Latin Name: Borago officinalis
Latin Name: Bugloss, Burrage
Family: BORAGINACEAE
Parts Used: Leaves, flowers, oil from seeds.
Properties: Antirheumatic, Aperient, Decongestant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emollient, Febrifuge, Galactagogue, Mucilaginous, Refrigerant, Tonic.
Internal Uses: Anxiety, Arthritis, Bronchitis, Catarrh, Convalescence, Cough, Depression, Fever, Grief, Hypertension, Menopause, Menstrual Problems, Pleurisy, Rheumatism, Worry
Internal Applications: Tea, Tincture, Juice, Oil from seeds in capsules.
Only the oil from seeds is used for menstrual and menopausal problems, eczema, arthritis and rheumatism. The fact that Borage flowers nourish the adrenal glands may be why they have long been thought to bolster courage.
Topical Uses: Bruises, Eczema, Eye Soreness, Inflammation, Rash, Skin Dryness
Topical Applications: Compress on sore eyes. Poultice for inflammations, bruises and eczema. Salve for rashes. Dry skin facial mask. Bath herb for dry skin.
Culinary uses: Use flowers (remove prickly backs) in salads or as a garnish for cakes and candy. Young leaves taste like cucumbers and can be finely chopped and added to salads or mixed with yogurt for a refreshing chilled soup. Leaves are also added to cooling summer drinks like lemonade. Add blossoms to ice cubes for decor. Add blossoms to party punch and wine cups for garnish. Roots have been added to wine.
Energetics: Cold, Moist, Sweet.
Chemical Constituents: Leaves and flowers; mucilage, tannin, saponins, essential oil, alkaloid (pyrrolizidine), vitamin C, calcium, potassium. Seeds contain: essential fatty acids, linooleic and gamma-linolenic acid.
Contraindications: Use leaves in moderation due to possible liver toxicity from pyrrolizidine alkaloids until more research has been conducted. The alkaloid doesn’t occur in the oil of the seed.
Comments: The word Borage is a Celtic derivitive from borrach, meaning ‘courage’. However some assert that the name might be derived from the Latin borra, which means ‘rough hair’ due to the hairy leaves and stems. In 1597, herbalist John Gerard quoted