How does Borage Oil alleviate Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Studies done in the last 15 years indicate that dietary supplementation with GLA reduces the clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. GLA reduces pain and joint stiffness and decreases the number of affected joints. Supplementation with GLA often allows a patient to reduce their dosage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Furthermore, animal studies show that GLA protects the stomach lining against gastric acid, reducing the side effects of prescription and over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as aspirin. GLA is therefore useful in conjunction with conventional arthritis medications. Studies One of the most recent studies was done at the University of Massachusetts in 1996. Patients received oil that contained 2.8 grams of GLA daily for 12 months (the equivalent of about 11 grams of Borage Oil). Patients experienced significant improvements in their symptoms within the first six months of the study and continued to improve during the remaining six months.
