from plastic bottles. This specific oil is marketed to help add moisture to the hair and skin, and can easily be mixed with moisturizers or shampoos to easily add into your beauty routine. Just by adding a few drops of this EPO to your shampoos, body lotions, or facial moisturizers, can give your skin a healthy boost of nutrients, making your hair, skin, and complexion beautiful and hydrated. This EPO can treat skin issues like acne, psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, and wrinkles. It can also make your hair stronger, shiner, and prevent further hair loss or damage. The company also offers a money back guarantee for up to a year. If you use the entire bottle of this product and don’t see the results you were after, simply contact the company and they will completely refund your money.​

Conclusion

The addition of primrose oil capsules can help women of all ages and stages of life keep their hormones in balance and under control. For the young women looking to control their premenstrual symptoms or reduce hormonal acne, the introduction of an evening primrose supplement can help maintain a more comfortable situation. Women looking to create or extend her family can also use EPO to maintain a healthier cervix and promote fertility.

Finally, women going through menopause can use the benefits of evening primrose oil to reduce hot flashes and uncomfortable symptoms associated with the change in hormones. If you’re interested in reaping the benefits of evening primrose oil, talk to your doctor about the correct dosage and how to best use the oil for you and your specific situation.

Adding evening primrose to your supplement pack can give great benefits, but it all depends on finding the right dosage. While EPO can help with a number of skin conditions and hormone-related conditions and diseases, it is not a cure-all for everyone. While trying EPO will not hurt you, it is important to watch out for any side effects or allergic reactions to the product.

View Article Sources
  • 1. webmd.com
  • 2. healthline.com