Borage seed oil

Borage seed oil, also known as starflower oil, is derived from the seeds of the Borago officinalis plant. It is considered to be one of nature’s richest sources of gammalinolenic acid, an omega 6-fatty acid, helpful in treatment of many skin and joint disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, eczema and dermatitis.Health benefits of borage oil

A deficiency in essential fatty acids is a common health problem all over the world. It may result from a normal aging process or because of the insufficient dietary habits. Deficiency is most common in infants. It includes symptoms like scaly skin, dermatitis, alopecia and growth retardation. For essential fatty acids deficiency to develop, the dietary intake must be extremely low. Even small amounts of essential fatty acids can cure and prevent this deficiency. Borage oil is one of the world’s best natural remedies to treat this problem, but, it also has many other benefits.

Borage oil may ease the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in women. Recent studies also revealed that borage oil brings the relief from symptoms of diabetic neuropathy. Borage oil is already well known of its ability to cure eczema, psoriasis, acne rosecea and atopic dermatitis. It helps to reduce inflammation, dryness and itchiness of the skin. Anti-inflammatory properties of borage oil are extremely favorable for patients suffering from arthritis. Gammalinolenic acids are actually converted into the anti-inflammatory substance called prostaglandin E1. This way, borage oil reduces inflammation, pain and morning stiffness of affected joints. Taking just small amounts of borage oil daily could significantly reduce the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.Use and dosageA regular dosage of borage seed oil is approximately 1 to 2 grams daily. One can take this oil in exact form or in a capsule. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should take slightly higher dosages, up to 2.8 grams, while 360 milligrams of borage oil should be enough to treat eczema and other skin problems. Borage oil may also be applied topically on the problematic skin. In this case, a dosage of 0.5 milliliters daily should be applied until the symptoms of the skin disease disappear. Patients with diabetes should take maximum 480 milligrams daily. Doses higher than 2000 milligrams will probably lead to lower triglycerides levels.

Side effects

Borage side oil doesn’t possess any kind of potentially harmful compounds. However, borage seeds and borage plant have certain amount of toxins able to damage the liver. There are no severe side effects associated with the use of borage oil except mild bloating, nausea, headache and indigestion. It is highly recommended to consult a doctor before using borage seed oil, because it may interact with certain medicines such as Thorazine or anti-coagulant drugs.