Evening Primrose
Oenothera biennis

Evening primrose can be found growing naturally in North America. This large, yellow flowered perennial is a welcome medicinal to our garden. Oil in seeds contain gammalinolenic acid (GLA) a precursor of prostaglandin E1. The latter is very active biologically regulating such functions as the vessel and immune systems. By supplementing the diet with GLA, one can bypass a blockage of the prostaglandin E1 production caused by aging, poor diet, or alcoholism. Chronic complaints such as PMS disappear. Roots can be eaten as a vegetable; shoots as a salad.

Medicinal Part: leaves, bark

Solvents: water,

Uses:
 To quiet nervous sensibility.  This agent acts on the alimentary toxins (those produced by digestion of food) due to combined faulty diet, and nervous tensions of long standing which create toxic waste, causing depression of the solar plexus and the central nervous system. Evening primrose stimulates the vital actions of the stomach, which has a direct association on the liver and spleen. Use of this herb has seen success in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders such as neuralgia (sharp pain along the course of a nerve), affection of the lungs, indigestion, spasmodic asthma, cough of a nervous or spasmodic character, whooping cough.

Dose: ½ - 1 teaspoonful of the of the fluid extract every 4-6 hour or more frequently as required.
Dose of tincture of Evening primrose alone: 5-40 drops according to symptoms. Especially favourable when combined with 13-30 drops of Echinacea tincture.

Tincture: Bruise fresh leaves, bark add to vodka in tightly sealed jar. Every day shake jar so herbs and alcohol mix together. Do this everyday for 2 weeks.  Strain tincture and keep in sealed, clean glass jar or eyedropper bottle.  10-30 drops on tongue 3 times a day.