A 42-year-old member asked:
Can evening primrose oil improve my health?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenzanswered
Obstetrics and Gynecology 26 years experience
Not clear: Evening primrose oil is a source of the essential omega six fatty acid gla- and has been shown to help with the itching of eczema. There is some mixed evidence on its efficacy for treating breast symptoms, menopause and pms- i've actually seen anecdotal evidence of decreased mastalgia (breast pain). One thing i haven't seen is any convincing evidence of its harm.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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A 38-year-old member asked:
How fast does evening primrose oil improve PMS symptoms?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Seema Patelanswered
Holistic Medicine 28 years experience
Depends: Most women will need at least two months on it to see a difference. If you don't see a difference double the dose or add vitex. Vitex can help balance your hormones naturally which often helps with pms and fertiliy.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
What are the effects of evening primrose oil?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Thomas Nameyanswered
Rheumatology 49 years experience
Eczema, Breast pain: The effectiveness of evening primrose oil stems from an ingredient called gamma-linolenic acid, or gla, an essential fatty acid thought to have anti-inflammatory and other healing properties. Evening primrose oil has highly concentrated amounts. It is one of the safest sources of gla. When ingested, gla is converted to prostaglandins, compounds that help regulate inflammation.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
What does evening primrose oil do?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Ahmad M Hadiedanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 50 years experience
Let me help: The oil is extracted from the flower seeds for most medicinal uses. The oil contains 25 percent essential fatty acids, which often are promoted for their health benefits, including linoleic acid, or la, and gamma-linolenic acid or gla. The most common uses of evening primrose oil include treatment of skin condition like eczema and dermatitis as well as diabetic neuropathy treatment and arthritis.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated May 25, 2017
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