Borage Oil

Borage oil is derived from seeds which come from the Borage (Borago Officinalis) plant. Centuries ago, if you would have gone to your village medicine man or more primitive herbal doctor for conditions like irritability, cramping or other things associated with menstrual cycles, you would have probably been given this plant. Roman soldiers would eat parts of this plant to gain courage before going into battle, and wore clothing with the image of Borage embroidered onto it. Today, while people don't usually pay this kind of homage to Borage, there are a few other valuable uses for Borage oil.

The Borage plant is native to Europe and North Africa, but currently, it is cultivated in America. This is mostly due to the beneficial uses of Borage in plant and oil form. It is a leafy, long stalked plant that produces purple flowers when blooming. These flowers resemble stars and for this reason, it is often called 'starflower.' Both the plant and the oil has a cucumber-like aroma which is cool and pleasant. The oil is a yellowish color with a faint green hue and is made up of 24% gamma linolenic acid. This is an essential fatty acid and is Borage oil is the richest known source of this oil. So, what does this do for skin? Well, it does plenty!

Borage oil has been researched heavily along with the benefits that it has on skin. One of the things that have been found is that this oil is great for skin conditions which include inflammation. From Rosacea to Acne, Borage oil helps calm the inflammation and provides healing properties to the damaged and irritated skin. It is also wonderful for restoring moisture to overly dry skin. Many people experience rough, dry skin during the winter months when they have to use indoor heat for warming. This is a great time to utilize Borage oil for moisturized, healthy skin.

Another great use for this oil is skin issues with infants. 'Cradle cap' is a common condition in babies which is characterized by flaky, scaly skin on the scalp and even the groin area, eyelids and face. Research shows that when Borage oil is gently massaged into the scalp and affected areas (NOT on eyelids), the cradle cap cleared up very nicely. After stopping treatment with Borage oil, the condition was back within a week! Of course, upon continuation, the condition disappeared again. One interesting thing to note is that even the cradle's cap which was not coated with oil disappeared, showing that the oil was absorbed through the skin and redistributed throughout the body! This oil is also wonderful for the hair and fingernails when topically applied or orally! Just remember not to heat the oil at all before taking it orally. Simply add it to the food that has already been cooked and be sure to check amounts before you do take it! This is a truly great oil and is very helpful for all sorts of conditions.

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