Evening Primrose
By: Judi Singleton

I remember the first time I saw Evening Primrose it was growing in an

old abandoned garden. I tried to dig it but it did not move well. I

loved the way it looked. I didn't know what it was so I took a flower

to my favorite nursery and ask what it was they told me it was a weed.
Could I get some for my yard. The guy at the nursery thought I was

nuts. I remember him telling me that it would take over my yard. But he

got me two plants and it did spread. Like many of my other herbs it is

prolific but I just cut the ones that get out of hand and put them in

my compost pile. For some reason unknown to me they help break down

compost at a faster rate.
One of the first things I learned about this herb was that it was a

night time flower. I love night time flowers they shine in the

moonlight. Evening Primrose is especially beautiful in a moonlight

garden as it is phosphorescent in moonlight. It also has another name
it is called evening star because the petals seem to glow at night. It

is a perennial reaching about 4 inches in heighth with pale yellow

flowers it is especially fragrant. It can be eaten it is a true pot

herb because the whole plant can be eaten. The root when boiled tastes

to me something like parsnips.
The origin of Evening Primrose is North America but it spread to Europe

by cargo ship that were shipping cotton and soil was dumped and the

plant began to grow. It was quickly recognized and named in Europe the

"King Cureall" because of its many uses.

Some of the studies that have been done on Evening Primrose oil are on

PMS,Eczema and other skin disorders,Cholesterol and Blood

Pressure,Rheumatoid Arthritis,Alcoholism,Immune System,Obesity, Benign

Breast Disease, Childhood Hyperactivity and Schizophrenia have all been

shown to be helped by EPO supplementation.
Formerly cultivated for its nutritious edible roots, it is being

increasingly cultivated for the oil contained in its seeds which

contains certain the essential gamma-linoleinc acid (GLA), a very

valuable fatty acid that is not found in many plants and has numerous

vital functions in the body. GLA is an essential fatty acid that the

body does not manufacture. I personally have never used it except for a

supplement for brittle dry nails, it is also very good for the hair.
I also saw an improvement in my skin.
But the main reason I raise this herb is that it is beautiful and it

brings delicous smells to my evening garden. I just like to have it

around even if it was not good for medicianl uses I would invite it

into my garden.

About the Author

About the author: Judi Singleton is the publisher of Her.bal Harvest a

list of Jassmine's JOurnal and you can subscribe at

http://www.motherearthpublishing.com

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