Evening Primrose Oil is one of the most commonly prescribed and recommended remedies for PMS, even by traditional doctors. Check out its many wonderful benefits.
When looking to alleviate your PMS symptoms, you will find a plethora of pharmaceutical and natural remedies that promise to help ease the discomfort.
From hormone pills to acupuncture, from natural herb and plant supplements to yoga and meditation, experts and laypeople alike, have been searching for a PMS cure for years, looking into every possible health modality.
In the process they have come up with some very interesting results, including truly effective remedies, some not so effective, and some that are completely ridiculous by today’s standards.
Nature vs. Chemistry
Most of us when confronted with the need to take medication find ourselves in the face of a modern-day dilemma: Should we go for a chemical pharmaceutical solution or should we try something natural?
What we seem to forget is that even chemical solutions come from natural ingredients or from chemicals mimicking the properties of particular natural ingredients like plants and herbs.
Therefore, we should base our choice on effectiveness and on what remedy has less side-effects.
For the purposes of this article we are going to start with the presentation of a very common natural remedy.
Evening Primrose Oil
Anyone who has looked into natural remedies for PMS has probably stumbled on this one. Evening Primrose Oil is one of the most commonly prescribed and recommended remedies, even by traditional doctors.
The oil comes from the seed of the flower, and it is among other things a mild sedative. Evening Primrose is a yellow wildflower that comes from the Onagraceae family, (more commonly known as the Willow herb family), and not the Primrose family of flowers, as its name suggests.
The Benefits of Evening Primrose Oil
Regulate Menstrual Cycles
Evening Primrose Oil is used to regulate menstruation in cases where bleeding doesn’t always happen every month, or when the cycle is not stable. (Vitex is another effective remedy for regulating menstrual cycles.)
Promote Emotional Balance
It adjusts the hormonal fluctuations during the cycle providing a steadier emotional balance and a more relaxed mood.
Alleviate PMS Symptoms
It also diminishes the symptoms of PMS and dysmenorrhea (painful periods). Specifically, Evening Primrose Oil can be used during the whole month in order to help with the following PMS symptoms:
- Headaches and Migraines
- Emotional Sensitivity
- Bloating
- Insomnia
- Abdominal Pain
- Breast Tenderness
- Cravings
Beautify the Skin
Though not a PMS related benefit, it’s worth mentioning that Evening Primrose Oil can give radiant skin and increased skin elasticity!
Ways to Use Evening Primrose Oil
You can find the oil in the form of liquid softgels online or at any drugstore.
Evening Primrose Oil is available in bottles as well, which can be used in massages and in homemade cosmetics.
You can also eat the unprocessed Evening Primrose plant, though the oil is concentrated in the seeds and not the leafy parts, so it is harder to consume the required amount in this way.
Other than taking the softgels orally you can also opt for taking the oil in liquid form. The liquid form works great as massage oil, although its high cost can deter people from using it in that way.
An excellent way of cutting down the cost, but still getting all the benefits, is mixing one tablespoon of Evening Primrose Oil with the massage oil of your choice and giving yourself a full body massage.
This can work great during PMS, and it takes full advantage of the sedative properties of the oil.
Massaging yourself with the oil helps you get its benefits much faster than taking the capsules, because of the rapid absorption of the nutrients by your skin.
It will not only calm you down and fight insomnia, but you will almost immediately notice relief from headache and abdominal pain.
If you don’t have the time needed for a full body massage, you can still massage the oil straight on the abdominal and hip area to relieve cramping, and on the chest to help relax you.
Precautions
Remember to always consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new supplements in order to take into account your individual needs and requirements.
If your doctor gives the OK to use supplements, but you notice side effects, make sure you stop taking them immediately. Pregnant women or women who take hormonal supplements, should not take Evening Primrose Oil.
I took EPO on Nov 2015 because of my cycle is not regular. I hve found out that my period came on time on Dec 2015.But on Jan, my period missed until today.It is about 18dpo.I’m married and on TTC.I have done the pregnance test but the result was negative.My only concern is does taking EPO can disturb my period cycle?
I’ve stopped taking birth control pills in Jan 2015 and missed my cycle for Feb. I started taking a chinese supplement similar with bak foong pills and also pueraria lobata and my menses return in 16 March. But now its missing again. I know that it will take some mths for my cycles to return to normal after stopping bcp. I tried adding in epo and took it together with the Chinese supplememt which has dang gui..but after 2 weeks plus on epo..I find myself to gain another 2kg..and my stomach is bloated and my thighs swollen with more water retention. I was taking 500mg x 2 softgels per day.
Can EPO increase estrogen and makes you retain more water and bloated? Or the side effects are due to imbalance between omega 6 and 3 which means I must add in fish oil as well? What is the best way to regulate back my cycles since stopping bcp makes me gain more weight due to the imbalance in hormones now?
Ive been taking Evening Primrose Oil for almost 2 months now. And on the first month im impressed with the benefits it gives to my skin,its plump and glowing and most of all my hormonal acnes are gone! Ive read some articles that there is no much proven research or evidence that it could help with acne but im one of those who swear that it did help me with my acne. Before EPO Id get 3-5 acnes during the time of the month or week before my period, but now theres none. For my menstrual cramps which is my other concern for taking it, it did lessen during the 2nd cycle since I take EPO but im not sure if its just because of it since I was also watchful with my diet that time and do exercise which I think also helps. My only concern is when I continue taking EPO during my period, it became heavier and last up to 10 days. Normally it last 8 days and only heavy during 2nd-3rd day. Is there a reason behind it? Or should I just stop taking it during period. By the way im taking 1000mg of EPO twice a day. ItS recommended to take 3000mg but im taking womens multivitamins with 650mg EPO on it. Does it matter? Im afraid id get over dose so I just take 2000mg a day plus the 650mg in my multivitamins. Please advice anyone..Thanks in advance 🙂
Dear Maila,
I’m glad to hear the EPO worked so great on your skin 🙂
Since you’re taking EPO through multivitamins, I think you did well by reducing the recommended dosage. However, maybe it would be even better to take it slower. Per example, maybe you could reduce your daily intake to 500mg and add this same amount every 2 weeks until you reach 2000mg… That way, your body would adapt easier to the new ailment you’re adding to your diet.
There is no contraindication regarding the intake of EPO during your period, but if the symptoms persist, you should consider reducing the dosage… Also, be sure to check with your pharmacist for any medications interactions if you’re taking prescribed drugs.
Be well and let us know how it goes for you!
Suzanne, I think you are having a huge dose to start with..start by having 500mg first, and enlarge the dose if you don’t have any side effects. It worked for me like this-or else you are just giving your body a shock.
I’m having an odd side effect to EPO. I’ve been on 3000 mg per day to help with PMS moodiness and painful cramps. Well the mood swings have become minimal before my period and I have no cramps now. But I get PMS-like symptoms a week AFTER my period such as depression, lethargy and bloating. At first I thought the moodiness was from emotional stress because my period was over. But now I am certain this is hormone-related due to the physical aspects such as bloating which only previously happened during PMS time.
So it looks like EPO does not take away PMS, it just moved it elsewhere in my cycle! Help please? I want to get rid of PMS entirely. The mood swings are affecting my life.
Suzanne, thanks for sharing your experience! It seems that the EPO didn’t take away the PMS symptoms for you, just postponed it. You may want to check out Xiao Yao Wan, Chinese Happy Pill for PMS. It’s a safe and balanced Traditional Chinese medine herbal formula, which has helped me and many other women. Please take good care!
Suzanne, try starting your dose with 500mg instead, youre taking way too much to start with- youre shocking the body. it worked with me lik this 🙂
Hi there, I have been taking 3000mg daily of EPO for cyclical breast pain. I got EWCM a week later than usual and my period is now 5 days later (but if I ovulated a week later, I am not yet late). I am not sexually active and my cycle is like clockwork every 29 days. Nothing in my diet has changed. Has EPO been shown to delay ovulation? Thanks!
hi! i start taking EPO before about2 weeks after my doctor wanted to give me contraceptive pills for regulating the menstrual cycle but i refused so he gave me those and some drops that im taking them in the morning!(the drops are from some natural plants and their taste is horrible)i usually have period each month,never got problem with this but allways is late,so i hope will get to a regular date!(still sounds like a dream for me)!i start taking them while i was still having menstrual cycle and now about two weeks later i have cramps like my period should come soon,and this is little bit weird,isn’t to early to come?!are just 20 days from the first day of my last period!i must to note that my last period had delay and was little different then the normal one i have monthly(this is the reason i went to the doctor also) p.s : sorry for some grammar mistakes,english is not my first language 🙂
i am a 37year old and i have regular periods that are now quite light but i do suffer with pms i started taking borage oil and mu pms has gone but inow start my cycle 5days later than normal and my period lasts 2days longer is this agood thing?
Hi! I am ttc and just began on epo pills since the day one of my last menstrual period. I stopped taking after ovulation. Now it’s going to be more than a week since my period is due. I took a pregnancy test and it’s negative. I am also taking pre-natal vitamins for more than 6mths. Could epo be the reason for my period delay? I am confused. kindly help!
Shasha, EPO seems to affect the menstrual cycles for some women. Have you started your period yet?
I’ve been taking EPO for a month. I started taking it because I had terrible acne around my chin, which indicates hormonal imbalance. I will say that my face has cleared but I am randomly bleeding. What am I doing wrong?!! I try to take 1000mg at a time x3 a day after eating. Should I cut back? I am loving my cleared face!
Josephine, how’s your period? Do you still have random bleeding? If so, you may want to cut back on EPO. There are other home remedies for acne. Check it out: https://cycleharmony.com/hormone-imbalance/simple-home-remedies-for-acne?view=article
Do you have to take EPO with food? What are side effects if you don’t take it with food?
i start EPO tablets last month ,i didnt have periods for this month .I am really worried ,does it effects on periods !!!!!!!
Hi Nikki, EPO seems to affect some women’s menstrual cycles. So do diet, stress, medication, pregnancy, and other lifestyle factors. I encourage you to look into all of changes in your life and see if you can pin down the causes.
If you pin down EPO as the reason that’s affecting your menstrual cycle, you may consider stop taking it.
I am having EPO since 25 days and i was due to my monthly period.But i don’t see any sign of having periods.I am really worried.Do you think i will continue EPO ?What shall i do ??
I started EPO in December to help with really bad mood PMS symptoms and took 1000mg once a day for 30 days and have continued with 500mg after that. I’ve never had irregular periods and have a 25 / 26 day cycle. In January my period started 10 days early and I kept bleeding for 15 days overall which has never happened before for me. This month I’m early again by 7 days. I think its likely to be due to EPO but am seeing the doctor tomorrow just to make certain its not anything else. I’ll be surprised (but glad!) if EPO is the cause as I’ve taken it this way before and never had such disruptive symptoms to my cycle.
Jill, thanks for sharing your experience with EPO. It seems to interrupt some women’s menstrual cycles. It’s good to check with your doctor. Let us know what you find out. By the way, have you read my post 50 Simple Strategies to Eliminate PMS Symptoms? Hope you find it helpful. https://cycleharmony.com/pms-symptoms/50-simple-strategies-to-eliminate-pms-symptoms?view=article
Hi
I was having PCOD n my doctor advised me contraceptives and last 16th reports were normal so stopped dat n gav me EPO ,, my last period date ws 10th n i startd EPO on 17th,, so periods will cum aftr 30 days dose??
Neha, EPO seems to have different effects on different people. Let us know how it works for you.
Hello! I had my implanon implant removed about five months ago and since I have not had a menses. I am beginning to get extremely concerned because before I got pregnant with my son I had a regular period every month. I got the implant put in about six weeks after he was born and had it in for about eighteen months. While on it I had extremely heavy and irregular periods, and as I mentioned I am no longer having any kind of cycle at all. I am looking very heavily good something natural that may help me. Would EPO be worth trying?
Nicole, as you see in the message board, EPO seems to have different effects on different women. You can give it a try and see if it helps you. You may also look into Dang Dui, a Chinese herb that helps nourish and invigorate blood – a wonderful tonic for healthy menstrual cycles. Check out my post here: https://cycleharmony.com/vaginal-infections/8-leading-causes-of-yeast-infection-and-how-to-prevent-it?view=article
Nicole, as you see in the message board, EPO seems to have different effects on different women. You can give it a try and see if it helps you. You may also look into Dang Dui, a Chinese herb that helps nourish and invigorate blood – a wonderful tonic for healthy menstrual cycles.
I’ve been taking 1000mg of EPO daily for the past few months, it has been working wonders so far, no cramping once so ever and has mae my skin look and feel so smooth and amazing! I am on my period right now and it is very light which is unusual for me. Could the EPO have effects on how heavy your periods are?
Kat, several ladies from our community seem to also experience lighter periods after taking EPO. It could mean that your body is adjusting to it. Since you’ve had mostly positive effects so far, you may give it a try for another one to two menstrual cycles and see how it affects your periods. If you’re taking medication or have any underlining health issues, then it’s definitely a good idea to consult your doctor. Hope this helps 🙂
Hi
I just started taking EPO 3 weeks back and I am having my menses now.I was wondering should I continue taking the EPO or should I take after my menses end?
Will taking EPO make my menses regular(as in I get my menses every month on the same day because for me it is usually late by 3days to a 1week)?
Nikitha, as you can see in the comments for the evening primrose oil, EPO seems to have a different effect on each person. For some ladies, EPO helps regulate their periods. Yet for other ladies, EPO seems to interrupt their menstrual cycles. Like many other supplements, you’ll have to experiment and see if it works for you. Give it a try for a few cycles and monitor how it affects you. Let us know because we can all learn from each other.
Does this help with anxiety and depression ? I just started taking it today and Iam on blood pressure medicine but my doc said it shouldn’t effect me with that what are your thoughts . From Tracy
Tracy, EPO seems to have different effects on different people. You may want to give it a try for a couple of menstrual cycles and see if it helps you. Please share your experience so other ladies can learn from it. Thank you!
Hi there.ive been taking EPO daily from Sept and went from heavy periods to none at all within a day.i have pcos an am takin metformin also.should i go to drs an could i be pregnant?
I wander if EPO interacts with your medication. You should definitely talk to your doctor about this. Take care.