Borago oil has long been known for its healing and rejuvenating properties. That is why it is widely used in cosmetology as a means to restore sensitive and aging skin. It is also used to treat many chronic diseases.
Botanical description
Borage oil is obtained from borage (a photo of the plant can be seen below). Borage (borage, or borage) refers to annual herbaceous plants of the Borage family. Syria is considered to be his homeland. However, borage actually grows as a common weed throughout southern Europe, northern Africa, Asia, and South America.
The plant can reach a height of 1 meter, the leaves are elliptical, and the flowers are bright blue with a pink tint, all parts are covered with stiff hairs. The name was given to him for the taste and smell: the young leaves of borage smell like fresh cucumbers, like the resulting oil. Borage seeds contain 26 to 38% oil containing gamma-linolenic acid.
Grass is a good honey plant, bees love to visit it even in bad weather, so beekeepersthe plant is often sown near apiaries to get high-quality light honey.
Useful substances and components
Borage Grass was popular in ancient Greece, because it was considered capable of increasing a person's vital energy. Ancient Roman warriors believed in its healing power, they took dry grass with them on campaigns. And medieval knights entered the battlefield only after drinking the traditional healing tea from borage. Moreover, their ladies also loved borage - as a talisman, they decorated the armor of their gentleman with plant flowers.
Cucumber herb contains many useful substances and trace elements:
- vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B5, B 6, B9, B12;
- macronutrients, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus;
- micronutrients (iron, manganese, copper, selenium, zinc);
- saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, palmitoleic, erucic);
- polyunsaturated fats.
Healing action
Its rich ingredients can be of great benefit to the human body:
- ascorbic acid - stimulates the liver, promotes the absorption of iron, normalizes vascular tissue, improves immunity;
- carotene - as an antioxidant, it helps to remove free radicals from the body, improves eyesight;
- organic acids (cucumber and malic) - help in the processdigestion;
- potassium - has a positive effect on the cardiovascular and nervous systems;
- tannins (tannins) - have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effects;
- mucosal components - contribute to the enveloping of the tissues of the stomach, which positively affects its functions;
- saponins - reduce the risk of tumor formation.
Borago oil: properties and uses
Borage oil is obtained by pressing seeds and flowers, followed by their refining or by cold pressing (with the latter, useful substances are preserved better). The result is a light yellow viscous liquid with a fresh cucumber-herbal aroma with added woody notes. It tastes like cucumber, but with sourness and a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Healing properties are explained by the presence of a large amount of useful fatty acids in the composition of borage oil:
- Alpha-linolenic (1-3%) and gamma-linolenic (25-40%) - used in the treatment of diseases of the heart muscle, cancer, asthma, arthritis, dermatitis and allergic reactions, genetic diseases.
- Oleic (14-18%).
- Vitamins, minerals, etc.
Useful properties of borage oil are widely used both in cosmetology and for the treatment of various diseases.
Use in cosmetology
Since ancient times, borage herb and oil have been used to treat dermatological diseases and rejuvenate the skin. Thanks to the ability toregeneration and cell regeneration borage oil strengthens the epidermal barrier, increases the moisture-holding capacity of the skin, its elasticity, firmness and protective properties, reduces inflammation and irritation.
The use of borage oil in cosmetology is due to its beneficial properties:
- promotes the restoration and renewal of epidermal cells, starting their division;
- helps improve overall skin condition, smoothes wrinkles;
- restores the skin after the influence of aggressive procedures (peeling, dermabrasion, etc.);
- normalizes the production of subcutaneous fat, reduces acne;
- moisturizes the top layer of the skin, relieves irritation and itching;
- used in the treatment of psoriasis, seborrhea;
- helps to improve the condition of the hair - strengthening, reducing the amount of dandruff;
- has a positive effect on the condition of nails.
Also, this oil is used in the treatment of cellulite - it helps to release the body of toxins that accumulate in the fat layer. It is added to creams as a component to eliminate stretch marks. Borago is mixed with wheat germ and rose hip oils. The resulting mixture is used for daily cosmetic procedures that help restore the elasticity of the epidermis in problem areas, polish the relief and increase tone.
Uses
There are many ways to use borage oil, both externally and internally. It is usually used when mixed with various herbaloils (avocado, almond, jojoba, wheat germ, etc.) in a ratio of 1:1.
Several useful recipes for moisturizing and restoring the epidermis:
- to smooth wrinkles: a mixture of oil and corn starch is applied to the face for 20 minutes, then washed off with water and lemon juice, dry the skin, lubricate with rapeseed oil and do a little massage;
- applied alone or in combination with other oils on the skin of the face, hands, décolleté and other parts of the body;
- bath (water temperature +37 °C) is prepared with 5 drops of borage oil;
- applications and masks are made by applying a napkin soaked in this product or a mixture with other oils for 15-30 minutes, procedures are performed daily 1-2 times a day;
- for the treatment of seborrhea and dandruff, oil is applied to the hair - it is easily absorbed, penetrating the scalp, has a positive effect on the metabolism of the hair follicles, cleanses the pores of dust and sebum, helps improve blood circulation, strengthens the roots.
Medical applications
Borago oil has a positive effect when taken internally due to its healing properties:
- regulates the body's metabolism;
- restores the hormonal balance between estrogen and progesterone, which helps in the treatment of PMS (regulates the cycle and relieves pain on critical days);
- used in complex therapy and for the prevention of atherosclerosis due to its action to reduce the level of harmfulcholesterol;
- is an antidepressant - helps to increase the production of beta-endorphins (hormones of joy), which helps to improve mood and stabilize the emotional state;
- regulates and maintains the function of the adrenal glands, stimulates the production of adrenaline, which helps in the treatment of patients after nervous shocks, helps to restore the body after steroid treatment;
- helps improve immune defenses;
- used in the treatment of peptic ulcer, gastritis, because it has a beneficial effect on the restoration of cells of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, as well as for the prevention of constipation;
- improves blood microcirculation in the vessels, which helps to normalize blood pressure, reduce headaches and prevent them;
- improves the condition of skin, hair and nails, can be used in the treatment of diaper dermatitis in babies;
- used in the treatment of eczema, psoriasis, seborrhea;
- used in the treatment of diabetes and bronchial asthma (increases immunity and eliminates inflammation).
The use of oil for medicinal purposes is recommended after consultation with your doctor. It can be consumed in liquid form (1-2 tsp per day) or added to salads. On sale, such a tool is positioned as a bioadditive.
Storage conditions
Borago (borage) oil can be used alone or in combination with other he althy oils. It should be borne in mind that its shelf life is limited: after opening the bottle, it must be tightly closeddue to possible oxidation in air or sunlight.
It is recommended to store it in a dark container in the refrigerator, the period of use is 2-3 months. To extend the shelf life up to 6 months, experts advise adding wheat germ oil to it (about 15%).
Cultivation of borage and collection of plants
The plant grows throughout the European part of Russia, so you can even find it in your own garden. The use of borage oil will benefit the body. You need to collect the plant in a certain period: from May to August. In some cases, it is able to retain healing properties until the onset of a cold snap.
Borage is planted in shady places, but it should be remembered that as a weed it can spread over a large area. Therefore, the collection is best done before the appearance of seeds. The plant is cut at the root during the flowering period, then dried in a well-ventilated area.
In dry form, borage can be eaten (salads, drinks, tea, juice, etc.), as well as decoctions and tinctures for the treatment of various diseases.
Manufacturers and release form
Borage oil is produced by different companies in several forms:
- organic borage oil (Slovenia);
- "Kingdom of aromas" (Crimea);
- Aromatika (Ukraine);
- healing body oil (Planeta Organica, Russia)
- Bio-Logical (Aroma-zone, France);
- Borage seed Oil (Germany), etc.
For oral use, the oil is available asgelatin capsules:
- Now Foods (USA) - 60 or 120 pcs. 500–1 thousand mg each;
- Pure Encapsulations (made in Canada) - cold pressed oil;
- Tesco Starflower Oil (USA), Jarrow Formulas and others
Contraindications to the use of oil and reviews
Before you decide to use this remedy for medicinal purposes, you should consider its contraindications:
- pregnancy;
- Individual intolerance to the product (very rare).
Women who use borage oil for cosmetic purposes leave mostly favorable reviews. Due to its healing properties, this tool helps in the fight against acne, increases the hydration of overdried skin, smoothes wrinkles and stretch marks. However, when consumed in liquid form, some do not like its specific smell.
When used orally, according to patient reviews, borage oil (borage), with constant use of 1-2 capsules per day, has a positive effect on metabolism and hormonal balance, improves skin, hair and nails. The main advantage of this remedy is the absence of an allergic reaction, so it is allowed to be taken by both adults and young children.
