Borage oil is derived from the borage plant, also scientifically known as borago officinalis or “starflower”. It is indigenous to Syria but it now grows everywhere throughout the various regions of the world, like North Africa, the Middle East, Europe and South America. It undoubtedly has a long history of medicinal and culinary use, dating back to 1500 years ago!

Borage oil is becoming increasingly popular and well-known as an anti-inflammatory supplement because it has one of the highest amounts of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) in all seed oils. GLA is a type of omega-6 essential fatty acid, which our bodies cannot manufacture on its own. Thus, it has to come from our diets. Therefore, borage seed oil contains much beneficial properties that helps to treat a wide range of short-term and long-term illnesses. Read on to find out more!

Health Benefits of Borage Seed Organic Oil:

1. Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

As abovementioned, borage oil is well-known for being an anti-inflammatory supplement due to the presence of GLA. A 2006 study published in Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology found that the polyunsaturated fatty acids of omega-3 and omega-6 series play a significant role in health and disease by generating modulatory molecules for inflammatory responses.

In other words, the components present in borage seed oil help to inhibit and prevent inflammation from taking place, and in the process, helps to reduce the risks of many types of diseases (even cancer) from happening, considering how inflammation is the root cause of most diseases.

In addition to controlling inflammatory response and playing a significant role in boosting immune functions, the study also notes how GLA helps to induce cell death (apoptosis) of toxic cells. People who take anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids supplement on top of borage seed oil seem to experience better results.

2. Exhibits Antioxidant Benefits

Besides being a potent anti-inflammatory agent, borage seed oil also has antioxidant properties that can help protect the body against cancer. A 2013 study published in PLOS found that borage seed oil and the GLA component found in the oil are antimutagenic and exhibited cytotoxic activity which helps to shorten the lifespan of dangerous and cancerous cells while prolonging the lifespan of the healthy cells.

As such, borage seed oil supplementation is actually recommended for helping to alleviate and prevent cancer because of its ability to decrease oxidative genetic damage.

3. Helps Alleviate Arthritis

Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, borage seed oil is great for alleviating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, a condition characterized by painful muscles and stiff joints. It promotes blood circulation to the affected areas which helps to alleviate the pain and it soothes the inflamed muscles, thus offering pain relief as well.

Hence, you can try borage seed oil on top of your anti-inflammatory medications, which serves as a natural remedy to help in combating rheumatoid arthritis.

4. Provides Respiratory Relief

Borage seed oil is also useful for those experiencing with inflamed respiratory infections and disorders, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It helps to strengthen and improve the function of the lungs, as well as eradicate out the bacterial and virus strains in the respiratory passageways so as to speed up healing times.

As such, borage seed oil can help treat various respiratory conditions, ranging from the serious ones brought about by inflammation, to the common coughs, cold and flu symptoms.

5. Helps Promote Weight Loss

Borage seed oil is also believed to be able to promote weight loss. A 2000 study done by researchers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from Ibaraki, Japan found that the GLA present in borage seed oil led to a lesser body fat accumulation and it exerted protective effects over white fat accumulation, suggesting how dietary GLA can actually control weight levels by lowering fat accumulation.

6. Fights Skin Disorders and Eczema

Another benefit of borage seed oil is its ability to alleviate eczema skin conditions. The GLA in the oil has been shown to correct deficiencies in skin lipids, which should result in improvement of dysregulation of inflammation and immunity in atopic eczema.

For a subgroup of patients, GLA-containing borage oil is indeed efficacious in treating and managing atopic eczema, as evidenced in a 1999 study published in The British Journal of Dermatology. This thus provides a natural eczema remedy for those who lack essential fatty acids which are critical for skin health.

How to Use Borage Seed Organic Oil:

Borage seed oil can be ingested directly as a form of health supplement. However, do consume it in a safe dosage. The normal protocol would be to add a drop of the oil in a glass of water or cup of tea. Stir well to ensure proper dilution and proceed to drink the mixture. You can even add a drop of it into your food dishes to boost GLA absorption.

Borage oil blends well with evening primrose oil too to enhance the anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing effects. Nevertheless, when purchasing borage seed organic oil, always purchase a 100% pure, organic, top-quality and high-grade borage seed oil from a reliable and reputable seller. Always store the oil in a dark and cool place to avoid the oil becoming rancid when exposed to UV rays.

Alternatively, you can apply it directly onto the skin since it is a carrier-based oil. You can even use this oil to dilute other concentrated essential oils with so as to form a massage blend.

Safety Precautions:

• Borage seed oil is mostly safe to be used internally and topically onto the skin, but there have been reports of interactions and potential side effects.

• Ensure that you consume the oil in small doses, because some people have reported experiencing digestive issues when taking large doses of the oil.

• Also, the oil has been known to interact with some drugs like blood thinning medications such as aspirin or warfarin. Therefore, if you have pre-existing medical conditions or/and are under prescribed medication, then please consult your doctor first for professional health advice before taking the oil internally.

• Pregnant women should avoid using borage seed oil due to its potential for inducing labour.

• Ensure that the borage oil is certified to be hepatotoxic PA-free, so as to ensure that it does not contain any harmful additives which can cause liver damage.

References:

Kapoor R, Huang YS, “Gamma linolenic acid: an anti-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acid”, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (2006); 7(6)

Immaculada Tasset-Cuevas, et al., “Protective Effect of Borage Seed Oil and Gamma Linolenic Acid on DNA: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies”, PLOS (2013)

Takahashi Y, Ide T, Fujita H, “Dietary gamma-linolenic acid in the form of borage oil causes less body fat accumulation accompanying an increase in uncoupling protein 1 mRNA level in brown adipose tissue”, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology (2000); 127(2)

Henz BM, et al., “Double-blind, multicentre analysis of the efficacy of borage oil in patients with atopic eczema”, The British Journal of Dermatology (1999); 140(4)