| Borage Oil | | | | Borage oil should not be taken by nursing or pregnant |
| Borage oil is also known as borage seed oil or | | | | women. People who have had seizures in the past, |
| starflower oil. It is extracted from borage plant | | | | such as temporal lobe epilepsy should not take this |
| seeds. It is found in North America, Africa and Europe | | | | supplement. People who have other types of seizers |
| and is a good source of polyunsaturated long-chain | | | | and people who are getting a neuroleptic treatment |
| fatty acid. | | | | should also avoid its use. Its use should be completely |
| | | | stopped sometime before a surgery. People with |
| Borage Oil Ingredients | | | | AIDS should also take precautions with this |
| Borage oil consists of GLA or gamma linolenic acid, | | | | supplement. AIDS causes weakening of the immune |
| which is a fatty acid. The human body converts it to | | | | system and Borage oil reverses the lymphocyte |
| a substance that resembles hormones and is known | | | | function. Such people should refrain from using it. |
| as PGE1 or prostaglandin E1. This element is used as | | | | Usage |
| an antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory by the body, | | | | Borage oil GLA, ranging from 1.4 to 2.8 grams, is |
| since it has blood thinning properties and dilates the | | | | given to people with rheumatoid arthritis. For topical |
| vessels. | | | | use about 0.5 milliliters of GLA is usually applied. |
| Borage oil is the richest naturally occurring GLA | | | | People with eczema are usually given approximately |
| source and contains almost 20-26 % of this fatty | | | | 360 milligrams of GLA from borage oil to help with |
| acid. | | | | the problem. |
| Borage Oil Benefits | | | | Side effects |
| Borage oil is used as an anti-inflammatory and | | | | Borage oil may have some side effects, such as |
| antithrombotic agent. It is effective in rheumatoid | | | | indigestion, nausea, and headache. It also contains |
| arthritis cases, acute respiratory syndrome, and | | | | small amounts of liver toxin, but no traces of |
| hypertension. It is also used to help in the treatment | | | | alkaloids. Overall borage oil is mostly PA free. |
| of eczema. It helps reduce the inflammation and | | | | Borage oil, if used with certain blood thinners such as |
| itching of skin and doesn't have side effects, unlike | | | | aspirin or warfarin, may cause blood complications. |
| many medicines. If applied topically borage oil also | | | | Also, if it is used with fish oils, there may be a |
| helps reduce skin lesions on infant skin. | | | | reaction that causes nosebleeds or other problems. |
| Borage Oil Deficiency | | | | Its use with herbs, such as garlic, may also cause |
| GLA deficiency can occur with aging, fatty intake, | | | | nosebleeds. People using borage oil supplements |
| and other problems, but the true reason for | | | | continually should opt for the products that have |
| deficiency is unknown. People who are deficient may | | | | been certified by drug associations to be free of any |
| take borage oil to help this deficiency. | | | | unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids. |
| Precautions | | | | |