In herbal medicine, extracts of plants can be applied for a wide array of remedial uses on the surface of skin as well as in the body. Among them is the seed extract known as borage oil. Here is a look at the distinctive properties of this type of extract, and the renowned healing effects it could have against common symptomologies.
What Is Borage Oil?
Herbal supplements and medicines are drawn from the parts of certain plants which contain beneficial natural substances. Borage oil is a unique herbal supplement because it is made of extracts from the seed of the Borago officinalis plant, as opposed to components of a sprouted officinalis plant, such as the leaves. The plant is indigenous to North Africa and Europe.
Borage oil made from seeds is a desirable and effective supplement because of its main active ingredient, gamma linoleic acid (GLA). GLA is a fatty acid frequently utilized by the body, but it is simply not all that common in people’s diets. When GLA intake is ensured, the body’s response to unnecessary inflammation will be supported. That can bode well for skin, pain levels, and more. Borage oil in capsule form is known to be effective.
Benefits of a Borage Oil Supplement
A borage oil supplement is the easiest and quickest way to take in beneficial amounts of GLA. Gamma-linoleic acid is so well-received by the body that it acts similarly to a hormone. In tandem with the practice of other healthy habits, taking a borage oil supplement containing GLA might earn you these following benefits:
Mitigating inflammation which results from immune reactions can in turn be beneficial for reducing disease risk in many people, and doing so in different ways. This is the primary benefit for which borage seed oil is known. The mechanism at play chemically is the management of compounds, specifically prostaglandins and leukotriene, and their effects throughout the body. GLA enhances the lifecycle of cells, and positively reduces inflammatory autoimmune reactions. Tip: Research shows that borage oil’s combined effect with the similar benefits of a fish oil supplement is even more effective at reducing inflammation.
Reducing arthritis pain due to rheumatoid arthritis could be the result of strategically supplementing with borage oil. Research shows that this effect is possible in adults with rheumatoid arthritis who took an average of 1.8mg of borage oil daily over 18 months. This helpful effect is so pronounced that borage oil could replace some or even much of the usage of prescription NSAID drugs. This makes borage oil a potentially crucial supplement for the daily comfort of adults afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis.
Skin health is supported by the anti-inflammatory effects of GLA in borage oil, and in specific ways. Studies show that borage oil supplementation can bolster the secretion of skin lipids (skin oils), which reduces the chances of overactive immune responses to the skin. Taking up to 720mg of GLA in borage oil daily for 2 months or longer has been shown to be noticeably effective in strengthening the skin’s cutaneous barrier. This can have reductive effects on the symptoms of both eczema and atopic dermatitis.
To quickly review, borage oil provides wide-ranging benefits: reducing autoimmune inflammation, mitigating rheumatoid arthritis, and reducing common abnormalities to healthy skin. If this applies to you or someone you’re close to, consider the great benefits of borage oil. It’s recommended that you always talk to your healthcare provider before taking a supplement to be sure it won’t negatively interact with pre-existing conditions or prescription medicine(s).