Evidence supporting the use of: Evening primrose oil
For the body system: Reproductive System
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Evening primrose oil (EPO) has been used traditionally to support the reproductive system, particularly for female health concerns such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast pain (mastalgia), and symptoms associated with menopause. The oil is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid thought to help regulate prostaglandin synthesis, which may, in theory, influence menstrual symptoms and inflammation. Historically, EPO has been used in herbal and folk medicine to alleviate menstrual discomfort and support hormonal balance. However, scientific evidence supporting these uses is limited and inconsistent. Several studies and systematic reviews have found little or no clinically meaningful benefit for PMS, mastalgia, or menopausal symptoms compared to placebo. A few small trials have reported subjective improvements, but these results have not been robustly replicated in larger, well-designed studies. Consequently, while EPO continues to be popular as a natural remedy in reproductive health, its efficacy remains largely supported by tradition and anecdotal reports rather than strong scientific validation.
More about evening primrose oil
More about Reproductive System
Other ingredients that support Reproductive System
25-d-spirosta-3, 5-diene5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine
8-Prenylnaringenin
Abuta
Acetyl L-carnitine
Achyranthes
Aerva lanata
Agnuside
Agrimonia pilosa
Alchemilla
Aletris
Allium tuberosum
amino acids
anamu
anemarrhena asphodeloides
animal protein
anise
Anserina
antler
arachidonic acid
Ashoka
ashwagandha
ba ji tian
babchi
Baliospermum
banana
banyan
barbasco
barrenwort
bee products
beef
Beef liver
beta-sitosterol
black cohosh
black galingale
black gram
blue cohosh
Boerhavia diffusa
Borassus aethiopum
bovine
bovine liver
broccoli
bugbane
Bulbine natalensis
calcium
Calochortus
Campylandra fimbriata
Canscora
Carthamus
casticin
catuaba
chaff flower
chaste tree
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese pond turtle
Chinese salvia root
Chlorophytum
choline
chuchuhuasi
cistanche
Clary sage
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Cnidium
cod liver oil
Codonopsis
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
cohosh
costus
Cucurbita
Curculigo orchioides
Cyathula
Cynomorium
D-Pinitol
daidzein
damiana
date
deer velvet
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
DHEA
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)
dibenzo-alpha pyrones
DIM (diindolylmethane)
dioscorea
diosgenin
dodder
dong quai
dong quai root
egg
eicosapentaenoic acid
elk antler
Embelia
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
equol (proprietary)
estrogen
eucommia
Euryale seed
Eurycoma Longifolia
eurycomanone
evening primrose oil
Fadogia agrestis
false unicorn root
fatty acids
fennel
fenugreek
fish
fish protein
flaxseed
Flueggea suffruticosa
fo-ti
folate
folic acid
formononetin
furostanols
gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
ganoderma
giant trillium
ginger
ginseng
Ginsenosides
gokhru
Guava
guelder rose
Herb Robert
herbal blend (proprietary)
hops
horny goat weed
icariin
Indian fagonia
Indian sarsparilla
inositol
inositol phosphate
iodine
iron
isoflavones
Jatropha macrantha
jungli-bean
Kachnar
Kokilaksha
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
L-arginine
l-carnitine
Labisia pumila
Lactobacillus crispatus
Lactobacillus jensenii
Laminaria
Leptadenia
licorice root
lignans
ligustilides
Lilium polyphyllum
linoleic acid (LA)
lipids
lodhtree
long pepper
lotus
lotus seed
Lycium
maca
macaenes
macamides
magnesium
mandrake
maral root
Marine fat
Marine lipid
Matapalo Tree
Matico
Melatonin
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Millettia
Miroestrol
Montanoa tomentosa
Morinda
Moringa
Motherwort
Mugwort
Muira puama
Nigella seed
nut grass
Ocotillo
omega-3 fatty acids
omega-6 fatty acids
orchid
Orchis latifolia
Osthole
Paris polyphylla
Pedalium
Peptides
Petiveria
Phlomis umbrosa
Phyllanthus
Phytoestrogens
Piper chaba
Polygonum
polyunsaturated fat
pomegranate
Portulaca
probiotics
Propionyl-L-Carnitine
protein
Protodioscin
Puerain
Puerarin
pumpkin
punarnava
purslane
quail egg
raspberry
red clover
Rehmannia
rehmannia glutinosa
Rhaponticum
Rosa laevigata
royal jelly
Rubus
rue
Safed musli
saffron
Salvia
Sanguisorba
Sapogenin
sarsaparilla
saw palmetto
seaweed
selenium
selenium
Selenomethionine
Sensitive Plant
Shataverins
shepherd's purse
Shilajit
Sichuan Lovage
smilax
Soy
soybean
Sparganium
spearmint leaf
squawvine
suma
Szechuan lovage
Tongkat ali
trace minerals
Tree of heaven
tribulus
Tribulus Terrestris
Trichilia catigua
turmeric
Tynanthus panurensis
Vegetable Protein
Viburnum
Vidanga
vitamin A
vitamin B
vitamin D
vitamin E
vitamin E
Vitex Agnus-Castus
Vitexicarpin
Wild yam
Withanolides
Wood betony
Yarrow
Yohimbe
Yohimbine
Zedoary
Zinc
Other body systems supported by evening primrose oil
BreastsFemale Reproductive System
Joints
Ovaries
Prostaglandins
Reproductive System
Skin
Vagina
Products containing evening primrose oil
Nature's Sunshine Evening Primrose Oil
Nature's Sunshine Natural Changes
Nature's Sunshine Super GLA
