How Evening Primrose Oil May Benefit Your Health

Well, score another point for the greatness of America…evening primrose.

The evening primrose is a plant that grows in the Eastern and Central parts of the United States.

It has long been regarded as a food source for native populations, but health practitioners began using it only recently.

Settlers and natives harvested the bright yellow wildflower native to eastern and central North America and ate it because they realized it was a great source of dietary fat.

Though they didn’t have the resources to understand what was going on inside every mouthful of this plant, we know today that two different kinds of EFAs propelled it to the front of their list of harvestable foods.

Today, we take the seeds from this plant and cold-press them to extract an oil rich in two essential forms of Omega-6 fatty acids (EFAs).

And while you may believe omega-6 fatty acids are inherently bad, the linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in evening primrose oil (EPO) can positively impact you when consumed with a healthy diet.

We know now that it can play a crucial role in hormone production, skin function, and cellular health.

Let me unpack all it can do below.

7 Benefits of EPO (Evening Primrose Oil)

EPO has only found usefulness in the health scene in the past 20-30 years, when we began to understand how the EFAs in EPO can impact inflammation and other biological functions.

EPO has been successfully used for  PMS, menopause symptoms, skin health, and calming inflammation in the body.

There are also reports that it helps manage arthritis and helps people deal with other forms of chronic discomfort.

As Dr. Axe writes:

“ Evening primrose oil has two types of omega-6 fatty acid, including linoleic acid (60%–80% of its fats) and γ-linoleic acid, also called gamma-linoleic acid or GLA (8%–14% of its fats)”

And those fats are helping people left and right.

Now, let’s talk about how EFAs in EPO (that’s a lot of abbreviations) help men and women.

1 - Hormonal Support: PMS and Menopause Relief:

I love that EPO has quickly become a go-to for women looking to ease issues related to hormonal health and is especially relied on for PMS and menopause, because it shows you don’t need drugs when something God made works.

The key lies in how GLA is converted into prostaglandin E1 (PGE1).

This compound helps reduce inflammation and balance hormone levels.

Hormonal changes during PMS can lead to breast tenderness, mood swings, bloating, and more. EPO helps moderate the body’s response to fluctuating hormones by supporting prostaglandin production.

For menopause, EPO may lessen symptoms like hot flashes. In one study of 56 women ages 45–59, those who took 1,000 mg of EPO daily for six weeks saw reduced severity and frequency of hot flashes compared to a placebo group.

2 - Fertility and Cervical Mucus Production:

Infertility is a big deal in our modern age, and plenty of patients come in here looking to boost their chances of conceiving.

This is why it’s good to know that EPO may boost fertility by increasing the production of cervical mucus, a vital component for helping sperm reach the egg.

GLA is known to support mucus membrane health, which encourages the body to create a more sperm-friendly environment.

While human studies aren’t available, there are animal studies involving blue foxes that showed larger litter sizes in males treated with EPO, suggesting it might also improve semen quality and reproductive success.

Anecdotally, women who take EPO to encourage this effect during the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle (from menstruation to ovulation) have reported success.

That being said, women who do conceive should know that EPO is not recommended during pregnancy due to its potential effect on uterine contractions.

3 -  Helps Manage Acne and Skin Inflammation:

People who are subject to various kinds of skin issues (like eczema and acne) don't often realize that an imbalance in dietary fats could be behind their skin issues.

EPO’s ability to support hormonal balance through providing dietary fats that help with inflammation makes it a natural option for those dealing with hormonal acne.

Omega-6 fatty acids like GLA help regulate sebum production, support cell membrane structure, and reduce inflammation, all of which play roles in acne development.

When it comes to skin health, people often use EPO in capsule form or apply the oil topically to calm inflamed skin and promote healing.

Many dermatologists recommend it as a complementary acne treatment due to its anti-inflammatory effects and fatty acid profile.

4 - Hair Health and Hormonal Hair Loss: 

Hair loss, especially when tied to hormonal imbalances or inflammation, might benefit from EPO use too.

While research is still early, the idea is that GLA improves scalp health by calming inflammation and restoring hydration, two factors that affect hair growth and quality.

Hormones like dihydrotestosterone (DHT) often contribute to hair thinning.

GLA may compete with inflammatory pathways that promote DHT-related damage. As a bonus, EPO supports skin barrier repair, which can extend to the scalp.

There’s not a ton of research here either, but there’s enough evidence to indicate it's worth trying. 

5  - Eczema, Psoriasis, and Other Skin Conditions:

One of the oldest known uses for EPO

EPO has been used for decades to treat skin disorders like eczema and atopic dermatitis. One reason is that people with these conditions often have trouble converting dietary fats into GLA, leading to skin inflammation and barrier dysfunction.

Supplementing with GLA helps restore balance by generating anti-inflammatory prostaglandins and reducing inflammatory markers like IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α.

In a study on atopic dermatitis, 96% of patients improved after five months of taking 500 mg of EPO daily.

Psoriasis may also respond to GLA through similar mechanisms, reducing skin cell overgrowth and helping regulate immune responses.

6 -  Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptom Relief

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks the joints, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness. GLA from EPO has been shown to dampen inflammatory responses by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines.

In a trial from Arthritis Research UK, 94% of RA patients taking EPO reported improvements in pain and stiffness. These effects typically take 1–3 months to become noticeable, which aligns with the time needed for fatty acid levels to build up in cell membranes.

7. Bone Density and Osteoporosis Protection

While I’ve been saying for years that a lack of vitamin K-2 in the diet is a leading cause of deteriorating bone health (and this is true), there’s also reason enough to include EPO in your supplement regimen.

Some early research suggests that people with low levels of essential fatty acids, especially GLA, may be at higher risk for bone loss as they age.

That’s because GLA may help maintain the activity of osteoblasts (cells that build bone) while reducing bone-resorbing inflammation.

In a 3-year study, older women taking a combination of EPO, fish oil, and calcium showed no spinal bone loss in the first 18 months and gained 3.1% in bone density over the next 18 months, an impressive result in osteoporosis management.

What To Think about Taking EPO?

Here’s the thing: Evening primrose oil is more than a trendy supplement; it offers real biological support backed by emerging science.

I’d love it if there were more research on EPO, but I believe if you're looking to ease hormone-related symptoms, support skin health, or reduce inflammation EPO might be a natural tool worth exploring.

As always, talk with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.