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Herbs & Supplements
Borage
Other Names: Bee Bread, Borago officinalis, Bugloss, Common Borage, Common Bugloss, Ox's Tongue, Starflower
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Uses
Although the aerial or above ground parts (flowers, leaves, and stems) of borage have been used for centuries to treat many different conditions, very little scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of fresh or dried borage aerial parts as an oral drug for treating any condition. In fact, the aerial parts of borage may contain small quantities of toxic chemicals known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which have been associated with causing liver injury when they are consumed in very large amounts. No reports of liver problems have been noted in the parts of the world where borage leaves are eaten occasionally as a vegetable, however.
Oil from the seeds of the borage plant does not contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids. About 20% of borage oil is composed of a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid called gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which may help reduce inflammation. Currently, the most promising area of research for borage oil is in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In multiple animal and human studies, taking borage oil or borage oil capsules reduced inflammation, joint damage, and pain from RA. The GLA in borage oil is believed to interrupt the body's production of chemicals that initiate and maintain the inflammatory process of RA.
Earlier stages of research are testing oral doses of borage oil or GLA for the treatment of asthma, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Results from a small study in humans show that taking borage oil orally may prevent or lessen some of the inflammatory processes involved in asthma. In both animal and human studies, GLA supplementation--taken as borage oil--generally resulted in lower blood pressure. Results for the cholesterol studies were mixed. In some studies, only triglycerides were reduced while other studies showed overall reductions in cholesterol. It is believed that several processes, including the possible relaxation of blood vessel walls, are involved in GLA's potential use for all these conditions. However, more studies are needed before borage oil can be recommended for treating any of them.
Borage oil has also been studied in both oral and topical forms for treating eczema and other skin conditions. A recent study, however, found no effectiveness for oral borage oil capsules as compared to placebo (inactive) capsules in relieving the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, a skin condition that causes intense itching. When it is applied to the skin, borage oil has moisturizing and softening effects, so it is often included in cosmetics such as face cream.
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Note: The above information is not intended to replace the advice of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not meant to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you.
In general, herbal products are not subject to review or approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They are not required to be standardized, meaning that the amounts of active ingredients or contaminants they contain may vary between brands or between different batches of the same brand. Not all of the risks, side effects, or interactions associated with the use of herbal products are known because few reliable studies of their use in humans have been done.
This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.
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Who is this for? 
