Gout Treated with Natural Medicine 

Borage Seed Oil with GLA for Gout

Borage Oil by Natrol:
From its bristly stems to its blue star-shaped flowers, virtually all parts of the borage plant (Borago officinalis) have been used over the centuries for their healing properties and as a flavoring for foods. As early as the 1600s, Europeans mixed borage leaves and flowers into a wine that was renown for relieving boredom and dispelling melancholy.
While modern science has found little evidence that the herb itself has any therapeutic effects, its seed oil does appear to help in treating a number of conditions, from rheumatoid arthritis to menstrual problems. Research has shown that borage oil's medicinal effects can be traced to its rich stores of a therapeutic fat called gamma linolenic acid (GLA).

Health Benefits of Borage Oil by Natrol:
Like evening primrose oil and black currant seed oil, borage oil owes its healing power to the presence of essential fatty acids, the most important of which is GLA, an omega-6 fatty acid. (While Borage Oil by Natrol is often used interchangeably with evening primrose oil, ounce for ounce, borage oil boasts more than twice as much GLA.) Once processed by the body, GLA is converted into hormonelike substances that can either block inflammation or promote it. In borage oil, the GLA seems to calm inflammation overall, making it an attractive treatment option for arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Specifically, Borage Oil by Natrolmay help to:

Reduce the aches and pains of rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that high doses of borage oil (1.4 grams a day) led to a significant reduction in pain and swelling in arthritic joints when compared with cottonseed oil, which has no GLA. In a separate study, patients with active rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated fewer clinical signs of inflammation after taking GLA-rich capsules for several months, compared to those who took a placebo. Other researchers reported reduced damage to joint tissues--and less joint pain and swelling--in those rheumatoid arthritis sufferers given very high GLA doses in the form of borage oil.

Relieve the discomforts of PMS, endometriosis, and fibrocystic breasts.
 By interfering with the production of inflammatory substances called prostaglandins which are released during menstruation, the GLA in Borage Oil by Natrol may help ease related cramping and pain. Borage oil may also reduce some of the breast tenderness that women feel before their periods and calm endometriosis-associated inflammation. Many PMS sufferers are found to have unusually low levels of GLA in their systems, which is why supplements may help so much. In women with fibrocystic breasts, the oil's essential fatty acids can minimize breast inflammation and promote the absorption of iodine, a mineral often found in abnormally low levels in those with this condition. While various studies suggest that GLA-dense oils can effectively treat PMS discomforts, more recent research has cast some doubt on these claims.

Reduce the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.
In some cases, skin disorders develop when the body has problems converting dietary fats into GLA. Getting supplemental GLA from borage oil may therefore be helpful. GLA and other essential fatty acids also revitalize the skin by quieting inflammation and causing blood vessels to contract. People who suffer from the redness, itching, and other discomforts of eczema may even tolerate reduced doses of steroid creams and drugs--many of which cause unpleasant side effects--if they also take GLA. Not all studies point to such benefits, however, and many conventional doctors remain skeptical.

Clear up acne and rosacea.
 By working to dilute sebum, a thick oily substance that is oversecreted in some people with acne, the essential fatty acids in borage oil may reduce the risk of pores becoming clogged and lesions developing. The oil's essential fatty acids help treat rosacea by reducing inflammation, controlling the cells' use of nutrients, and by producing prostaglandins, which stimulate the contraction of blood vessels. Astringent substances in borage called tannins may also help by tightening skin.

Alleviate inflammation associated with lupus.
Inflammation in the kidneys, joints, skin, and other areas of the body caused by this condition may subside as a result of borage oil's anti-inflammatory actions.

Prevent nerve damage (neuropathy) due to diabetes.
People with diabetes are more likely to lose feeling in their sensory nerves, which can lead to tingling and numbness in the arms and legs. An inability to convert GLA may be one reason for this. When diabetes patients are given GLA-rich evening primrose oil, nerve damage (neuropathy) symptoms improve. For reasons that remain unclear, borage oil has not proven as effective for this condition as evening primrose oil despite its higher concentrations of GLA.

Combat damage from multiple sclerosis.
The abundant supply of essential fatty acids in Borage Oil by Natrol may be valuable in minimizing the inflammation associated with this progressive nerve disorder. The fatty acids may also contribute to healthy nerve development when taken over time. It is important to begin taking borage oil as soon as possible after diagnosis.

Ease cough and soothe throat disorders.
Borage Oil by Natrol has long been used in folk medicine to treat respiratory conditions, including coughs and sore throats. Besides GLA, borage oil also contains mucilage, a gummy, gel-like substance that soothes mucous membranes often irritated by a cough. Mucilage also works as an expectorant, making it easier to cough up mucus. According to a recent study from Ohio State University, patients with acute breathing problems needed fewer days on ventilation and spent less time in the hospital after taking fish oil and borage oil than those who went without these supplements.

Treat Alzheimer's-related memory deficiencies.
By boosting the transmission of nerve impulses, Borage Oil by Natrol may be valuable in treating this progressive brain disorder.

Reduce stress and high blood pressure.
Research on animals suggests that borage oil may protect against high blood pressure (hypertension). Less is known about whether it affects blood pressure in humans, but in a study of 10 men who underwent stressful situations, borage oil limited stress-related jumps in blood pressure and heart rate. By relieving tension, Borage Oil by Natrol also made it easier for men to perform normal tasks.

Nourish nails, scalp, and hair.
The rich stores of essential fatty acids in borage oil not only prevent nails from cracking but also help to keep them generally healthy. In addition, the essential fatty acids nourish the scalp, making the supplement potentially valuable in treating a variety of hair problems.

Treat gout.
Borage oil's anti-inflammatory actions--largely a function of its GLA stores--make it potentially valuable in protecting against the sudden and severe joint pain caused by uric acid buildup, which is known as gout.

Counter impotence and female infertility.
By promoting blood flow, the GLA in borage oil can help treat a primary cause of male impotence--compromised circulation leading to impaired penile blood flow. In addition, when the oil is taken long term, GLA can help prevent blood vessel narrowing, often a consequence of plaque buildup from high cholesterol. By improving uterine function, GLA may also help women who are unable to conceive.

Black Currant Oil - $ 17.60 Contains the essential oil GLA, a plant source of essential fatty acids.

Forms Borage Oil by Natrol available:

1. Softgel
2. Oil
3. Capsule

Click here for more Information and for Buyers Guide: Natrol.com

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