Primrose

Eastern Deciduous Forest, Tall Grass Prairie

Primrose 

Oenothera biennis L.

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Habitat: Found in dry meadows, lightly wooded areas, underbrush, hedges, and along forest edges. United States and Canada from the Atlantic coast to Nebraska,

Seasons: June-September

Active Chemical Ingredient: gamma-linoleinc acid (GLA): C₁₈H₃₀O₂

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• Painkiller 
• asthma treatment
• reduces itching, redness, and toughness of skin
• anti-inflammatory
• Cardiovascular protection

Parts Used: seeds, flower, root

Use of Specimen: 

• leaves are astringent and sedative
• Treatment for dermatitis, burns, and wound (as an ointment)
• general weakness (infustion)
• fever (rood decoction) 
• Primrose oil helps relieve pain and inflammation
• Speeds healing and strengthens 
• Treatment of sore throats (with leaves)
• Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties (make poultice) 

Procedure:
Infusion: steep 2 tsp. flowers (or herb and flowers) in 1/2 cup water. Take 1 cup a day. Make fresh each time.
Decoction: boil 2 tsp. rootstock in 1 cup water.
Tincture: take 5-20 drops, 3-4 times a day, as needed. 
Primrose Oil is made from pressing oil from the tiny seeds.
Poultice: Coarsely crushing flowers and leaves, heat, put poultice over affect skin overnight and wrap with a bandage. Apply it until boil comes to a head and is ready to be drained out.

Resources:

DeVries, L. (n.d.). Primrose. Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Primrose

Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) Uses, Benefits & Side Effects - Drugs.com Herbal Database. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://www.drugs.com/npc/gamma-linolenic-acid-gla.html

Gamma-Linolenic acid. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/gamma-Linolenic_acid#section=Top

Primrose. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/primro69.html