Borage Oil Vs. Black Seed Oil

Oil that is pressed from borage seeds, black cumin seeds and black currant seeds contains gamma linoleic acid (GLA), a beneficial fatty acid that your body converts to prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). PGE1 is a hormone-like substance that works as an anti-inflammatory. It may also behave as a blood thinner and a blood vessel dilator. The oils also have topical applications for skin disorders.

• Seed-oil plants

Borage-Seed Oil

• Borage-seed oil, or starflower oil, is obtained by pressing the seeds of the borage flower. Borage seeds are considered to be the best source of GLA ; the concentration is 20 to 26 percent. Besides GLA, borage-seed oil has other 'good' fatty acids, including: palmitic, stearic, oleic, eicosenoic, erucic and nervonic.

  Borage oil is applied topically to reduce the inflammation, pain and joint stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis, eczema symptoms and infantile seborrheic dermatitis. While borage seeds do contain a liver toxin (pyrrolizidine alkaloid), testing has shown the alkaloid is not present in the oil. Side effects can include nausea, bloating, heartburn, gas, indigestion and headaches.

Black-Cumin-Seed Oil

• Black-cumin-seed oil comes from Nigella sativa, an annual flowering plant found in the Middle East and India. The seeds, valued by the ancient Egyptians, are still prized today. Both the seeds and their oil are used. The seeds are used to treat breathing-related illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis, arthritis, rheumatism and other inflammatory diseases, to increase lactation in nursing mothers, to promote digestion and to fight parasitic infections.

  Black-cumin oil, cold pressed from seeds is 35 percent more concentrated than the seeds alone. It is a rich source of linoleic and linolenic acids and GLA. It also contains nigellone, which is used to treat bronchial spasms, sterol and beta-sitosterol, which is used against tumors in the liver, abdomen and eyes. The Kimmel Cancer at Jefferson in Philadelphia is studying the effect of another component, thymoquinone, in blocking pancreatic cancer growth. The oil is used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and boils and against colds and infections. Use of the seeds or the oil is not recommended during pregnancy.

Black-Currant-Seed Oil

• Black-currant-seed oil is obtained by pressing the seeds of the black currant or European currant shrub (Ribes nigrum), not to be confused with the black-currant berry. The oil contains a high concentration of fatty acids, particularly omega-6 (15 to 20 percent) and omega-3 (12 to14 percent), and gamma linolenic acid (GLA).

  In European folklore, black-currant-seed oil was used to treat and control diarrhea, to reduce the pain and inflammation of rheumatism and arthritis and as a diuretic. Its use in the treatment rheumatoid arthritis is still being studied. Black-currant-seed oil helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and ease cramps. Other uses include help in lowering blood pressure, maintaining cardiovascular health and easing dry skin disorders.

Comparison of GLA Concentrations

• In comparison with black-cumin-seed and black-current-seed oils, borage seed oil, with a concentration of 20 to26 percent, contains the most GLA. Black-currant-seed oil has a lower amount, with 17percent of omega-6 and GLA and 13 percent of omega-3 and alpha linolenic acids. Black-cumin-seed oil has about the same concentration of GLA as black-currant-seed oil, and it also contains nigellone, which is effective against breathing-related illnesses.

Other Comparisons

• In addition to the concentration of GLA, side effects must be considered when comparing seed oils. Borage-seed oil has the largest number of mainly digestive side effects; black-currant-seed oil has the fewest. The counterindication of using black-cumin-seed oil during pregnancy is a side effect that should be strongly considered. And finally, always consider what condition you want to treat and which oil is most effective for treating it.