Evening Primrose Products
Evening Primrose is thought to have originated in Central America and Mexico and spread throughout the world via cargo ships going to and from the Americas. Indigo Herbs has acquired a premium quality Evening Primrose Oil to be mixed with a carrier oil or cream that can be used to relieve dry skin. Traditionally it has also been used by women during menopause. We are sure you’ll agree that this oil is of the best quality and is excellent for skin.
It is thought that Indigenous peoples of North America used the Evening Primrose as a source of food. Usually the roots would be boiled down and would contribute a nutty flavour to stews. Hunters also used Evening Primrose as a means of stealth to mask their smell from prey. They would rub the soles of their moccasins with the leaves so they could get closer to the animal they were trying to hunt. As a medicine, the whole plant was used as a poultice to treat bruises and haemorrhoids.
When Europeans arrived in the Americas the plant was eventually taken back to Europe where it spread as a wild flower. In Germany the plant was known as ‘nachtkerz’ or ‘night candle’ accounting for the flowers of the Evening Primrose only opening at night. The plant was first used in botany in 1587 and appeared in P. Millers Gardeners Dictionary in 1754. In 17th Century England Evening Primrose was called ‘Kings Cure-all’ and was known as an all-round panacea.
Interestingly Evening Primrose was also thought to be a cure for over consumption of alcohol but would also make you want to drink more. This can be seen in the official Latin name – Oenothera – meaning; ‘oinos’ – wine, and, ‘ther’ – wild animal. The roots were thought to be able to tame wild animals and so were likened to wine for beasts of the wild.
Evening Primrose is a biennial plant that grows on the banks of rivers in sandy soil. The stems are straight growing and erect and have soft hairs growing all over the plant. The flowers are yellow and open only in the evening; they then wither and die the next day. The leaves are narrow and have many short hairs covering them.
