Bright yellow butterfly attractor
Everywhere she is now blooming! The bright yellow primrose. Once one came in my garden in a natural way and now I enjoy a large number of them every year around this time. With their almost fluorescent yellow color, they attract al lot of attention. Also the roadsides in Amsterdam, being a little sandy, are full of them from April until October.
Twilight flower
The special thing about the primrose is that in the twilight there are only opening 1 or 2 flowers. These are beautiful for 1 night, the next morning they are withered. They open so fast open that you can observe it with the naked eye. Slowly, very slowly the first petal unfolds itself, after which the rest follows. Why do primrose look their best during the night? This has a function. The bright fluorescent yellow, attracts moths. They see in the night a kind of illuminated ‘runway’, crying out: ‘ land here, land here ‘. The moths with their long tongue creep, go deep in the flour and ensure fertilization.
Medicinal effects
Beside that the flowers are so beautiful, there is also a health product made of it. Namely primrose oil which is pressed from the seeds. This oil is good against the symptoms of PMS. The active ingredient is gamma-linolenic acid, an important omega-6 fatty acid, which brings/keeps your hormonal system in balance (at intake of 3 grams per day).
Massage oil of primrose
There is also oil massage made of it. Primrose oil is skin restoring. The oil is moisturizing, emollient and has a strong anti-wrinkle effect.
Dietary supplement
Primrose oil is, because of the content of linoleic acid and gamma linolenic acid (GLA), also recommended as a dietary supplement. GLA is a fatty acid which in the body is converted into a hormone-like, anti-inflammatory substance, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). The oil is, according to therapists, effective in the treatment of allergies, infections and non-healing wounds. (Source: Anthemis.nl)
Become interested in the primrose? Primrose capsules you can buy in organic stores in Amsterdam and on the Boerenmarkt on Saturday. Please note that the oil is cold pressed.