Borage is a perennial herb, also known as Starflower. The oil is extracted from the seeds is widely available on health food store shelves, due to the incredibly diverse health conditions it appears to address. Here’s just a quick look at a few of the many positive effects it can have on our health.
An omega-6 essential fatty acid called Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) can be found in its highest natural source in borage seed oil. This essential nutrient is the reason why the oil is so useful. It is widely known that one of the major benefits of borage seed oil is that it brings great relief to those who are afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis. It reduces inflammation and relieves swelling, pain and stiffness of the joints which are all symptoms of this disease.
The oil can be used just like an over-the-counter cream, or ingested either in capsules or straight from the bottle. GLA in the body is naturally converted to a hormone which normalizes many cell functions, helps with the healing of skin inflammation, and good skin health in general.
It is for this reason that borage seed oil can be used for a number of different skin complaints with great success. It provides relief from skin problems such as rosacea, psoriasis, acne, prematurely aged skin and eczema as well as it heals dry cracked skin. To obtain the maximum benefit from the oil it should become part of the diet in the form of a supplement and it should also be rubbed onto the affected area of the skin.
The oil can be used for the treatment of respiratory illnesses, and reduction of coughs and sore throats. In addition to GLA it also contains mucilage, which is a gummy gel-like substance that relaxes the mucous membranes when they are irritated by a cough. The mucilage works as an expectorant to make coughing up the mucus easier.
Healthy circulation, and decreases in cases of male impotence as well as female infertility are also among the benefits from the oil’s use. The control or prevention of high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure can be achieved with borage seed, resulting in fewer strokes and heart attacks. Shiny hair and strong nails are also direct results of using the oil.
Recent research has shown a truly wide variety of ailments can be addressed with borage’s use. Its only been in recent years that inflammation has been noted to be at the source of many health conditions, previously thought unrelated. The list is long, and deserves further investigation by those suffering from any chronic disorder.
Finding out all about the benefits of borage seed oil justifies why it is often referred to as miracle oil. The advantages are numerous, and of tremendous benefit to the user by helping to bring relief to several different conditions. This natural and healthy oil allows those who use it to enjoy a better quality of life with much less health issues.
There is more to learn! Visit the learning library for information about several individual aromatics like coriander essential oil and Douglas fir oil on www.AnandaApothecary.com.