Borage Oil 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.
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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