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Borage
(Borago officinalis)
DESCRIPTION
An annual plant, borage grows in middle and southern Europe,
as well as in northern Africa. Because of its high mucilage
content, this herb is often used to soothe areas of both external
and internal Inflammation. Borage contains high amounts of
tannic acid, which constricts inflamed tissue due to its astringent
properties. The combination of mucilage and tannic acid make
borage extremely useful in treating many conditions. Because
borage also contains gammalinolenic acid (GLA), it may be
used to treat conditions that depend on the body’s ability
to produce prostaglandin E1(1).
HERBAL USES
Borage was used by the ancient
Greeks and Romans as a heart sedative. It was believed that
the herb could instil courage in the user. During the Middle
Ages, borage steeped in wine was used to dispel melancholy
(2).
Due to its mucilage content,
borage may have expectorant and Cough suppressant properties.
It may also have demulcent and emollient properties that make
it useful for reducing swelling, Inflammation, Pain, and Infection
of Skin sores, Wounds, bites, Rashes, etc. Borage also has
astringent and diuretic properties.
SUGGESTED INTAKES
Parts of the plant used:
SEED, LEAF, FLOWER.
For rheumatoid Arthritis,
adult dosage is 1.4 g daily for two months (3).
For Eczema, borage oil dose
adjusted to 360 mg of GLA daily (4).
SUPPLEMENTAL USES
Eczema:
When open clinical trials examined the effects of borage oil
on Eczema, reductions in Skin Inflammation, dryness, scaliness,
and itch were observed (5). Another study showed borage oil
to be effective for treating seborrhoea, or skin lesions in
children when applied to the diaper region (6). However, the
results have not been reproduced in controlled studies. Further
research is needed to verify the effectiveness of borage oil
treatment on eczema (7).
Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Little scientific evidence is available to support the use
of borage oil for rheumatoid Arthritis. However, one controlled
study did find significant improvement in symptoms after use
of borage oil for twenty-four weeks (8) (9).
Borage oil may also be used
to treat PMS and Inflammation.
SAFETY AND PRECAUTIONS
Side effects can include
Bloating, nausea, indigestion, and Headache.
Borage seeds contain small
amounts of liver toxins called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA).
Use of PA-free borage oil products is recommended, and total
amount of PA consumed per day should not exceed 1 µg.
Use during Pregnancy or
lactation is not recommended.
INTERACTIONS AND CONTRA-INDICATIONS
Use of borage oil in schizophrenic
patients and/or in those taking phenothiazines may lead to
temporal lobe epilepsy.
Sedatives and hypnotics
(e.g. phenobarbital and meprobamate), and beta-adrenergic
blocking agents (e.g. propranolol) can inhibit the anti-inflammatory
action of borage oil.
REFERENCES
1.Horrobin DF. The
importance of gamma-linolenic acid and prostaglandin E1 in
human nutrition and medicine. J Holistic Med 1981;3:118-39.
2. Wren RC. Potter’s New Cyclopedia of Botanical Drugs
and Preparations. Essex, England: C.W. Daniel and Co., 1988,
41.
3. Leventhal LJ, et al. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
with gammalinolenic acid. Ann Intern Med 1993;119:867-73.
4. Landi G. Oral administration of borage oil in atopic dermatitis.
J Appl Cosmetology 1993;11:115-20.
5. Landi G. Oral administration of borage oil in atopic dermatitis.
J Appl Cosmetology 1993;11:115-20.
6. Tolleson A, Frithz A. Borage oil, an effective new treatment
for infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 1993;25:95.
7. Manku MS, Horrobin, DF, Morse NL, et al. Essential Fatty
Acids in the plasma phospholipids of patients with atopic
eczema. Br J Derm 1984;110:643.
8. Leventhal LJ, et al. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
with gammalinolenic acid. Ann Intern Med 1993;119:867-73.
9. Horrobin DF. Essential fatty acid metabolism in diseases
of connective tissue with special reference to scleroderma
and to Sjogren’s syndrome. Med Hypoth 1984;14:233-47.
10. DeSmet PAGM. Safety of borage seed oil. Can Pharm J 1991;124:5.
11. Robbers JE, Tyler VE. Tyler’s herbs of Choice: The
Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. New York: Haworth Press,
1999:194.
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