Borage Oil and Pregnancy

Pregnancy is that one condition wherein the expecting mother needs to be careful even when she moves! Anything around her can affect the baby if proper care is not taken. And in the effort of taking extra care, many times, we tend to do things that we shouldn't! When it comes to using natural herbs during pregnancy, there are some herbs that can prove to be helpful, and there are some which can result into a lot of side effects. Borage is one such herb, that has properties which can prove to be harmful during pregnancy.

Borage Seed Oil for Pregnancy

Like many other herbs, the benefits of borage seed oil are well-known to all of us. It helps in blood circulation, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is also useful in preventing certain cancer types! But is using borage oil during pregnancy safe enough? Though it may act as a wonderful natural herb, not all its properties are favorable enough to be consumed during pregnancy! Before we get into the details, let us have a look at the pros and cons of borage oil usage.

Benefits of Borage Oil

This herb has many rewarding natural properties that can help mankind to fight many diseases and illnesses. Some of the benefits are mentioned below.

• Borage oil proves to be very helpful for acne. Using borage oil on the affected areas helps get rid of acne naturally.
• Other benefit that can be availed from borage oil is getting rid of eczema. Borage oil is one of the natural gifts of nature that can help your skin regain its health and glow!
• Apart from skin issues, borage oil also helps in curing inflammatory diseases and blood circulation which contributes in the prevention of blood clotting and cardiovascular disorders.
• As mentioned earlier, borage oil can also prove to be useful in preventing certain types of cancers and nerve impulses as well.
• Borage oil also cures many female health problems like premenstrual symptoms, mood swings, menopausal symptoms, etc.

Borage Oil Side Effects

After going through the wonderful benefits of borage oil, let us have a look at the side effects which will also help you understand as to why borage oil and pregnancy do not go hand in hand. Have a look!

• Borage oil consists of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, in very small quantities. This alkaloid can prove to be very toxic for the liver. Therefore, using borage oil which is labeled as pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) free would be advisable!
• The usage of borage oil during pregnancy is strictly discouraged because it can simulate premature labor! It contains high amounts of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which tends to increase the production of prostaglandin E, which may cause the premature birth of the child. This makes consuming borage oil extremely risky!
• Other side effects include experiencing symptoms like nausea, headache, bloating of the stomach, etc. Do you think a pregnant women would need all this?
• Not only this, there is one more side effect that you need to know regarding borage oil. Pregnancy is where both the mother and child need things that can help them be healthy. Using borage oil makes the infant prone to many risks. Also, according to the doctors, breastfeeding also becomes extremely risky after the usage of borage oil. Therefore, avoiding borage oil while you are pregnant is the better choice than taking the risk.

Now that you know about the relationship between borage oil and pregnancy, and how it is harmful for both yours and your baby's health, make sure that you stay away from this herb for the time being. However, if you have to consume it, do not do so without consulting with your health care specialist. Take care!