The borage plant, scientific name Borago officinalis, is an attractive annual to plant in your garden--the bright blue flowers are shaped like stars and attract honey bees. Borage flowers are edible, and the seeds derived from the plant are pressed into oil. Borage is an herbal that has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat ailments ranging from inflammation to kidney function and as a skin-care product. Borage seed oil can induce uterine contractions, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you are pregnant, do not use borage as a medicinal agent.
Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Borage seed oil, a product of the borage plant, is high in gamma-linoleic acid, abbreviated as GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid that is essential for maintaining good health. Humans do not produce GLA, according to UMMC, and borage seed oil is just one of the plant-based sources for the nutrient. GLA acts as a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Borage seed oil supplements may help relieve arthritis pain, explains UMMC. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine funds studies in which people with asthma are given borage seed oil supplements to determine if the gamma-linoleic acids can reduce airway inflammation. Ask your doctor how much borage seed oil you should be taking to reduce inflammation. Dosages vary, depending on your medical condition.
Skin Emollient
Borage is used medicinally to calm irritated skin and to replenish moisture that is lost, according to articles published in 2009 issues of the British Journal of Nutrition and the Journal of Family Practice. German researchers report in the BNJ article that women who consumed borage oil supplements for three months saw an improvement of the redness and scaling of their irritated skin, as well as a lower percentage of transepidermal water loss, due to the GLA content in the borage seed oil. Borage seed oil used topically can also produce positive results when used to treat skin problems, according results published in the Journal of Family Practice. Limited studies reveal that when borage oil is applied to the skin of children who have eczema, some improvement is visible.
Lactation Aid
The Flower Essence Society reports that the leaves of the borage plant can promote milk production for breastfeeding mothers. The Purdue Guide to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants concurs with this observation and adds that using borage as a lactation aid is a traditional practice, rather than a statement steeped in scientific evidence.
Diuretic
The borage plant--its leaves and flowers--is considered a natural diuretic and so helps your kidneys filter and expel excess fluids, according to the Purdue guide. People who take conventional diuretic medications should use borage products with care to prevent dehydration.
References
- Purdue Guide to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Borage
- Flower Essence Society: Three Faces of Borage: Medicinal Herb, Homeopathic Remedy, Flower Essence
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gamma-Linoleic Acid
- Clinical Trials: Borage Oil and Gingko Biloba in Asthma
- British Journal of Nutrition; Intervention With Flaxseed and Borage Oil Supplements Modulates Skin Conditions in Women
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