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Background
Evening primrose is a plant native to North America. It has yellow flowers that bloom in the evening. The oil from this plant contains the fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).
People use evening primrose oil dietary supplements for eczema, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast pain, rheumatoid arthritis, menopause symptoms, and other conditions.
How Much Do We Know?
Many studies in people have evaluated evening primrose oil for eczema, PMS, or breast pain. Smaller numbers of studies have evaluated it for other health conditions.
What Have We Learned?
There’s not enough evidence to support the use of evening primrose oil for any health condition.
What Do We Know About Safety?
Evening primrose oil is probably safe for most people when taken for short periods of time. There can be mild side effects, such as stomach upset and headache. The safety of long-term use of evening primrose oil has not been established. Evening primrose oil may increase the risk of some complications of pregnancy, and it may increase bleeding in people who are taking the anticoagulant (blood thinning) medication warfarin (Coumadin).
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