Borage Seed Oil

Borage seed oil is the highest source of GLA, or Gamma Linolenic Acid of any known plant source. GLA is an omega-6 essential fatty acid, known primarily for its anti-inflammatory activity, used both in skin care as well as for joint and muscle pain and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. GLA being an essential fat, it cannot be made by the body, but must be obtained from dietary sources. It's deficiency has appeared as a number of inflammation-related conditions, which can be supported through its topical application as well as ingestiton.

In the Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews (2011 Feb 16;(2):CD002948) a study titled "Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis" noted that oils containing GLA show evidence of relief of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. In the journal of Rheumatology (2011 Jun 6. Epub ahead of print), a review of evidence titled
"Evidence for the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicines in the management of rheumatoid arthritis" also noted studies involving Borage oil have been positive, and warrant further review.

One can blend Borage oil with anti-inflammatory essential oils such as Helichrysum, Ginger, Frankincense and others to potentially enhance the effect, and blend with other carrier oils also noted for this activity (Tamanu and Virgin Coconut, for example).

The oil has been researched for its positive effects for a number of skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, acne, and premature aging due to overexposure to sunlight (UV rays). In some cases, it may be effective for atopic dermatitis in children -- that is, a type of eczema where the direct cause appears unknown -- though it is likely due to an overexposure to environmental toxins that the child's detoxification systems cannot otherwise manage.

One study, interesting because of its unique testing technique, was published in the European Journal of Dermatology (2007 Sep-Oct;17(5):448-9. Epub 2007 Aug 2.) titled "Undershirts coated with borage oil alleviate the symptoms of atopic dermatitis in children". In the controled study, one group of infants with atopic dermatitis wore undershirts coated with the oil, and showed significant improvement in symptoms.

A review of the research presented on Pubmed.gov for the oil brings up 124 references for "Borage Oil", and the list of positive results is long.

As a carrier oil, Borage seed oil can be applied at 100% strength for inflammation relief, though is generally included at around 20% of a carrier oil base. Where the blend is for premature aging of the skin, it's important to understand that inflammation on a cellular level is one of the "pillars of aging", and limiting this process is just as crucial as limiting the activity of oxidative radicals. We highly recommend its use for this purpose, or other carrier oils noted for their anti-inflammatory properties (as noted above, Tamanu and Virgin Coconut are highly active in this way).

Recipes

Borage seed oil can be included in formulas for skin care or arthritis care at any concentration -- we recommend it make up 1/5th to 1/3rd of the base. For childhood atopic dermatitis, one can use only Borage oil, and perhaps 3 drops per ounce of German Chamomile CO2 and Lavender essential oils.

For arthritis support, blend with Tamanu and Virgin Coconut, and include up to 15% Helichrysum essential oil, and 1 to 2% each of Ginger CO2, Frankincense CO2, and up to 5% Plai essential oil.

For skin care addressing psoriasis and eczema, blend also with Tamanu, Coconut, and Hazelnut oils, and include SMALL amounts of essential oils such as Lavender, German Chamomile, Sea Buckthorn and Calendula. Really no more than 2% total concentration of essential oils is best -- this is approximately 22 drops essential oil per ounce of carrier formula. LESS IS MORE with the oils, as there's no need to irritate the skin further. Many therapists believe higher concentrations of these anti-inflammatory essential oils may actually be pro-inflammatory.

For skin other skin care formulas, include as a portion of your base and add up to a total of 5% essential oil concentration, selecting the oils on the skin condition you are addressing.