What are the traditional uses of evening primrose oil?

The evening primrose plant was reportedly used by Indigenous people of North America as both a food source and medicine. All parts of the plant were eaten, including the roots, which were boiled; additionally, some burned the seeds as incense. Medicinally, juice or a poultice prepared from the leaves and stems was applied topically as a remedy for bruises, minor wounds, hemorrhoids, and skin inflammation. Orally, the evening primrose plant was used for a variety of ailments, including gastrointestinal complaints, sore throats, and menstrual pains, and as a stimulant to increase strength. It is thought that the plant was brought over to Europe in the late 1800s, where it continued to be used for medicinal purposes.^[1][2]