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Borage (Borago officinalis)

DESCRIPTION

An annual plant, borage grows in middle and southern Europe, as well as in northern Africa. Because of its high mucilage content, this herb is often used to soothe areas of both external and internal Inflammation. Borage contains high amounts of tannic acid, which constricts inflamed tissue due to its astringent properties. The combination of mucilage and tannic acid make borage extremely useful in treating many conditions. Because borage also contains gammalinolenic acid (GLA), it may be used to treat conditions that depend on the body?s ability to produce prostaglandin E1(1).

HERBAL USES

Borage was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans as a heart sedative. It was believed that the herb could instil courage in the user. During the Middle Ages, borage steeped in wine was used to dispel melancholy (2).

Due to its mucilage content, borage may have expectorant and Cough suppressant properties. It may also have demulcent and emollient properties that make it useful for reducing swelling, Inflammation, Pain, and Infection of Skin sores, Wounds, bites, Rashes, etc. Borage also has astringent and diuretic properties.

SUGGESTED INTAKES

Parts of the plant used: SEED, LEAF, FLOWER.

For rheumatoid Arthritis, adult dosage is 1.4 g daily for two months (3).

For Eczema, borage oil dose adjusted to 360 mg of GLA daily (4).

SUPPLEMENTAL USES

Eczema:
When open clinical trials examined the effects of borage oil on Eczema, reductions in Skin Inflammation, dryness, scaliness, and itch were observed (5). Another study showed borage oil to be effective for treating seborrhoea, or skin lesions in children when applied to the diaper region (6). However, the results have not been reproduced in controlled studies. Further research is needed to verify the effectiveness of borage oil treatment on eczema (7).

Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Little scientific evidence is available to support the use of borage oil for rheumatoid Arthritis. However, one controlled study did find significant improvement in symptoms after use of borage oil for twenty-four weeks (8) (9).

Borage oil may also be used to treat PMS and Inflammation.

SAFETY AND PRECAUTIONS

Side effects can include Bloating, nausea, indigestion, and Headache.

Borage seeds contain small amounts of liver toxins called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). Use of PA-free borage oil products is recommended, and total amount of PA consumed per day should not exceed 1 ?g.

Use during Pregnancy or lactation is not recommended.

INTERACTIONS AND CONTRA-INDICATIONS

Use of borage oil in schizophrenic patients and/or in those taking phenothiazines may lead to temporal lobe epilepsy.

Sedatives and hypnotics (e.g. phenobarbital and meprobamate), and beta-adrenergic blocking agents (e.g. propranolol) can inhibit the anti-inflammatory action of borage oil.

REFERENCES

1.Horrobin DF. The importance of gamma-linolenic acid and prostaglandin E1 in human nutrition and medicine. J Holistic Med 1981;3:118-39.
2. Wren RC. Potter?s New Cyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations. Essex, England: C.W. Daniel and Co., 1988, 41.
3. Leventhal LJ, et al. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with gammalinolenic acid. Ann Intern Med 1993;119:867-73.
4. Landi G. Oral administration of borage oil in atopic dermatitis. J Appl Cosmetology 1993;11:115-20.
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. Manku MS, Horrobin, DF, Morse NL, et al. Essential Fatty Acids in the plasma phospholipids of patients with atopic eczema. Br J Derm 1984;110:643.
8. Leventhal LJ, et al. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with gammalinolenic acid. Ann Intern Med 1993;119:867-73.
9. Horrobin DF. Essential fatty acid metabolism in diseases of connective tissue with special reference to scleroderma and to Sjogren?s syndrome. Med Hypoth 1984;14:233-47.
10. DeSmet PAGM. Safety of borage seed oil. Can Pharm J 1991;124:5.
11. Robbers JE, Tyler VE. Tyler?s herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. New York: Haworth Press, 1999:194.