Borage Seed Oil

Latin (Botanical) Name:   Borago Officinalis

Plant Family:   Boraginaceae

Common Extraction Method:   Cold press

Typically Used Plant Part:  Seed

Color:   Pale yellow

Aromatic Characteristic:   Mild and sweet aroma

 

Borage, whose botanical name is Borago officinalis, is an annual plant in the Boraginaceae family. There are as many as 2,500 species in this plant family.

Noted for its star-shaped blue flowers, this large plant is native to North Africa and Europe, but was later cultivated in Great Britain and North America. In Turkey, it is found in the Marmara and Black Sea regions. The height of this plant can grow up to 44 cm. Its blue flowers bloom at different times from mid-May to the end of September. It is also called "star flower" because of the shape of its flowers. Some vegetable parts are edible.

The English word "borage" is derived from the Celtic word borrach, meaning "brave person". In folk tradition, throughout its long recorded history of use, borage was believed to dispel melancholy and alleviate grief and sadness. According to the ancient Greek physician Dioscorides, borage "can cheer up the heart and heal depressed spirits." Common names for the plant include burrage, common bugloss, dahlia, tailwort, or bee bread.

It is one of the richest oils in terms of linoleic and gamma linolenic acid, namely Omega 6. Omega 6 is very important for skin structure and function. For this reason, it is frequently used for skin care in aromatherapy.

It offers many benefits thanks to the fatty acids it contains.

      KEY COMPONENTS / ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

• Linoleic acid (Omega 6)
• Gamma linolenic acid (Omega 6)
• Oleic acid (Omega 9)
• Palmitic acid
• Stearic acid
• Eicosenoic acid

      BENEFITS

• Skin care:

 

• Acne treatment:

Borage seed oil helps to reduce acne thanks to gamma linolenic acid it contains. [6]

 

• It shows anti-inflammatory characteristic [7] [8]:

Borage seed oil has strong anti-inflammatory properties thanks to the gamma linolenic acid it contains. In a study comparing borage seed oil, fish oil, and a combination of both, it was observed that taking 1.8 grams of borage oil and/or 2.1 grams of fish oil daily helped reduce rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms in 74 participants observed for 18 months [9].

• Bone health:

Thanks to the high gamma linolenic acid it contains, it supports the prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis [10] [11].

• Premenstrual syndromes:

Studies have shown that borage seed oil helps reduce premenstrual syndromes and menopausal effects such as hot flashes [12] [13].

 

      WARNINGS

• Avoid contact with eyes, in case of contact rinse with plenty of water.
• Do not use the product if you have a known allergy to any of its ingredients.
• It is recommended that children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people using medication should consult their doctor before using borage seed oil.

      ACADEMIC STUDIES

[1] T. K. Lin, L. Zhong, J. L. Santiago (2018). Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(1), 70.

[2] Wright, S. Essential fatty acids and the skin. Br. J. Dermatol. 1991, 125, 503–515.

[3] Kruger MC, Coetzer H, Winter R, Gericke G, Van Papendrop DH (1998). Calcium, gamma linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation in senile osteoporosis. Aging 10: 385–394.

[4] I. T. Cuevas, Z. F. Bedmar, M. D. L. Baena, J. C. Sanchez, A. H. Bailon, A. M. Serrano, A. A. Moraga (2013). Protective Effect of Borage Seed Oil and Gamma Linolenic Acid on DNA: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies. PLOS ONE, February 2013, Volume 8, Issue 2.

[5] Brosche T, Platt D (2000) Effect of borage oil consumption on fatty acid metabolism, transepidermal water loss and skin parameters in elderly people. Arch Gerontol Geriatrics 30: 139–150.

[6] J. Y. Jung, H. H. Kwon, J. S. Hong, J. Y. Yoon, M. S. Park, M. Y. Jang, D. H. Suh (2014). Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Gamma-linolenic Acid on Acne Vulgaris: A Randomised, Doubleblind, Controlled Trial. Acta Derm Venereol 2014; 94: 521–525.

[7] Pontes-Arruda A, Martins LF, de Lima SM, Isola AM, Toledo D, et al. (2011). Enteral nutrition with eicosapentaenoic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and antioxidants in the early treatment of sepsis: results from a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled study: the INTERSEPT Study. Crit Care 15: R144.

[8] Horrobin DF (1992) Nutritional and medical importance of gamma-linolenic acid. Prog Lip Res 31: 163–194.

[9] G. W. Reed, K. Leung, R. G. Rossetti, S. VanBuskirk, J. T. Sharp, R. B. Zurier. Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Marine and Botanical Oils: An 18-Month, Randomized, and Double-Blind Trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine / 2014 / Article ID 857456.

[10] Tollesson, A.; Frithz, A. Transepidermal water loss and water content in the stratum corneum in infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis. Acta Derm. Venereol. 1993, 73, 18–20.

[11] Kanehara, S.; Ohtani, T.; Uede, K.; Furukawa, F. Clinical effects of undershirts coated with borage oil on children with atopic dermatitis: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J. Dermatol. 2007, 34, 811–815.

[12] Gupta M, Singh S. Borago officinalis Linn. an important medicinal plant of Mediterranean region: a review. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res, 2010; 5: 27-34.

[13] Al-Khamees WA, Schwartz MD, Alrashdi S, Algren AD, Morgan BW. Status epilepticus associated with borage oil ingestion. J. Med Toxicol 2011; 7: 154-157.