Borage Seed Oil
quantity in basket: none
code: 61047

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Latin Binomial: Borago officinalis
Plant Part: Seed
Extraction: Cold Pressed
Growing Practice: Ethical
Country of Origin: USA

This fixed oil is pressed from the beautiful starflower seeds. It contains different fatty acids, including gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and prostaglandins, in which a deficiency of the latter will cause dryness, loss of suppleness and wrinkling. This deficiency will cause skin to age more quickly and be less tolerant to sunlight, hence damage to the skin will take longer to heal.

Refractive Index: 1.470 - 1.480 @ 20°C
Specific Gravity: 0.915 - 0.935 @ 20°C
Appearance: pale yellow to golden yellow liquid
BioChemicals: gamma linoleic acid, vitamins, minerals (highest GLA source)

Saturated Fatty Acids: (typically 15%) palmitic acid (9-13%), stearic acid (3-5%), arachidic acid (0-1%)

Monounsaturated fatty acids (typically 22%): oleic acid (10-20%), eicosenoic acid (2-6%), erucic acid (1-3.5%), nervonic acid (0.5-2.5%), palmitoleic acid (0-0.6%)

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (60%): Linoleic acid (34-42%), α-linolenic acid (0-0.4%), γ-linolenic acid (19-29%)
CAS No: 84012-16-8

Borage, also known as starflower (Borago officinalis) of the Boraginaceae Family, is an annual herb native to Syria but naturalized around the Mediterranean region, Europe, North Africa, and South America. It grows to a height of 2-3 feet and is easily recognizable by its star-shaped blue (sometimes pink or white) flowers and bristly or hairy stems or leaves.

To make the oil, Borage seeds are cold-pressed using a compressing screw thread.

Traditionally cultivated as food or for medicne, today it is mainly grown as an oilseed. It has a very high content of gamma-linoleic acid, possibly the highest plant based source (with the possible exception of black current oil).

Therapeutic Properties for external use

  • May defer wrinkling so can be added to lotions or facial oils
  • use on the skin for eczema and psoriasis because it is non-irritating.

Cosmetic Use

  • use in skin care products
  • GLA may re-establish and maintain normal skin function
    • Originally grown for use as a vegetable with a cucumber-like taste that is very common in Germany, Spain, and northern Italy.

    Traditional herbal use has included for regulation of metabolism and the hormonal system, to aleviate colds and flu symptoms, and for anti-inflammation.

    Must be kept refrigerated and NEVER be heated. Store in a cool, dark place.

    Borage seed oil is considered non-toxic and non-irritating to the eyes and skin.

    Borage leaf use is suspended in Germany because of pyrrolizidine content.

    Because of the slight possibility of contamination of the seed oil by low levels of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid, we recommend borage seed oil for external use only.

    The information provided on these pages is not a substitute for necessary medical care, nor intended as medical advice. Always keep carriers and bases tightly closed and in a cool, dark place, out of reach of children. If redness or irritation occurs when applied to the skin, stop using immediately and contact your health provider if necessary.