Borage Oil is a nutritional supplement that is high in Essential Fatty Acids (efa’s). Whereas the various forms of DHA and fish oils that we offer are high in Omega 3 essential fatty acids, Borage Oil is the one essential fatty acid that we recommend. Normally we get too much efa’s in our American diet, but certain plant oils like Borage Oil are desirable for their unique Gamma Linolenic Acid or GLA content. GLA boosts beneficial prostaglandins that are anti-inflammatory and provide a sense of well-being.
If you observe nutritional practices, you’ll see that there’s always a “newly discovered” supplement on the market that attracts a lot of research and attention. Back in the early 1990’s Scientists became interested in that “new” supplement – Borage Oil; although it had been used by herbalists for centuries prior to help relieve symptoms of stress, colds, and bronchitis.
In 1993, clinical trials, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine (1), using 1.4 grams of borage oil daily for 24 weeks, found it to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Another 1993 study, in the British Journal of Dermatology (2), reported that 48 children with dry scales and crusts on their eyelids, scalp, face, armpit, and groin—in other words 48 miserably uncomfortable children—used borage oil topically for just 10 to 12 days, and all the children became totally free of lesions with no recurrence.
The famous doctor and author, Dr. Andrew Weil, uses Borage Oil to help relieve hair loss, dandruff, itchy scalp, and folliculitis. Even Northstar Nutritionals uses Borage Oil in the Restore FX hair loss product that we carry at COEM.
Borage Oil has also been used by alternative practitioners for its hormonal effects. It reportedly helps stabilize the adrenal glands and boosts production of adrenaline, and therefore helps relieve stress. Other practitioners have used it more specifically to relieve PMS symptoms in women.
Dr. Lieberman recommends a high GLA supplement such as Borage Oil (3) not only because of the above effects, but more specifically because of its ability to boost Prostaglandin E1 and help relieve depression. Individuals with British, Scottish, or Welsh ancestry especially have difficulty converting essential fatty acids into Prostaglandin E1, and GLA helps bridge that gap and relieve their lifelong tendency of mild to moderate depression. Those individuals may be prone to drink too much as well (even if just wine or beer) because alcohol temporarily boosts Prostaglandin E1, despite the fact that it also uses up the raw materials to make Prostaglandin E1, so the individual is driven to drink more to try to get the same lift. GLA provides the raw materials so that the individual ultimately gets the lift without drinking.
Dose: Take 1 capsule 2 to 3 times daily with meals.
Contraindications: Due to its hormonal effects which also include relaxation of uterine muscles, Borage Oil should not be taken during pregnancy. It also reduces platelet function so if an individual has a tendency to bleed easily or is on a blood thinner such as Coumadin, Borage Oil should not be taken.
Also the seeds, though not necessarily the oil, contain a toxic substance that can harm the liver, so very large doses of Borage Oil should not be taken for prolonged periods of time.
As with all nutritional supplements we recommend that you purchase only high quality, doctor researched and recommended supplements and use them as directed by a physician or nutritionist in order to get the most benefit and avoid any potential problems from their use.
1 Ann Intern Med. 1993 Nov 1;119(9):867-73.
Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with gammalinolenic acid.
Leventhal LJ, Boyce EG, Zurier RB.
2 British Journal of Dermatology, 129:95,1993
Borage Oil, an effective new treatment for infantile seborrheic dermatitis
Tollesson, A, Frithz, A
3 A proper balance of fatty acids is as important to good health as are vitamins and minerals. This supplement is desirable whenever Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) is needed to boost beneficial prostaglandins which help counteract inflammation and provide a sense of well-being. It has been used in eczema, chronic fatigue, and certain forms of chronic depression. Borage oils provides a higher ratio of GLA to linoleic acid than Evening Primrose Oil and similar plant oils. This product replaces our former Evening Primrose Oil. Each 1,000 mg softgel provides 1,000 mg of cold-pressed Borage Oil, supplying 200 mg of Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) and 7 mg of Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E). 100 softgels.
Directions: Take 1 softgel two to three times daily with meals. Price:$30.00 Contact orders@coem.com for further information or to place an order