The efficacy and function of red evening primrose

Red evening primrose is a common Chinese medicine. It can be used for medicinal purposes as well as for food. Moreover, the effects and functions of red evening primrose are quite comprehensive. Let's take a look at it together.

【English name】 evening primrose of safflower

[Source] Medicinal material source: the root or whole herb of Oenothera biennis, a plant of the Onagraceae family.

[Original form] Perennial herb, 40-50cm high. The main root is woody, cylindrical, up to 20 cm long and more than 1 cm in diameter. The stem is erect or creeping, densely covered with short soft hairs, purple-red. There are many basal leaves, which spread to the ground, are oblanceolate, with rounded or acute tips, gradually narrowing below the middle and irregularly pinnate-shaped; the petioles are light red, and all the basal leaves fall off during flowering. The stem leaves are alternate, far apart, lanceolate, 3-4cm long, 1-1.4cm wide, with acuminate tips, gradually narrowed and decurrent at the base, and covered with short hairs on both sides. Flowers are bisexual, solitary in leaf axils or branch tops; sepals are 4, valvate, and reflexed; petals are 4, red, nearly round, with 4-5 pairs of pinnate veins; stamens are 8, filaments are white, anthers are red; ovary is inferior, style is white, stigma is red, and 4-lobed. The capsule is club-shaped, 8-10mm long, 4mm thick, with 8 longitudinal ridges, 4 of which are obviously raised into wing-like shapes, 4 chambers, and the chambers are split dorsally. Many seeds. Flowering period is from April to October.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: Growing beside wetland water at an altitude of 600-1100m.

[Pharmacological action] The decoction of this product can increase coronary blood flow, inhibit the myocardium, slow down the heart rate, lower blood pressure, dilate the aorta, and expand peripheral blood vessels. It has a preventive and therapeutic effect on myocardial ischemic and hypoxic damage in animal experiments.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; Cool

【Functions and indications】Detoxification; removing blood stasis; relieving pressure. Mainly used for heat toxicity, sores and swellings; coronary heart disease; hypertension

【Usage and Dosage】 Oral administration: 15-30g. For external use: take appropriate amount and mash it for application.

[Discussions by various scholars] "Xinhua Compendium of Materia Medica": Root or whole herb: used for coronary heart disease, leukemia.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Above we introduced what red evening primrose is. We know that red evening primrose has very comprehensive effects and functions, so red evening primrose can be used as a means of regulating the body in daily life.