Evening primrose has been used as a medicinal plant since the 18th century and was used by indigenous tribes in North America as food and medicinal crop for hundreds of years. Today, the evening primrose is mainly known as garden plant and as medicinal plant in specialized sectors. With a high protein content, rich in the amino acids methionine and cysteine, the plant is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid with a variety of benefits. Evening primrose is taken orally for skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, and dry, itchy, or thickened skin. It is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, which can effect sufferers of psoriasis and is taken to treat osteoporosis, osteopenia, Raynaud's syndrome, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, dry eyes, liver cancer, hepatitis B, severe itchy skin due to biliary cirrhosis, high cholesterol, heart disease, dyspraxia in children, dyslexia, intermittent claudication, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia. Evening primrose is also taken for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), asthma, diabetes, nerve damage related to diabetes, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an ovary disorder known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity and a host of other conditions. Women are down to take evening primrose orally during pregnancy for preventing high blood pressure, shortening labor and preventing late deliveries. Women also use evening primrose to manage premenstrual syndrome (PMS), breast pain, and symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes. Evening primrose can be used on the skin for a number of applications. This includes eczema (atopic dermatitis) and water warts (molloscum contagiosum).