Evening Primrose grows happily in fields, on roadsides and around rural streams all over New Zealand. It gets its name because its flowers open as the sun goes down.
All parts of Evening Primrose are edible, including the flowers, seeds, leaves, stalks, oil and root. Flowers and flower buds are good raw, in salads. Young seedpods can be cooked or steamed, and second year stems can be peeled and eaten fresh. Leaves, although edible, are not as pleasant to eat due to their texture.
Evening Primrose is a popular gypsy herb considered to be very effective in removing excess acid from the system. The leaf and root are mildly sedative and useful for anxiety and for high blood pressure.
Evening Primrose is naturally hormone balancing for women. It treats symptoms of PMS and breast tenderness.
Traditionally it has been used for fits, paralysis, anxiety, high blood pressure, eyewash, breast tenderness, hormone balancing, water retention, bloating, acne, irritability, depression, moodiness, headaches, polycystic ovarian syndrome, fertility, normalizing menstrual cycle, hot flushes, sleep disturbance, hair loss, androgenetic alopecia, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, pain, stiffness, to increase calcium absorption, gastrointestinal disorders, stomach cramps, whooping cough, asthma, allergies, cholesterol balancing, diabetic neuropathy and a lot more.
This truly is an amazing and abundant wild herb that’s perfect for foraging. Collect it and add it to your diet to enjoy all of the benefits it provides. Or make a simple tea from any part of the plant.
