For centuries, evening primroses - especially their seeds - have been used for medicinal purposes. But the plant is not only suitable for medicine, but also for the kitchen. Roots, leaves, flowers and seeds are edible and can be used in many culinary ways.
After flowering, the evening primrose forms numerous seeds
ingredients and application
The seeds of the evening primrose in particular are rich in so-called gamma-linoleic acids, which belong to the essential amino acids and are mainly responsible for the function of the immune and hormone systems. They also have an anti-inflammatory effect, which is why the evening primrose oil extracted from the seeds is often used to treat neurodermatitis. It is also said to help against premenstrual syndrome, as the fatty acid supports the hormone system. Evening primrose oil is used both internally and externally.
Make your own evening primrose oil
Making evening primrose oil from the seeds is not an easy task as the process is quite complicated. Producing the effective oil yourself is therefore not that easy. The following variant, on the other hand, is much easier to prepare in the kitchen at home:
- a handful of freshly picked evening primrose blossoms
- half a liter of good vegetable oil (e.g. olive oil, sunflower oil or rapeseed oil)
Fill the freshly picked, unwashed (just shaken out) blossoms into a closable glass jar that is as dark as possible. Pour the oil over them and close the jar. Leave the mixture in a warm and dark place for a week, after which filter the flowers out of the oil. This can be done with a fine cloth or a coffee filter. The resulting evening primrose oil will keep for about four weeks in a dark and cool place.
Sow evening primrose seeds
The evening primrose is very easy to propagate using seeds, which you can collect when the seeds are ripe and sow them either immediately or in spring. However, it is even easier to let the evening primrose sow itself. However, you must not cut away the faded stalks beforehand so that the capsule fruits can ripen. But be careful: evening primrose seeds are also a popular food for birds, which is why you have to protect the fruits and thus the seeds from damage caused by feeding.
tips
Evening primrose seeds and evening primrose oil should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In addition, epileptics should not take the drug either, as it seems to provoke epileptic seizures.