Borage oil is also known as borage seed oil or starflower oil. It is extracted from borage plant seeds. It is found in North America, Africa and Europe and is a good source of polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acid.

Polyunsaturated fats are healthier than saturated fats. Borage oil is also a good source of important fatty acids known as omega 3 and omega 6 fats, which the human body cannot manufacture. This fat is also very high in calories and people trying to lose weight should not use it too much.

Borage Oil Ingredients

Borage oil consists of GLA or gamma linolenic acid, which is a fatty acid. The human body converts it to a substance that resembles hormones and is known as PGE1 or prostaglandin E1. This element is used as an antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory by the body, since it has blood thinning properties and dilates the vessels.

Borage oil is the richest naturally occurring GLA source and contains almost 20-26 % of this fatty acid.

Borage Oil Benefits

Borage oil is used as an anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic agent. It is effective in rheumatoid arthritis cases, acute respiratory syndrome, and hypertension. It is also used to help in the treatment of eczema. It helps reduce the inflammation and itching of skin and doesn’t have side effects, unlike many medicines. If applied topically borage oil also helps reduce skin lesions on infant skin.

Borage Oil Deficiency

GLA deficiency can occur with aging, fatty intake, and other problems, but the true reason for deficiency is unknown. People who are deficient may take borage oil to help this deficiency.

Precautions

Borage oil should not be taken by nursing or pregnant women. People who have had seizures in the past, such as temporal lobe epilepsy should not take this supplement. People who have other types of seizers and people who are getting a neuroleptic treatment should also avoid its use. Its use should be completely stopped sometime before a surgery. People with AIDS should also take precautions with this supplement. AIDS causes weakening of the immune system and Borage oil reverses the lymphocyte function. Such people should refrain from using it.

Usage

Borage oil GLA, ranging from 1.4 to 2.8 grams, is given to people with rheumatoid arthritis. For topical use about 0.5 milliliters of GLA is usually applied. People with eczema are usually given approximately 360 milligrams of GLA from borage oil to help with the problem.

Side effects

Borage oil may have some side effects, such as indigestion, nausea, and headache. It also contains small amounts of liver toxin, but no traces of alkaloids. Overall borage oil is mostly PA free.
Borage oil, if used with certain blood thinners such as aspirin or warfarin, may cause blood complications. Also, if it is used with fish oils, there may be a reaction that causes nosebleeds or other problems. Its use with herbs, such as garlic, may also cause nosebleeds. People using borage oil supplements continually should opt for the products that have been certified by drug associations to be free of any unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

If you are bothered by eczema or dermatitis, consider giving borage oil a chance to reduce or eliminate your symptoms. Eczema is a general term for several types of inflammation of the skin that typically lasts longer than just a few days.

Eczema is also called dermatitis and can produce symptoms ranging from redness and flaking to itching and blistering or cracking. Eczema is generally considered to be caused by the same processes that lead to other types of allergy symptoms, but it frequently does not respond to treatment with traditional allergy medicines.

Fortunately, borage oil is a natural product that may help heal and prevent eczema. Although borage oil does not work for everyone, scientific studies have proven that it can be useful for some people in reducing the symptoms of eczema. Borage oil rarely produces side effects and is considered safe for use as a nutritional supplement.

Borage oil comes from the seeds of the borage plant (Borago officinalis). It is native to Europe and Africa and was introduced into North America. Borage oil, along with evening primrose oil and black currant seed oil contain high concentrations of gamma linolenic acid (GLA). GLA is a fatty acid nutrient that is processed into compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties. Borage oil contains between 20% and 25% GLA along with linoleic and oleic acids that are also nutritious vegetable oils.

Various skin conditions have been treated by applying borage oil to the skin and also by taking capsules orally. Oral doses in medical studies have ranged from a quarter gram per day to over a gram per day. With limited research to base treatment decisions on, it is probably best for a person to start with a low dose and gradually increase it until either a benefit is seen or until it is apparent that no benefit is likely.

Some reports have raised the question of liver toxicity. Borage seeds and crude unrefined borage oil contain small amounts of toxins known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids; however, these toxins are not found in the processed oil used as a nutritional supplement. During the purification process, the alkaloid content is reduced by a factor of approximately 30,000, resulting in a final concentration in the range of 20 parts per billion, detectable only with sophisticated instruments.

As with all nutritional supplements, vitamins and alternative health products, you should inform your doctor that you are taking them to make sure there is no harmful interaction with prescription medicine you may also be taking.

Borage is a wildflower commonly known as “starflower”. The flowers has five triangular pointed petals with colors from pink to light blue. The plant is found in almost all parts of the world but origins were traced from Europe and North Africa particularly in Syria. It has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries and most of its benefits can be derived from its seeds.

The secret in the borage plant lies in its oil extracted from the seeds. Research shows that the oil has the richest known source of gamma – linoleic acid (GLA), a known omega- 6 fatty acid that the body converts to a hormone – like substance called prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). PGE1 has an anti – inflammatory property that are helpful for thinning blood and blood vessel dilatation. This in effect is good in bodys blood circulation and over all health condition. Other sources of GLA include Black Currant Oils, and Evening Prim Rose Oil, but Borage Oil contains 5% more GLA compared to Black Currant Oils and two times more than Evening Prim Rose oil.

Effect to Hair and other Clinical Conditions

Borage oils may be of benefit to people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis because of its potent anti – inflammatory properties. Some studies also show that it is beneficial for people with multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s memory disorder, hypertension, gout, impotence’s, lupus, PMS and respiratory infections.

The fatty acid in the oil is effective in preventing and treating dry, itchy scalp and helps replenish hair with moisture. Research also show that borage oil is effective in the treatment of severe dandruff and delays male pattern baldness and other type of hair loss.

Effect to Skin

Borage oil contains vitamin C, tannin, saponin and other important minerals that play an important role in making skin healthy and alleviating skin problems such as acne and pimples. The anti – inflammatory properties of borage oil help reduce the redness and swelling brought about by acne and pimples.

A daily supplement of Borage oil to the diet promotes healthy growth of skin, hair and nails as this oil is an excellent source of GLA and essential fatty acids that play a significant effect in improving the health and appearance of skin tissue.

So whether you take borage oil supplement or apply the oil directly to skin, it shows positive effect to the texture and suppleness of the skin.