BORAGE OIL:
retail: $23 – 60 soft gels
skin, essential fatty acids, inflammation, hormonal health, cardiovascular health, eczema, arthritis and more.Essential fatty acids are fats and oils that are essential to human health. Despite the negative connotations of “fats,” thanks to manufacturers of low-fat foods and diet crazes, the truth is that without fats, our bodies would cease to function. Borage seed oil is one of the best types of oils (fats) for health and healing. Degenerative disease will result from a lack of good fats in the daily diet. In fact, this is what we are seeing more and more in the modern era where 80% of our population is deficient in essential fatty acids.
The best oils and fats to add to the daily diet include organic, unrefined: flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, coconut oil, fish oils, borage oil and olive oil. Essential fatty acids contained in borage oil, have been studied for their benefits in:
• high cholesterol
• angina (heart pain)
• stroke and heart attack
• psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions
• arthritis and other joint problems
• multiple sclerosis and other nervous system disorders
• high blood pressure
• cancer
• all hormonal problems
• inflammation
• vision and eye health
By combining borage oil with FlaxSeed Oil, you are providing your body with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids — both being “good” fats needed for biochemical functions.
GLA: Gamma linolenic acid:
And Skin Problems…
Borage seed oil is derived from the borage (Borago officinalis) plant – a wild flower that grows throughout Europe, America and North Africa.
“Also known as the starflower because of its bright blue star-shaped flowers, the plant is harvested for its therapeutic seeds. They contain one of the richest sources of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) – a vital health-giving fatty acid – known to man. The GLA content of borage oil varies between 20-26 per cent. It is an essential fatty acid that is converted in your body to a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin E1 (PGE1).
“Prostaglandin E1 has anti-inflammatory properties and may also act as a blood thinner and blood vessel dilator. As a result, it is a useful treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (painful joints benefit from the anti-inflammatory properties of increased blood flow), Raynaud’s disease (restricted circulation in the extremities), high cholesterol and atherosclerosis.
“A deficiency of GLA has been detected in sufferers of skin disorders GLA is produced in your body from linoleic acid, another essential fatty acid, which is found in many foods – for example, nuts, seeds and most unrefined vegetable oils. In a healthy person, linoleic acid is converted into GLA by an enzyme called delta-6-desaturase (D6D). In turn, GLA is converted into prostaglandin E1.
“However, certain factors can interfere with the activity of delta-6-desaturase, resulting in a deficiency of GLA and therefore the beneficial prostaglandins. These include the consumption of saturated and hydrogenated fats (found in margarine, pastry and fried foods) or a lack of vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins.
“It has been observed that people with skin disorders, such as eczema and psoriasis, have an increased level of linoleic acid with a simultaneous decrease in GLA. This suggests that something is blocking the conversion process (that is linolenic acid, to GLA to PGE1).
“The outcome is a decrease in PGE1, which is associated with the typical symptoms of dry skin and trans-epidermal water-loss commonly seen in people with these skin disorders. By supplementing the diet with a source of preformed GLA from borage oil or applying borage oil topically to the skin, even serious skin problems have been found to improve.
“Borage oil can relieve irritated skin in just under two weeks In preliminary trials, borage oil has proved effective when used to treat people with eczema. Doctors report a reduction in skin inflammation, dryness, scaliness and itching.
“In another preliminary study involving a group of babies with infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis (a condition characterised by itching, burning, scaly skin), 0.5ml of borage oil was applied to the nappy region twice a day.
After ten to twelve days, all skin lesions were healed, even in the areas not treated with borage oil.
Furthermore, applying the oil topically two to three times a week prevented the skin condition from recurring. There were no relapses after the oil was discontinued. In a study that looked at the effectiveness of borage oil skin cream on dry or damaged skin, results showed that there was a significant improvement in the health and appearance of skin tissue.
The 20 participants who took part in the study applied the cream over a 14-day period. Skin moisture and smoothness were restored and the researchers concluded that borage oil plays an important role in re-establishing the intracellular moisture barrier of dry or damaged skin in adults.” (Source: thehealthierlife.co.uk)
Additional sources from thehealthierlife.co.uk:
1. Melnick, B and Plewig, G.m Atopic dermatitis and disturbances in essential fatty acid and prostaglandin E metabolism. J.Amer. Acad. Dermatol. 1991;25:859 2. Bahiner, F A and Schafer, J. Treatment of atopic dermatitis with borage oil (Glandol) – A time series analysis study. Aktuel. Dermatol 1992;18:385 3. Diezel W E, Schulz, E, Skanks, M and Heise H. Plant oils: Topical application and anti-inflammatory effects (croton oil test). Dermatol. Monatsschr. 1993;179:173 4. Elias, P. as quoted in R L Goldberg. The Compounder’s Corner, Exotic Claims. Drug and Cosmetic ind. 1993 p. 40 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. Nissen, H P, Blitz H, and Muggli R. The effects of gamma linolenic acid on skin smoothness, humidity and TEWL – A clinical study. Inform 1995;6;4:5 19