What critical safety distinction exists between consuming commercial borage seed oil capsules and eating fresh leaves from the garden?
The seed oil isolates fatty acids and is low in PAs, while whole leaf consumption introduces alkaloids
The paramount distinction between using borage oil supplements and consuming the raw plant material lies in the presence or absence of toxic compounds and the targeted benefits. Commercial borage seed oil undergoes processing designed to extract and concentrate the beneficial fatty acids, particularly GLA, while effectively removing the potentially toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Conversely, consuming the whole leaf, especially raw or in high amounts, directly introduces these PAs, which pose a risk of liver toxicity. This fundamental difference in composition—fatty acids versus alkaloids—is the core reason why the oil is considered generally safe for short-term use while the raw plant material requires extreme caution or avoidance.
