• Borage Oil

• Latin Name
  Borago Officinalis L.,
  Family: Boraginaceae
• Etymology
  Borage is sometimes called beebread because bees like this plant. In the past most descriptions of borage have referred to its ability to bring happiness to people; on account of this Pliny named the plant euphrosinum. The word borago is possibly from the Latin burra, meaning  a hairy garment  and referring to the leaves.
• The plant and its environment
  The herb has its origins in the Middle East and is now widely grown. Its hairy stem, alternate hairy greyish green leaves and pinky blue, pretty star shaped flowers  easily distinguish this annual (occasionally biennial) attractive plant. It grows to a height of 60cm (2 feet).
• The Oil
  In the early 1980's gamma linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid, was identified as a triacyglycerol component in borage oil, which has been obtained  from the dark brown seeds  by simple cold expression. With levels of 16-23%, borage oil is the richest source of GLA currently available  (evening primrose also contains much less , about 9%). However, waste black currant pulp has since been found to contain 14% GLA and is a much cheaper alternative.
  It must be remembered that GLA is very fragile  and can be rapidly destroyed by light, heat, humidity and the oxygen in the air. For this reason the oil should be stored in a cool dark place.
  Because it is less expensive, borage oil has been used as an adulterant in evening primrose  oil in order to increase the GLA content.
• Methods of extraction
  Borage seeds are cold pressed using a compressing screw thread.

Principal Constituents

• Folk-lore and traditional plant uses
  The flowers of the flowering tops of brage have been used in teas (tisanes) for diuretic, sudorific and emollient purposes  (Leung & Foster 1996). Traditionally, it was believed  that the leaves and seeds of borage could help promote the milk supply in nursing mothers. Externally it has been employed as a poultice  for inflammatory swellings (grieve 1998).
  There are records of its use as an antiinflammatory in the Middle Ages, but all of the virtues mentioned for this plant by the ancients the most consistently reported  was its ability to cheer the melancholic, to brighten the pessimist, and generally to make men merry and bring comfort:
• Of known virtue to revive the hypochondriac and cheer the hard student. John Evelyn 17th century.
• Therapeutic properties - internal use
  A good source of GLA, borage oil is available in capsules, when a typical dose is two to four per day over a period of two months. From a preventative point of view  it is advisable to take two courses per year, and after the age of 60 it is recommende that a person  should take a capsule of borage oil every day, as normal synthesis of GLA may be diminished (Leung & Foster 1996) For convalescents and children the capsules can be opened  and mixed with food (compare with evening primrose oil). Borage oil can be used with evening primrose oil to reduce cholesterol deposits (bartram 1995) . The seed oil has been awarded  a DIN in Canada as a GLA dietary supplement for essential fatty acid deficiency (Awang 1990).
• Therapeutic properties - external use
  the bonded fatty acid components of borage oil are said to defer wrinkling (Bartram 1995) so it may be feasible to add a capsule of oil to a facial treatment oil or lotion (concentration of 4-8%)
• non irritant so it may be used on the skin in cases of eczema and psoriasis.
• Cosmetic use
  The high GLA content  (much higher than evening primrose) recommends its use  for re-establishing and maintaining normal skin function. Borage extract is used in skin care products.
• Culinary use
  The fresh flowers make a delightful topping to a salad and can be dried for use in tea. Fresh borage flowers can also be added to cold drinks  for those long summer evenings. Some people liken the flavour  to that of cucumber, and the candied flowers are used as cake decorations.  The roots are used to flavour wine and the young leaves may be pickled, and also added to salads.
• Cautionary notes
  As far as is known, borage oil has no contraindications. It is reported as being non-toxic and non-irritating to the eyes and skin (Roche 1990) Borage leaf use is suspended in Germany due to the pyrrolizidine content (Monograph 1991)
• Reference: Carrier Oils/ Len Price et al