What is evening primrose oil?

Evening primrose appears often on labels. What is actually used is the seed oil, not the plant.

What plant is it?

A flowering plant in the genus Oenothera. The name comes from its flowers opening in the evening.

Which part is used?

The oil from the seeds, extracted by pressing or by solvent extraction. Some products specify cold pressing.

What is in the oil?

Polyunsaturated fatty acids, including gamma-linolenic acid, which occurs in only a few plant oils.

How do you read the label?

Labels usually give the amount of oil per capsule, and some state the percentage of gamma-linolenic acid. The comparable figure is the amount in brackets.

What should you watch out for?

If you take regular medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to a doctor or pharmacist first.

Dietary supplements are not intended to prevent, treat or cure any disease.