Borage Oil

Traditional Uses Of Borage Seed Oil And Gamma Linolenic Acid

Borage oil and its active principle gamma linolenic acid, an omega 6 fatty acid and one of the essential fatty acids, is in use for hundreds of years traditionally for bronchitis, stress, arthritis, as diuretic, in fevers, cold, flu, respiratory conditions, menstrual disorders and for several other diseases.

Traditional Uses Of Borage Seed Oil:

Borage plant has a rich history of use and it is known traditionally for these benefits.

Herbal tea or hot infusion with this plant helps in fevers and cold and lung complaints like bronchitis, catarrh, dry and rasping cough, pleurisy and congested membranes.
Candied and conserved flowers are good lung tonic and for swooning.
Borage infusion is considered a Galactagogue that is breast feeding or nursing mothers can use the infusion for increasing breast milk production.
Borage is considered a tonic for adrenal gland so it is beneficial for stress.
Dry and sensitive skin is helped greatly by the facial steam of its hot infusion.
Borage is found to be rich in minerals esp. in Potassium.
Diuretic property is due to saline or minerals and malic acid in it
Demulcent and emollient properties are due to the mucilage in body of plant.
It is used externally as a poultice or compress in inflammatory swellings.
Irritation in eyes can be relieved by its eyewash. The distilled water of borage infusion is considered good for inflammation in eyes.
Borage juice is considered a remedy for jaundice, itching and ringworm.
Borage ash mixed with honey is used for mouth and throat ulcers.
Refrigerant and coolant.
Borage For Stress: Borage has been famous traditionally as 'Borage for Courage'. This effect is supported by its beneficial role on adrenals. This plant might support the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline that in turn helps our body and mind to cope with stress in a better way. This restorative effect on the adrenal gland can be used by giving this plant after the steroid therapy so that adrenal gland restore to healthier condition earlier. hot infusion of leaves and flowers is good for stressful conditions, mental fatigue and depression.
It can stabilize the mood in menopausal depression.
Borage supports to prevent inflammation of gastrointestinal mucosa due to infections and NSAIDs.
Iron absorption from the gut is also supported by it.

Dosage Of Borage Plant And Borage Oil And Gamma Linolenic Acid:

Borage oil is available in the form of capsules or liquids in the market. It is marketed commonly in 24% of gamma linolenic acid in borage oil. For dietary supplements borage oil should be certified free of unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids because of their potential liver toxicity. Further borage oil should contain antioxidants like Vitamin E to prevent its oxidation.

For Rheumatoid Arthritis: 360 mg to 2.8 gm of GLA daily in divided doses.
For Atopic Dermatitis: 320 mg to 480 mg of GLA daily in divided dosage.
In Hypertriglyceridemia: Up to 2.4 gm of GLA daily in divided dosage.
Its capsules are available in 90 mg, 240 mg, 300 mg, 500 mg, 1000 mg dosage.
Liquid preparations also come in standardized form and it should be taken by calculating the right dose form the label or by consulting a qualified consultant.

Analysis And Specifications Of Borage Oil:

A. Analysis Of Borage Oil By Gas Chromatography (as fatty acid methyl esters-FAME):

Gamma-linolenic acid % composition of total fatty Acid: 55% composition.

B. Fatty Acid Composition Of Other Fats By Gas Chromatography (as FAME) :

Oleic acid (18:1): 8.49%
Linoleic acid (18:2,n-6): 25.41%
G-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3,n-6): 57.11%
A-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3, n-3): 5.15%
Eicosenoic acid (20:1): 3.85%

C. Moisture In Borage Oil:

Moisture is less than one percent.

D. Gamma Linolenic Acid content In Borage Oil:

It can vary between =/- two percent.

The SCFE product has very high essential fatty acid composition especially G-linolenic acid (GLA - 55 - 60%) and linolenic acid. The SCFE product is superior over conventional cold pressed product (having GLA 20 - 22%). The conventional process involves several steps like neutralization, bleaching and refining. The SCFE product is free from saturated fats unlike conventional product.

Borage Oil - Gamma Linolenic Acid And Their Research Based Actions
Traditional Uses, Dosage And Analysis Of Borage Oil
Essential Fatty Acids, Gamma Linolenic Acid And Borage Oil Extraction
Names, Dosage And Biochemical Composition Of Borage Oil And Borage Herb
Gamma Linolenic Acid And Omega 6 Fatty Acid, Essential Fatty Acids
Borago officinalis - The Plant Of Borage Herb

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