Borage Oil Safety

Borage grows in the Mediterranean region, where it has long been used as an herbal remedy for sore throats, coughs and depression. Today, oil is pressed from the plant's seeds, packaged in capsules and used to treat a variety of ailments. However, questions have been raised about its safety.

Benefits

• Borage oil has a high concentration of gamma linoleic acid (GLA), a fatty acid that works as an anti-inflammatory in the body's intricate hormonal system. Clinical trials have found that mega doses of borage oil reduced swelling and eased the pain of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Risks

• Borage oil also contains unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), a chemical compound that damages the liver. PAs accumulate in the body over time, and have the potential to compromise liver function seriously.

Other Side Effects

• Many nutritional supplement manufacturers remove the PAs from borage oil and label their products as "PA-free." However even PA-free borage oil supplements can causes constipation and nausea. People who suffer from liver damage, pregnant women and children should see a doctor before taking borage oil supplements.