Guest guest Posted March 24, 2001 Report Share Posted March 24, 2001 Several months ago, I started taking borage oil for my occular symptoms. It helped a lot. Then, a while later someone on the board mentioned it wasn't good to take just borage oil, and that we need to take all the essential fatty acids. So then I started taking Total EFA made by Health from the Sun. Unfortunately, I've noticed my eyes getting more and more irritated. I then started taking borage oil alone (made by Jarrow Formulas), and within a week, my eyes were feeling much better! I'm worried, however, that I may be doing my body harm in the longterm by taking just borage oil and not getting a balance of all the other EFA's. I don't want to take the borage oil AND the EFA capsules because my hair gets greasy enough taking just one of these. Is anyone having luck with taking all the EFA's (not just taking borage)? If so, what brand do you take? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2001 Report Share Posted March 24, 2001 I definitely agree with Kate. If you take borage and flax in measured dosages, you are covered, both with the omega6 GLA from borage and the omega3 LNA from flax. The blend you were using likely had insufficient levels of GLA for your occular symptoms. ~Jim ****************************************************************** Adanac, I too have found that I need to take at least one 1000 mg cap of Borage to prevent dry eyes.I try to balance that with Flax 1000 or 2000 mg daily and I also eat lots of olive oil and little meat, or processed foods. I had written a post about balancing the EFA's, but I find that Borage works best for occular rosacea. I figure that my body must need the Borage, and I don't think it will hurt me in any way. Regards, Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2001 Report Share Posted March 24, 2001 Kate, do you find that taking borage oil plus Flax causes your hair to get greasy? My hair gets really bad when I take the EFA capsules only, so I'm scared to try both borage and EFAs. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2001 Report Share Posted March 24, 2001 > I definitely agree with Kate. If you take borage and flax in measured > dosages, you are covered, both with the omega6 GLA from borage and > the omega3 LNA from flax. What about ALA, DHA, EPA? Do I also need to take these? (I'm afraid I don't know much about this sort of thing.) According to the label for my EFA capsules, the list of ingredients are: ALA (omega-3): 699 mg DHA (omega-3): 138 mg EPA (omega-3): 216 mg GLA (omega-6): 288 mg Linoleic Acid (omega-6): 620 mg (is this one LNA?) Oleic Acid (omega-9): 520 mg Would it be sufficient to just take GLA and LNA? The above list seems like a well-balanced mix, but I'd rather take the minimum required. (My poor hair gets too greasy as is!) Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2001 Report Share Posted March 25, 2001 Adanac, my hair and skin both benefited from the Borage/Flax. I am over fifty and look younger and better as a result of these oils. I wash my hair everyday, so I have no idea whether it is oily. Maybe you need to change shampoo? Also really look at what kind of animal fats you are taking in, and also look at your hormone status, birth control pill etc. These all influence your oil secretion. As problems go, oily hair does not compare to eye problems in my book. Don't let the dry eyes get out of hand, as they can lead to troublesome and ongoing eye problems. Regards, Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2001 Report Share Posted March 25, 2001 In a message dated 3/24/01 2:07:32 PM Pacific Standard Time, kali2030@... writes: I haven't responded to the group in quite some time, but reading this thread about the EFA's I have to put in my 2 cents. A couple years ago, I started taking EPO and my eyes started to get better. Then, when I went on vacation and was getting low on my supplement, I went and got the combined total EFA Health From the Sun I believe it was. I figured that way I would have the total EFA's I needed. Well, my eyes started to get progressively worse after that so I discontinued the EFAs altogether. About 3 months ago, as per Kate's advice I began to take 1000 mg Borage and 1000 mg flax daily. I keep it refrigerated even though it doesn't say so on the label. My eyes HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER! Saying this, I must say that my eyes have been awful since I was 19 years old. I am now 46. This is the closest thing to a miracle I have ever experienced and I am not an easy pushover. I urge anyone of you who have red, gritty eyes, blepharitis, MGD to give this a try. Oh, I also do the lid scrubs once or twice a day with the hot compresses. Before I started the EFAs this routine tended to increase the inflammation. But now it is helping alot. Also, I do take doxy 100 mg daily. But I have done this for 3 years with minimum results. The EFAs have definitely helped much much more! Good luck, Marji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2001 Report Share Posted March 25, 2001 In a message dated 3/24/01 3:27:30 PM Pacific Standard Time, adanac@... writes: > Kate, do you find that taking borage oil plus Flax causes your hair > to get greasy? My hair gets really bad when I take the EFA capsules > only, so I'm scared to try both borage and EFAs. Thanks. > > > My hair and skin also feel oilier, but I don't like to think of it as a bad > thing. And another positive thing I've noticed from the EFAs is my skin > Marji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2001 Report Share Posted March 25, 2001 LNA aka ALA = Alpha Linolenic Acid (Omega3): Flax oil ~58% LNA GLA = Gamma Linoleic Acid (Omega6): Borage oil ~20% GLA DHA and EPA are both superunsaturated Omega3 compounds. Salmon, cod and other cold water marine fish are good sources of DHA and EPA. I recommend eating salmon or cod once or twice per week, or taking DHA/EPA supplements. ~Jim ******************************************************************** What about ALA, DHA, EPA? Do I also need to take these? (I'm afraid I don't know much about this sort of thing.) According to the label for my EFA capsules, the list of ingredients are: ALA (omega-3): 699 mg DHA (omega-3): 138 mg EPA (omega-3): 216 mg GLA (omega-6): 288 mg Linoleic Acid (omega-6): 620 mg (is this one LNA?) Oleic Acid (omega-9): 520 mg Would it be sufficient to just take GLA and LNA? The above list seems like a well-balanced mix, but I'd rather take the minimum required. (My poor hair gets too greasy as is!) Thanks. ************************* Jim wrote ****************************** I definitely agree with Kate. If you take borage and flax in measured dosages, you are covered, both with the omega6 GLA from borage and the omega3 LNA from flax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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