Borage oil, due to its high content γ of linolenic acid (GLA), which can be converted into prostaglandins after ingestion in the human body, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and is one of the essential herbs in traditional medicine. What are the health benefits of using borage oil? What side effects or contraindications are there?
Introduction:
Borage belongs to the purple grass family, native to the Mediterranean region, North Africa, and the Middle East. It has blue and purple star-shaped petals, also known as star flowers. It is not only a medicinal plant but also used for cooking purposes. Borage Oil is a vegetable oil extracted from plant seeds, also known as star oil. The main benefits of Borage Oil are that it treats rheumatoid arthritis and maintains skin health.
Health benefits:
1. Promote skin health
Borage oil is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which can reduce skin roughness, transdermal water loss, itching, and scaling and improve firmness and skin barrier function. Borage oil can also restore the pH value of acidic skin, increase the content of lactic acid, most free fatty acids (FFA), and free amino acids (FAA) in the epidermis, and improve skin resistance.
2. Beneficial treatment for eczema (atopic dermatitis)
Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a chronic, recurrent, itchy, and inflammatory eczema caused by complex factors such as skin barrier dysfunction, immune dysfunction, environment, and infection. Patients not only have their appearance affected, but intense itching can lead to skin trauma and severe sleep disorders. The GLA contained in borage oil is beneficial for preventing the development of atopic dermatitis.
3. Beneficial treatment for acne (acne)
Acne, also known as acne, is an inflammation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. It is widespread in adolescence, manifested as inflammatory papules, pustules, pimples, cystic nodules, and in severe cases, scars. It significantly impacts people's quality of life, self-esteem, and social interaction. Borage oil（ γ- Linoleic acid supplements can reduce inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions without side effects.
4. Beneficial treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent synovitis, systemic inflammation, and the presence of autoantibodies, especially anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies and rheumatoid factor (RF), which cause irreversible damage to the joints. Borage oil can help improve the clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, including reducing pain intensity and improving disability.
5. Prevention of neurodegenerative diseases
Borage oil helps to eliminate free radicals and inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It is inhibiting inflammatory proteins to prevent neurotoxic damage. It can improve cognitive impairment caused by learning disabilities and Alzheimer's disease.
6. Treatment of hypertension
Borage oil-linoleic acid can increase membrane fluidity, affect membrane receptor function, and increase omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma, liver, and vascular tissues. It can lower blood pressure and weaken the development of hypertension.
7. Treatment of liver disease
Rich in food γ- Linoleic acid (GLA) in borage oil can improve serum liver enzyme levels, serum and liver GSH and MDA levels, improve liver function, reduce triglyceride content, normalize serum marker enzyme activity, and prevent alcoholic steatosis of the liver through its antioxidant properties.
8. Preventing heart attacks
Borage oil can prevent heart attacks and strokes. It contains many anti-inflammatory substances, which can activate macrophage autophagy, improve mitochondrial function, and weaken the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes. Reduce heart failure, slow down the process of cardiac arrest, and improve the physical condition of patients after myocardial infarction.
9. Preventing obesity
Borage oil contains omega-6 fatty acids, which can promote weight loss. It can prevent the accumulation of white adipose tissue without affecting food intake. In addition, it can also increase serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and improve insulin resistance. Promote the downregulation of genes related to fat production, thereby preventing weight gain.
10. Preventing Cancer
Borage oil is non-toxic and its main ingredient, GLA, is very safe. It also has antioxidant and anti-mutagenic properties, which can inhibit the growth of cancer cells and promote cell apoptosis.
Side effects:
Borage oil is extracted from natural plants and is generally safe to use, but attention should still be paid to:
1. Pregnant women, lactating women, and those with liver and kidney dysfunction should not use it. Borage oil contains alkaloids, namely pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) and their N-oxides (PANO), which have toxic effects on the liver and impact the safety of pregnant women, lactating women, and newborns. If consumed excessively, it may cause liver and kidney damage, and even increase the risk of Cancer. Borage oil is extracted from natural plants and is generally safe to use, but attention should still be paid.
2. Risk of causing epilepsy
Borage oil contains an unknown toxin that may cause persistent epilepsy. Therefore, epilepsy patients should not use it. It should also be avoided to take it together with antiepileptic drugs.
3. Anticoagulant risk
Due to the presence of γ- Linoleic acid has an anticoagulant effect, so patients with coagulation disorders and taking anticoagulants should use it with caution. Surgical patients should stop using it two weeks before surgery.
