Both Borage and Evening Primrose oil provide the Omega 6 essential fatty acid (gamma linolenic acid) but there are some important differences.
Borage oil seems to provide a greater amount of this fatty acid, but it also contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are a liver toxin in its fresh leaves. It does not contain very much of this toxin and if the oil which is made from the seeds it is unlikely to have much or any of this toxin present.
Lately someone brought up a question about the safety of using Borage oil and Vitex together. So far I have found no reference to this other than what was listed on the NOW brand of Borage oil.
Evening Primrose oil has been more thoroughly researched than borage oil. Although it provides less GLA than Borage oil it also has no toxicity and is well tolerated by most people.
Here is an article that promotes the use of Evening primrose oil over Borage:
Hi waxingmoon!!
I just wonder if I should take BO, EPO and Triple Omega (3+6+9) at the same time with high dose (like 3000mg EPO + 1000mg BO + 1 softgel of Omega per day?)
I haven't taken any other herbs so far (except for fenugreek and almond powder mix with extra virgin olive oil for massage at night).
Thank you so much,
Current Topic - Borage oil versus Evening Primrose oil