The Medical Uses Of Borago Officinalis
Other Common Names: Beebread, Borraja, Bourrache,
Bugloss, Burrage, Common Borage, Fleurs De Bourrache, Hodan, Ruri-Zisa,
Star-flower, Borago officinalis
Range: Chile; Dominican Republic; France; Haiti; Mexico; Sicily; Spain; Turkey; USA
Habitat: Waste ground near houses
Borage is a fairly common domestic herbal remedy that has been used
since ancient times. It has a particularly good reputation for its
beneficial affect on the mind, being used to dispel melancholy and
induce euphoria. It is a soothing saline, diuretic herb that soothes
damaged or irritated tissues.
The leaves, and to a lesser extent the flowers, are demulcent,
diaphoretic, depurative, mildly diuretic, emollient, expectorant,
febrifuge, lenitive and mildly sedative. An infusion is taken
internally in the treatment of a range of ailments including fevers,
chest problems and kidney problems, though it should not be prescribed
to people with liver problems.
Externally it is used as a poultice for inflammatory swellings. The
leaves are harvested in late spring and the summer as the plant comes
into flower. They can be used fresh or dried but should not be stored
for more than one year because they soon lose their medicinal
properties.
Borage oil (also known as starflower oil) is an ancient oil which
has been used in the far east for thousands of years. Borage oil has in
recent years caused a revolution in nutritional therapeutics. It has
been found to be one of the richest sources of essential fatty acids
known to humans.
The seeds are a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid, this oil helps
to regulate the hormonal systems and lowers blood pressure. It is used
both internally and externally, helping to relieve skin complaints and
pre-menstrual tension. Borage oil typically contains a GLA content of
min. 20%.
Leaves - raw or cooked. They can be used as a pot-herb or be added
to salads. They are also added whole as a flavoring to various drinks
such as Pimms and wine-based drinks. The leaves are rich in potassium
and calcium, they have a salty cucumber flavor. Very hairy, the whole
leaves have an unpleasant feeling in the mouth and so they are best
chopped up finely and added to other leaves when eaten in a salad. The
leaves should always be used fresh, because they lose their flavor and
color if dried.
Flowers - raw. They are used as a decorative garnish on salads and
summer fruit drinks. The flowers are very nice, both to look at and to
taste with a sweet slightly cucumber-like flavor. A refreshing tea is
made from the leaves and/or the flowers. The dried stems are used for
flavoring beverages.
The seed yields 30% oil, 20% of which is gamma-linolenic acid. Total
yields are 0.35 - 0.65 tonnes per hectare. Unfortunately, the seed
ripens intermittantly over a period of time and falls from the plant
when it is ripe, this makes harvesting the seeds in quantity very
difficult. An edible blue dye can be obtained from the flowers. It is
used to color vinegar.
Known Hazards: The plant, but not the oil obtained from the
seeds, contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause
liver damage and liver cancer. These alkaloids are present in too small
a quantity to be harmful unless you make borage a major part of your
diet, though people with liver problems would be wise to avoid using
the leaves or flowers of this plant.
See Also: Evening Primrose Oil
Other Common Names: Beebread, Borraja, Bourrache,
Bugloss, Burrage, Common Borage, Fleurs De Bourrache, Hodan, Ruri-Zisa,
Star-flower, Borago officinalis
Range: Chile; Dominican Republic; France; Haiti; Mexico; Sicily; Spain; Turkey; USA
Habitat: Waste ground near houses
Borage is a fairly common domestic herbal remedy that has been used
since ancient times. It has a particularly good reputation for its
beneficial affect on the mind, being used to dispel melancholy and
induce euphoria. It is a soothing saline, diuretic herb that soothes
damaged or irritated tissues.
The leaves, and to a lesser extent the flowers, are demulcent,
diaphoretic, depurative, mildly diuretic, emollient, expectorant,
febrifuge, lenitive and mildly sedative. An infusion is taken
internally in the treatment of a range of ailments including fevers,
chest problems and kidney problems, though it should not be prescribed
to people with liver problems.
Externally it is used as a poultice for inflammatory swellings. The
leaves are harvested in late spring and the summer as the plant comes
into flower. They can be used fresh or dried but should not be stored
for more than one year because they soon lose their medicinal
properties.
Borage oil (also known as starflower oil) is an ancient oil which
has been used in the far east for thousands of years. Borage oil has in
recent years caused a revolution in nutritional therapeutics. It has
been found to be one of the richest sources of essential fatty acids
known to humans.
The seeds are a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid, this oil helps
to regulate the hormonal systems and lowers blood pressure. It is used
both internally and externally, helping to relieve skin complaints and
pre-menstrual tension. Borage oil typically contains a GLA content of
min. 20%.
Leaves - raw or cooked. They can be used as a pot-herb or be added
to salads. They are also added whole as a flavoring to various drinks
such as Pimms and wine-based drinks. The leaves are rich in potassium
and calcium, they have a salty cucumber flavor. Very hairy, the whole
leaves have an unpleasant feeling in the mouth and so they are best
chopped up finely and added to other leaves when eaten in a salad. The
leaves should always be used fresh, because they lose their flavor and
color if dried.
Flowers - raw. They are used as a decorative garnish on salads and
summer fruit drinks. The flowers are very nice, both to look at and to
taste with a sweet slightly cucumber-like flavor. A refreshing tea is
made from the leaves and/or the flowers. The dried stems are used for
flavoring beverages.
The seed yields 30% oil, 20% of which is gamma-linolenic acid. Total
yields are 0.35 - 0.65 tonnes per hectare. Unfortunately, the seed
ripens intermittantly over a period of time and falls from the plant
when it is ripe, this makes harvesting the seeds in quantity very
difficult. An edible blue dye can be obtained from the flowers. It is
used to color vinegar.
Known Hazards: The plant, but not the oil obtained from the
seeds, contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause
liver damage and liver cancer. These alkaloids are present in too small
a quantity to be harmful unless you make borage a major part of your
diet, though people with liver problems would be wise to avoid using
the leaves or flowers of this plant.
See Also: Evening Primrose Oil
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