Borage oil is one of the richest supplemental sources of omega-6 fatty acid, according to New York University. Together with omega-3, these essential fatty acids perform important functions in the body, including reducing inflammation and helping lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Talk with your health care provider before taking borage oil supplements to be sure they are the right choice for your health needs.
Borage, also called the starflower, is an annual herb that produces blue or purplish, star-shaped flowers. The plant is not native to North America, but is cultivated in some places. The stems are covered with stiff, hairs that are prickly enough to scratch skin. Borage oil is pressed from the seeds and used to make supplements.
Benefits
Borage oil is 17 to 25 percent gamma-linolenic acid, according to New York University. Gamma-linolenic acid is a plant-based essential fatty acid that's better known as omega-6. In a study published in the September 2008 issue of the British Journal of Nutrition, Silke De Spirt, et al. reported that borage oil supplements decreased skin irritation, increased skin hydration and significantly reduced skin roughness. A review of seven studies published by the Cochrane Library in February 2011 concluded that gamma-linolenic acid from borage seed oil reduced pain and symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Gamma-linolenic acid is also used to treat diabetic neuropathy and to reduce eye symptoms caused by soft contact lenses, according to New York University. Other active ingredients in borage oil include an expectorant that helps expel mucus and tannins that function as astringents.
Side Effects
Borage oil can cause minor side effects such as bloating, nausea, headache and indigestion. More serious problems may be caused by substances in borage oil called pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are toxic to the liver. The risk of damage to the liver may increase with long-term use, so purchase borage oil supplements that are certified free of these alkaloids.
Dosage
A typical daily dose for treating eczema is 1 to 2 g of borage oil, which is about 200 to 400 mg of gamma-linolenic acid, according to New York University. Doses for rheumatoid arthritis can be as high as 2,000 to 3,000 mg of gamma-linolenic acid. Gamma-linolenic acid should be taken with food. A safe dosage for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or for people with liver or kidney disease, has not been established.
References
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering: Borage
- New York University: Langone Medical Center: Gamma-Linolenic Acid
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gamma-Linolenic Acid
- British Journal of Nutrition; Intervention with Flaxseed and Borage Oil Supplements Modulate Skin Condition in Women; Silke De Spirt, et al.; Sept. 2008
- The Cochrane Library; Herbal Therapy for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis; Melainie Cameron, et al.; Feb. 2011
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