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Dietary supplement

Borage Oil Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbal Select

Borage Oil label
See full label image
Softgel Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Borage Oil against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Borage Oil is a dietary supplement by Herbal Select with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for eczema and dry skin, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation.Based on those ingredients, 226 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are 100% pure cold-pressed Borage Oil. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Borage Oil by Herbal Select

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Borage Oil by Herbal Select — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Borage Oil by Herbal Select

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 16, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 3 of its 3 active ingredients.
  • “100% pure cold-pressed Borage Oil” is listed as a grouped ingredient — the label gives one combined amount (1,000 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

This softgel contains three active ingredients working as a fatty acid blend: gamma-linolenic acid, omega-6 fatty acids, and linoleic acid — all naturally present in the cold-pressed borage oil that makes up the formula. The product also includes gelatin, glycerin, and purified water as inactive ingredients to form and fill the capsule.

Borage oil is a plant-based source of these polyunsaturated fats, particularly prized for its gamma-linolenic acid content. You're getting a concentrated dose of what you'd find in smaller amounts in seeds and certain plant oils.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Omega-6 Fatty Acids product and its label doesn't state a use — see Omega-6 Fatty Acids's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for omega-6 fatty acids — the ingredient we have data on — shows it's possibly ineffective for high cholesterol, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, and child development. The data we hold doesn't establish that this product works for any of those uses.

We couldn't find effectiveness ratings for gamma-linolenic acid or linoleic acid in our data, so we can't speak to what the research shows about them individually.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Borage Omega-6 Fatty Acids

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Omega-6 fatty acids from food are fine, but the safety of concentrated supplements like this one isn't well established — that's why it's worth talking to your doctor before you start. The concern isn't so much about borage oil itself as about the balance: a diet too high in omega-6 relative to omega-3 may increase cardiovascular risk, and some research links high omega-6 levels to depression and cancer risk, though the picture is mixed.

For pregnancy and lactation, the data shows conflicting ratings — one source says likely safe, another says possibly unsafe. That's not clear enough to go on alone; check with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice if you're pregnant or nursing.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Borage Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Meds to double-check

No known interactions
Known Interaction Concern · database check
No known interactions

No medication interactions are currently documented for the matched ingredients — that isn't a guarantee none exist.

Why this rating?
  • None of the 1 matched ingredient has a documented medication interaction on file.

No interactions are documented in our data for the ingredients we could check. You're in the clear medication-wise, but mention this supplement to your doctor anyway if you're on anything for heart health or inflammation — they'll want to know about your overall fatty acid intake.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. No medication interactions are currently documented, and safety information is well characterized.

Borage oil is generally well tolerated and has no documented medication interactions. That said, the supplement benefits aren't proven, and the safety of long-term use at concentrated doses isn't certain — especially if you're already getting plenty of omega-6 from your diet.

Talk it over with your doctor before you start, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, or concerned about your omega-6 to omega-3 balance.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 3 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated May 23, 2014.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Borage Oil, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbal Select
Barcode (UPC) 065279021217
Net contents 60 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 23, 2014
DSLD ID 33128
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Borage Oil by Herbal Select, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
UPC/BARCODE
065279021217
IngredientAmount% DV
Gamma-Linolenic Acid240 mg--
Omega-6 Fatty Acids550 mg--
Linoleic Acid310 mg--
100% pure cold-pressed Borage Oil1000 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, purified Water

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formulation

This porduct contains no artificial preservatives or colours, flavour, sugar, dairy, egg, wheat, soy corn, starch or yeast.

General Statements

Potent-Max 100% pure cold-pressed

Herbal Select borage oil begins with seed that is grown pesticide-free on the pristine fields of the Canadian prairies. Our seed is then cold-pressed, without hexane and specially processed to ensure purity, potency and safety. Borage contains the highest level of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) of any seed oil.

Standardized

1000 mg

Precautions

Do not use if seal is broken.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: Take 1 softgel, 3 times per day.

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Borage Oil by Herbal Select label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Borage Oil label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Borage Oil by Herbal Select

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Amounts shown are per serving.

100% pure cold-pressed Borage Oil

Interacts with
226 drugs
1000 mg per serving

Borage is a Mediterranean herb whose seed oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid studied mostly for skin conditions and arth...

100% pure cold-pressed Borage Oil monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, Purified Water. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Borage Oil by Herbal Select Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Borage Oil?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
226Drugs
226 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

100% pure cold-pressed Borage Oil 226

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Borage Oil interact with 226 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Borage Oil interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. 100% pure cold-pressed Borage Oil

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Borage Oil with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

100% pure cold-pressed Borage Oil3 drug types · 226 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, borage seed oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In healthy individuals, borage seed oil supplementation does not seem to affect platelet aggregation. However, gamma-linolenic acid, a constituent of borage seed oil, seems to decrease platelet aggregation by 45% and increase the risk of bleeding by 40% in animal and clinical research.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Inducers

Theoretically, taking borage with drugs that induce CYP3A4 might increase levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) toxic metabolites.
Although borage seed oil contains little to no PAs, some borage plant parts, such as the leaf, flower, and seed, can contain hepatotoxic PAs. Hepatotoxic PAs are substrates of CYP3A4, which converts these chemicals into toxic metabolites. Tell patients to avoid borage preparations that are not certified and labeled as hepatotoxic PA-free.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Phenothiazines

Theoretically, taking borage sed oil with phenothiazines might increase the risk of seizures.
Borage seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). There is concern that taking supplements containing GLA might cause seizures, or lower the seizure threshold, when taken with phenothiazines. This is based on limited data from two reports published in the 1980s. In one report, three patients with schizophrenia who had received phenothiazines developed EEG changes suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy after starting treatment with evening primrose, another source of GLA. However, none experienced an actual seizure. In the other report, two patients with schizophrenia who were stabilized on phenothiazines developed seizures when evening primrose 4 grams daily was added. One of these patients had a prior history of seizures. It is unclear whether evening primrose had any additive epileptogenic effects with the phenothiazines, but there is no evidence that taking GLA-containing supplements alone can cause seizures.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
100% pure cold-pressed Borage Oil full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Borage Oil, from the product label.

Herbal Select

See all Herbal Select products
Name
Herbal Select
City
Guelph
State
Ontario
ZipCode
N1H 6J4
Phone Number
1-888-313-3369
Web Address
www.herbalselect.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Borage Oil by Herbal Select: Common Questions

Does Borage Oil by Herbal Select interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Borage Oil has a known interaction with 226 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Borage Oil contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is borage oil safe to take while pregnant or nursing?
The data we have is mixed — one source says likely safe and another says possibly unsafe. There isn't enough information to give you a straight answer, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist before you take it while pregnant or nursing. They can weigh the pros and cons for your specific situation.
What is gamma-linolenic acid, and why is it in borage oil?
It's a type of omega-6 fatty acid that borage seeds naturally contain in fairly high amounts. It's one of the main active components people buy borage oil for, though we don't have effectiveness data on it alone.
Will borage oil help my cholesterol or heart health?
The research we have on omega-6 fatty acids shows they're possibly ineffective for high cholesterol and heart disease. That doesn't mean borage oil can't help, but the evidence for it isn't there yet.
Is borage oil safe if I eat a lot of omega-6 foods already?
That's a good question to ask your doctor. A very high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in your diet may increase cardiovascular risk, so your doctor will want to know about both your food intake and any supplements you're taking.
What are the inactive ingredients in this capsule?
Gelatin, glycerin, and purified water — they're the materials that make up the softgel shell. No fillers or binders beyond those.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Borage Oil label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Borage Oil’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Borage

Interacts with 226 drugs

Borage is a Mediterranean herb whose seed oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid studied mostly for skin conditions and arthritis with mixed results. The plant's le...

Read the full Borage monograph → Herb & supplement monograph

Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Omega-6 fatty acids are essential fats your body needs but cannot make on its own, and most people get plenty from everyday foods like vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds. Supplements such as ev...

Read the full Omega-6 Fatty Acids monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Borage Oil's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 31 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids 20 references
  1. Godley PA. Essential fatty acid consumption and risk of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1995;35:91-5. PubMed
  2. Newcomer LM, King IB, Wicklund KG, Stanford JL. The association of fatty acids with prostate cancer risk. Prostate 2001;47:262-8. DOI
  3. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate. Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2005. Available at: http://www.nap.edu/books/03 DOI
  4. Colter, A. L., Cutler, C., and Meckling, K. A. Fatty acid status and behavioural symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adolescents: a case-control study. Nutr J 2008;7:8. PubMed
  5. Yamada, T., Strong, J. P., Ishii, T., Ueno, T., Koyama, M., Wagayama, H., Shimizu, A., Sakai, T., Malcom, G. T., and Guzman, M. A. Atherosclerosis and omega-3 fatty acids in the populations of a fishing village and a farming village in Japan. Atheroscler
  6. Conklin, S. M., Manuck, S. B., Yao, J. K., Flory, J. D., Hibbeln, J. R., and Muldoon, M. F. High omega-6 and low omega-3 fatty acids are associated with depressive symptoms and neuroticism. Psychosom.Med. 2007;69(9):932-934.
  7. Richardson, A. J., Cyhlarova, E., and Ross, M. A. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid concentrations in red blood cell membranes relate to schizotypal traits in healthy adults. Prostaglandins Leukot.Essent.Fatty Acids 2003;69(6):461-466. PubMed
  8. Assies, J., Lok, A., Bockting, C. L., Weverling, G. J., Lieverse, R., Visser, I., Abeling, N. G., Duran, M., and Schene, A. H. Fatty acids and homocysteine levels in patients with recurrent depression: an explorative pilot study. Prostaglandins Leukot.Es PubMed
  9. Chiplonkar, S. A., Agte, V. V., Tarwadi, K. V., Paknikar, K. M., and Diwate, U. P. Micronutrient deficiencies as predisposing factors for hypertension in lacto-vegetarian Indian adults. J Am Coll.Nutr 2004;23(3):239-247. PubMed
  10. Mamalakis, G., Kiriakakis, M., Tsibinos, G., Hatzis, C., Flouri, S., Mantzoros, C., and Kafatos, A. Depression and serum adiponectin and adipose omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in adolescents. Pharmacol.Biochem.Behav. 2006;85(2):474-479. PubMed
  11. Okuyama, H., Ichikawa, Y., Sun, Y., Hamazaki, T., and Lands, W. E. Cancers common in the USA are stimulated by omega 6 fatty acids and large amounts of animal fats, but suppressed by omega 3 fatty acids and cholesterol. World Rev Nutr Diet. 2007;96:143-1
  12. Martinez-Ramirez, M. J., Palma, S., Martinez-Gonzalez, M. A., Delgado-Martinez, A. D., de la Fuente, C., and Delgado-Rodriguez, M. Dietary fat intake and the risk of osteoporotic fractures in the elderly. Eur.J Clin Nutr 2007;61(9):1114-1120. PubMed
  13. Sonestedt, E., Gullberg, B., and Wirfalt, E. Both food habit change in the past and obesity status may influence the association between dietary factors and postmenopausal breast cancer. Public Health Nutr 2007;10(8):769-779. PubMed
  14. Simopoulos, A. P. The omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio, genetic variation, and cardiovascular disease. Asia Pac.J Clin Nutr 2008;17 Suppl 1:131-134.
  15. Harris, W. S., Mozaffarian, D., Rimm, E., Kris-Etherton, P., Rudel, L. L., Appel, L. J., Engler, M. M., Engler, M. B., and Sacks, F. Omega-6 fatty acids and risk for cardiovascular disease: a science advisory from the American Heart Association Nutrition DOI
  16. Godley, P. A., Campbell, M. K., Gallagher, P., Martinson, F. E., Mohler, J. L., and Sandler, R. S. Biomarkers of essential fatty acid consumption and risk of prostatic carcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol.Biomarkers Prev. 1996;5(11):889-895.
  17. Lee E, Kim H, Kim H, Ha EH, Chang N. Association of maternal omega-6 fatty acid intake with infant birth outcomes: Korean Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH). Nutr J 2018;17(1):47. PubMed
  18. Pawelczyk T, Trafalska E, Pawelczyk A, Kotlicka-Antczak M. Differences in omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption in people at ultra-high risk of psychosis, first-episode schizophrenia, and in healthy controls. Early Interv Psychiatry 2
  19. Gardner KG, Gebretsadik T, Hartman TJ, et al. Prenatal omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and childhood atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(3):937-944. PubMed
  20. Luo J, Ge H, Sun J, Hao K, Yao W, Zhang D. Associations of dietary ?-3, ?-6 fatty acids consumption with sleep disorders and sleep duration among adults. Nutrients 2021;13(5):1475. PubMed

See these in context on the Omega-6 Fatty Acids monograph →

Borage 11 references
  1. Guivernau M, Meza N, Barja P, Roman O. Clinical and experimental study on the long-term effect of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on plasma lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation, and prostacyclin production. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty A PubMed
  2. WHO working group. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Environmental Health Criteria, 80. WHO: Geneva, 1988.
  3. Fan YY, Chapkin RS. Importance of dietary gamma-linolenic acid in human health and nutrition. J Nutr 1998;128:1411-4.
  4. Takwale A, Tan E, Agarwal S, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of borage oil in adults and children with atopic eczema: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group trial. BMJ 2003;327:1385. PubMed
  5. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46. PubMed
  6. Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmazie 1995;50:83-98.
  7. Wang YP, Yan J, Fu PP, Chou MW. Human liver microsomal reduction of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to form the corresponding carcinogenic parent alkaloid. Toxicol Lett 2005;155:411-20. PubMed
  8. Holman CP and Bell AF. A trial of evening primrose oil in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia. J Orhtomolecular Psych 1983;12:302-304.
  9. Vaddadi KS. The use of gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid to differentiate between temporal lobe epilepsy and schizophrenia. Prostaglandins Med 1981;6(4):375-379. PubMed
  10. Bard, J. M., Luc, G., Jude, B., Bordet, J. C., Lacroix, B., Bonte, J. P., Parra, H. J., and Duriez, P. A therapeutic dosage (3 g/day) of borage oil supplementation has no effect on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers. Fundam.Clin.Pharmacol. 1997;1
  11. Puri BK. The safety of evening primrose oil in epilepsy. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes Essential Fatty Acids 2007;77:101-3. PubMed

See these in context on the Borage monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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