 |
|
Rheumatoid
Arthritis (chronic
inflammation of the joints) |
|
Borage
oil supplementation may reduce
pain and joint stiffness,
decrease number of affected
joints, reduce dosage of non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
and protect stomach lining
against gastric acid. GLA
supplementation can be used
effectively in conjunction
with conventional arthritis
medications.
Patients who received
2.8 grams of GLA daily for
12 months (the equivalent
of about 11 grams of Borage
Oil) experienced significant
improvements within the first
six months of the study and
continued to improve during
the remaining six months (University
of Massachusetts study, 1996).
GLA is effective in juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis (Boston's
Shriner's Hospital for Children,
1999).
Usage of GLA for arthritis
recommended by The Arthritis
Foundation (Guide to Alternative
Therapies, 1999).
|
|
| Lupus
(A chronic inflammatory
condition)
|
|
| Reduces
inflammation in kidneys, joints
and skin. |
|
Eczema
and Psoriasis (A
particular type of inflammatory
reaction of the skin with tiny
blister-like raised areas, reddening,
swelling, bumps, thickening
and scaling of the skin. Causes
itching and burning of the skin)
Psoriasis
(A reddish,
scaly rash often located over
the surfaces of the elbows,
knees, scalp, and around or
in the ears, navel, genitals
or buttocks).
|
|
Reduces
dryness and keeps skin healthy,
supple, and young-looking.
Improves symptoms of psoriasis,
reduces risk of clogged pores
and reduces inflammation and
tightens skin.
In
a 12-week study, patients
experienced reduction by about
90% in itching and improvement
was seen in vesicle formation,
patchy redness of the skin,
and oozing of wounds after
receiving borage oil (University
of Italy, 1997)
|
|
|
Diabetic
Neuropathy(nerve
damage characterized by numbness
and pain that could lead to
complications in the digestive
tract, heart, and sexual organs) |
|
Prevention
and improvement of diabetic
neuropathy. Sometimes nerve
damage could lead to lower limb
amputations.
In trials conducted between
1993 and 1997 involving more
than 400 patients, researchers
measured 16 parameters of neurological
function including nerve conduction,
strength and speed, ability
to feel temperature, sensitivity
to touch, reflexes, and muscle
strength after GLA supplementation.
After a year, patients receiving
GLA had experienced significant
improvements while the placebo
group had continued to deteriorate. |
|
| Multiple
Sclerosis(A
disease of the central nervous
system (CNS) marked by numbness,
weakness, loss of muscle coordination,
and problems with vision, speech,
and bladder control.) |
|
| Minimizes
inflammation and contributes
to healthy nerve development. |
|
| Alzheimer’s
Disease(A
progressive neurologic disease
of the brain that leads to the
irreversible loss of neurons
and dementia). |
|
| Boosts
transmission of nerve impulses
and helps in treating Alzheimer’s
disease. |
|
|
|
Helps
correct blood cholesterol levels
by reducing average LDL (bad
cholesterol) level and increasing
average HDL (good cholesterol)
level.
In a 1994 Chilean placebo-controlled
human clinical study, borage
oil supplementation reduced
the average LDL-cholesterol
level in the treatment group
and increased the average HDL-cholesterol.
|
|
|
| Inhibits
growth of atherosclerotic plaque
including platelet aggregation,
smooth muscle cell multiplication
and inflammation (findings yet
to be confirmed in human trials). |
|
|
|
Borage
oil intake reduces stress-related
hypertension (high blood pressure).
In a 1996 study published
in the Journal of Human Hypertension,
patients who received 1 gram
of GLA per day for 4 weeks had
much lower blood pressure than
patients in the placebo group. |
|
|
| Limits
stress related jumps in blood
pressure and heart rate. |
|
|
Impotence,
Female Fertility |
|
| Borage
oil promotes blood flow and
thus corrects impaired penile
blood flow - a main cause of
impotence in men. By improving
uterine function, it helps women
who are unable to conceive. |
|
|
Nourishes
Nails, Scalp and Hair
|
|
| The
rich stores of essential fatty
acids have highly beneficial
effects on nails, hair and scalp. |
|
|
Relief
from Premenstrual Syndrome,
Endometriosis(Cells
that normally grow inside the
uterus (womb), grow outside
the uterus) and
Fibrocystic Breasts |
|
| Borage
oil provides relief by minimising
inflammation and promoting absorption
of iodine. |
|
|
Cough
and Throat Disorders |
|
| Borage
oil contains mucilage, a substance
that soothes mucous membranes
and also works as an expectorant. |
|
| Grout(Condition
characterized by abnormally
elevated levels of uric acid
in the blood, recurring attacks
of joint inflammation, deposits
of hard lumps of uric acid in
and around the joints, and decreased
kidney function). |
|
| Protects
against sudden and severe joint
pain caused by uric acid build
up. |
|
|
