Borage Seed Oil
for Gout

Borage seed
oil comes from the plant called Borago officinalis,
sometimes referred to as starflower probably because of its
attractive blue flowers.Borage oil is recommended for gout
because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a rich
source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is found in very
few plants, other than hemp, blackcurrant seed, and evening
primrose.
The leaves and flowers of borage contain
pyrrolozidine alkaloids, these substances are thought to damage
the liver and cause cancer, although there is no research
available to support these claims, the leaves and flowers are
no longer available to the public.However the FDA have not
managed to withdraw the multitude of OTC pills and potions
which have been proven to cause liver and kidney damage, heart
attacks, and GI bleeding!
Way back in 1597 the healing properties of
Borage were mentioned by the herbalist John Gerard,
centuries before Dioscorides and Pliny was used " steeped in
wine to induce absolute forgetfulness". Mrs M Grieve in the
Modern Herbal says of Borage's medicinal properties:" Diuretic,
demulcent, and emollient. Borage is much used in France for
fevers and pulmonary complaints. By virtue of it's saline
constitutents, it promotes the activity of the kidneys and for
this reason is employed to carry off feverish catarrhs". "
Externally it is used as a poultice for inflammatory
swellings".
As you can see Borage leaves and
flowers have been used for centuries, however, no
long-term studies have been done on the side effects, so
it's not recommended that you take it in herb form. Far better
to take the oil, for the restrictions on the use of the flowers
and leaves do not apply to the ingestion of the oil. The
anti-inflammatory properties of borage oil indicate it to
be an effective treatment for diseases such as
arthritis, gout, diabetic neuropathy, and hypertension.
Read more:Borage Oil
for Gout
References: Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal.
Published Penguin Books 1980.
Several
well-controlled, randomized clinical studies have now been
completed in which various EFAs were evaluated as
treatments. The results of most of these studies suggest
some clinical benefit to these treatments; these data are
reviewed here.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Jan;71(1
Suppl):352S-6S.Click here to read Links
Evening primrose oil and borage oil in
rheumatologic conditions.
Belch JJ, Hill A.
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