Borage, or star flower, is a herb that blooms annually, characterized by its violet color and star-like flowers, and this herb has been used since ancient times for many therapeutic purposes.

The benefits of the ox herb

There are a variety of health benefits of this herb, some of which are listed below:

1. Reducing inflammation

Several scientific studies have revealed that this herb contains anti-inflammatory properties, including a study conducted on 74 people who took the dietary supplement of borage oil, for 18 months, with or without fish oil, and this study concluded that taking these supplements resulted in a reduction in the accompanying symptoms. For rheumatoid arthritis disease.

2. Reducing asthma symptoms

Many scientific studies have revealed that taking the extract of this herb helps relieve symptoms associated with asthma, by reducing inflammation and swelling in the airways, but there is a need for more scientific research to confirm this benefit, because the scientific studies conducted used vitamins, minerals and other oils. With the extract of this herb.

3. The benefits of borage herb for the skin

The oil of this herb contains a rich percentage of gamma-linolenic acid, which is one of the fatty acids that play a key role in promoting the health of skin cells. and psoriasis.

4. Borage herb benefits for hair

The oil of this herb is famous for its ability to treat hair follicle inflammation, which occurs when hair follicles are damaged and inflamed as a result of infection, causing severe hair loss, so massaging the scalp with this oil helps treat the problem of hair loss because it is rich in antioxidants, and it also contains Omega-6 fatty acids stimulate hair growth, in addition, it can be used to treat dandruff.

5. Borage for depression

Tea can be prepared by boiling the leaves of this herb, which helps reduce anxiety and stress and resist depression, and taking nutritional supplements of the oil of the herb helps to treat some disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic attacks, but this herb cannot be relied on as a primary treatment for depression. .

Important noticeWe advise not to rely entirely on this herb to treat some of the diseases we mentioned, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and depression, and to consult a specialist doctor before use.

How to use the borage herb

There are a variety of products from this herb, including the following:

• The herb in its fresh or dried form.
• Herb seed oil as a dietary supplement.
• Skin creams.
• Grind the leaves of the herb and use it to treat insect bites.

Borage weed side effects

There are some harms that may result from the use of the herb, the oil extracted from it, or the oil supplements, and there are some cases that should be avoided when using this herb:

1. Damage to the liver

The leaves and flowers of this herb contain compounds that cause liver poisoning, which increases the severity of liver diseases and may lead to cirrhosis of the liver.

2. Bleeding disorders

Care must be taken to avoid eating this herb, for those who suffer from bleeding disorders, because it increases bleeding and bruising, because the oil of this herb contains a rich percentage of gamma-linolenic acid, which increases bleeding.

3. Seizures

One study indicated that a small number of healthy women who took large amounts of the herb oil led to their seizures.

4. Pregnancy and lactation

The leaves and flowers of this herb contain a toxic substance, which threatens the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus if ingested. It is also cautioned to take it to nursing mothers because this toxic substance will be transmitted to the infant through breast milk, increasing the risk of blue baby syndrome.

5. Side effects

There are a large number of serious side effects, which may result from eating this herb, such as diarrhea, headache, nausea, stomach pain and cramps.

6. Allergies

The use of this herb results in some allergic reactions, such as rash, itching, difficulty breathing, dizziness, swelling of the throat, sudden fatigue and runny nose.

After learning about the benefits, uses and harms of the borage herb, you should not overuse this herb, and consult your doctor before taking it, especially in case of any health problems.