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Borage seed oil

Borago officinalis

Supplements. Western & European.

Also called Starflower, Burrage

Spanish: Borraja

Herb tea can harm liver

Oil pressed from borage seeds, rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), used for skin and joint claims.

Did you know? Borage seed oil holds more GLA than evening primrose oil, which is why the two are often compared.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Joint pain & arthritis. A few small trials of GLA oils, including borage, found some benefit in rheumatoid arthritis. Results are mixed and the trials are small.
Early proof
Skin. Sold for eczema. Reviews of borage and evening primrose oil could not show that either helps eczema.
Not supported

Parts of the body

Joints, Skin & hair

Traditional use

Herbalists used borage leaves and flowers in tea for fevers and to ease low spirits. Its seed oil is a modern supplement.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Anti-inflammatory, Nutritive. Energy: neutral.

How people take it

Capsules are the usual form. Trials used a range of doses, and no dose has been shown to work best.

Capsule and oil.

Where to get it

Borage is a blue-flowered annual grown in gardens and on farms in Europe, and the seed oil is pressed commercially. Buy oil labeled PA-free, which means free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (liver-toxic plant compounds).

Be careful

The leaves and flowers contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can damage the liver, so do not use the herb as tea long term. Seed oil may cause stomach upset and may add to bleeding risk. Avoid it in pregnancy and in epilepsy.

Avoid if: pregnancy; liver disease; epilepsy; bleeding disorders.

Mixing with other things

Works well together
Both are GLA-rich seed oils that are often compared and sold side by side.
Works well together
Vitamin E helps protect the oil from spoiling.
Use caution
Blood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, daily aspirin)
Borage oil may add to bleeding risk with blood thinners.

Adds up with others that may slow blood clotting: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 40 more.

The honest take

Borage seed oil is a real source of GLA, but its benefits for joints and skin are weak or mixed. The eczema claim failed in reviews of GLA oils. The leaves and flowers are not safe for long-term tea because of liver-toxic alkaloids.