The emollient for eminence
Welcome back readers! I hope you all are doing great, so I am back with another article on the most rejuvenating and energizing Evening primrose oil. You are going to learn everything about the oil its therapeutic properties, benefits and applications!
Botanical name- Oenothera biennis
Evening Primrose Oil has traditionally been referred to as The ‘King’s Cure-All’ due to the belief that its ‘majestic’ benefits and ‘honourable’ properties made it fit for Kings and Queen’s to apply medicinally.
What is Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil (EPO) is made from the seeds of the flowers of a plant native to North America. This oil is obtained by the method of cold pressing. Cold-pressing helps in retaining the natural power of the primrose seeds as no extreme temperatures are used in this process.
The GLA in EPO is thought to help acne by reducing skin inflammation and the number of skin cells that cause lesions. It may also help the skin retain moisture.
HISTORY OF EVENING PRIMROSE OIL
Evening primrose oil is species of Oenothera native to eastern and central North America. known to be regal and noble enough for Kings and Queen’s to use in medicinal applications, Historically, various parts of the Evening Primrose botanical – such as its seeds, fresh flowers, leaves, and roots – as well as its essential fatty acid were used to treat skin issues like eczema, psoriasis and it has many beneficial properties.
In Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, the plant’s and its oil’s therapeutic properties were revered and used to regulate and address issues associated with circulation, inflammation, the female reproductive system and the respiratory and nervous systems.
Since the 17th century, Evening Primrose Oil has gained popularity for its remedial activity and has been used in Europe since then for medicinal purposes. Having become a nutritional supplement, it is also used in culinary applications. In addition to being used to address the aforementioned conditions, since the 1930s the Evening Primrose plant and its essential fatty acid also came to be used for the treatment of conditions such as hair loss.
Used cosmetically or topically, Evening Primrose Oil soothes and moisturizes the skin, scalp, and hair while enhancing elasticity. Furthermore, it promotes a healthy, clear, rejuvenated complexion with enhanced radiance and addresses roughness, wrinkles, redness, dryness, and irritation. It facilitates the healing process, reduces the appearance of scars, and calms inflammation.
Origin of Evening primrose oil
Evening primrose originated in North America and became naturalized in the north-east of China about one hundred years ago, where it has been used as famine food and animal feed. New uses for the seed oil, which contains γ-linolenic acid (GLA), that have been developed in China and overseas since 1980 have created a much larger commercial demand for the seed. There are eight species of Oenothera L. growing wild in China, of which Oenothera biennis L. is preferred.
The maximum annual production of wild evening primrose seed is estimated to be about 3000 tons but, since 1986, evening primrose has also been cultivated for its seed and oil using O. biennis (primarily in the provinces of Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, and Shandong) to meet the increasing demand. New production techniques have been developed and disseminated, and reported seed yields range from 750 to 3000 kg ha-1. Commercial production follows a cyclical pattern, with the largest harvest to date, in 1999, estimated at 16 000-19 000 tons of seeds.
Further research work has been done on other bioactive properties of evening primrose oil, the development of health care drugs and cosmetics containing evening primrose oil.We believe that the prospects for the future development of evening primrose are good.
Cultivation and harvesting of Evening Primrose
This plant will grow in infertile soil, with minimum water and full sun. Evening primrose ‘showy’ (O. speciosa) also thrives in heat and is drought-tolerant. It grows 18 to 24 inches tall and displays pink, pale lavender, or white and pink flowers.
Extraction Method of Evening Primrose oil
Evening primrose oil is obtained by the traditional method called cold-pressed method in which the evening primrose plants seeds by high pressure.
In this method no extra heat is involved the oil is purely extracted by squeezing the raw material.
When cold pressing is done, temperatures never exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
When extracting Evening primrose oil by means of cold milling (also called cold compression or cold pressing) of the core, it is left with a moisture content of around 6%. To get the moisture content lower, further heating would need to take place and the result would no longer be Evening primrose oil. As increasing the temperatures will destroy its natural qualities so it will not be able to perform its duties of carrier oil properly.
Why to cold press the seed?
The Evening primrose oil is usually cold pressed to protect the aroma, flavour and antioxidant properties naturally possessed by a seed.
Physical and chemical compositions of Evening Primrose Oil
Organoleptic Description
Appearance Green/yellow mobile liquid
Flavour Typical
Aroma Characteristic
Physical Characteristics
Fatty Acid Profile (Major Acids) %
Palmitic Acid 5.5 – 7.0
Oleic Acid 5.0 – 11.0
Linoleic Acid 70.0 – 77.00
Linoleic Acid 50.0 – 65.0
GLA Acid 9.0 – 11.5
Some more interesting Evening Primrose Oil Properties
OMEGA-6
Linoleic acids (Omega-6) have anti-inflammatory properties, promote moisture retention in the skin, help soothe and prevent acne, facilitate wound healing and help to sustain skin softness and elasticity to help reduce the effects of ageing.
Gamma-Linoleic acids (Omega-6) have anti-inflammatory properties and nourish the skin with fatty acids. They help to promote strong, healthy skin, sustain skin softness and elasticity, and maintain the health and function of skin cells.
OMEGA-9
Oleic acids (Omega-9) help to maintain the softness and suppleness of skin and feature anti-oxidant properties.
STEARIC ACID
Stearic acid is known to soften skin and feature cleansing properties that help eliminate dirt, sweat and excess sebum from the skin.
As well as acting as an effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and cleansing the skin, the key components of evening primrose oil also help to improve the consistency and potency of skincare products.
Evening Primrose Oil Benefits:
Evening primrose oil has many properties that are beneficial to the health of your skin. Not only does evening primrose oil moisturise and soothe, it can enhance the texture and elasticity of skin, addressing dryness, irritation, roughness and wrinkles. Applying Daily Prep Protecting Facial Oil, on a daily basis can result in a clear and healthy complexion.
Evening primrose oil is made up of a number of different beneficial constituents, including omega-6 acids, omega-9 acids, and stearic acid. The key ingredients in evening primrose oil are essential fatty acids that help strengthen the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss. Essential fatty acids are fats that the human body cannot produce on its own, but we can get it from other sources, including evening primrose oil, which is why you may already take it as a supplement.
Linoleic acid which is found in evening primrose oil is an omega-6 fatty acid that promotes skin health by reinforcing the skin barrier, preserving water in the epidermis and regulating sebum production. If your skin is deficient of essential fatty acids it can lead to dry, rough, or scaly skin.
Skin Benefits
- It can help clear up acne
The GLA in EPO is thought to help acne by reducing skin inflammation and the number of skin cells that cause lesions. It may also help the skin retain moisture.
2. It may help ease eczema
Some countries other than the United States have approved EPO to treat eczema, an inflammatory skin condition.
3. It can help improve overall skin health
According to a study, oral supplementation of EPO helps smooth skin and improve its:
- Elasticity
- Moisture
- Firmness
- Fatigue resistance
For hair care
- For Dandruff Free Scalp: Evening Primrose oil helps in fighting the dandruff and stops it from coming again.
- For Shining hair : Used in hair, Evening Primrose Carrier Oil may be applied directly to the strands and the scalp to restore shine to dull hair and to repair damage caused by environmental stressors. Hair will be revitalized, nourished, and protected.
- For Hair Growth : Essential acids and Vitamins present in this oil stimulates hair growth
- For Split-Ends Healer : To use this oil for splits, apply it onto the ends of your towel dried hair. You can also apply it on the hair ends before sleeping liberally and tie the hair up. Wash off in the morning.
- Evening Primrose Oil can be used for soap making and manufacturing of bath and body products. It is used in dilution with other carrier oils suitable for massage. Evening Primrose Oil is reputed to nourish the skin and hair by moisturizing it and it revitalizes the skin, improving the look and texture of it while reducing the signs of aging.
Side effects and precautions you should take!
- There are no as such proven side effects of the Evening Primrose Oil. But as you know excess of everything is bad so overuse may use cause skin irritation. Patch test is also prescribed before using it on sensitive areas.
- If you are suffering from any disease or you are breast feeding or pregnant always use this oil before expert supervision.
- Consistency: Typical and Characteristic of Carrier Oils.
- Absorption: Evening Primrose Oil will leave a very oily feeling on skin.
- Shelf Life: Users can expect a shelf life of up to 2 years with proper storage conditions (cool, out of direct sunlight). Refrigeration after opening is recommended. Please refer to the Certificate of Analysis for current Best Before Date.
Storage: It is recommended that cold-pressed carrier oils be kept in a cool, dark place to maintain freshness and achieve maximum shelf life. If refrigerated, bring to room temperature before using. - So now i am ending, I hope you got all the relevant information about Evening Primrose Oil.
- As CEEPL we manufacture and export pure and natural Evening Prime Rose oil to the world. Do contact us for the oil needed from us, we would be happy to assist you in your requirement.
- What are your thoughts about this unique oil? Do comment and let me know.