Latin Name: Borago officinalis
Key Elements: Cooling, detoxifying, strengthens & tones heart
Borage has vibrant blue-purple star shaped flowers and bristly leaves with a cucumber-like scent and flavor. Touching the leaves, it is not surprising that Borage is a member of the Comfrey family.
This annual is frequently grown in the vegetable or herb gardens because it attracts bees and it is said to be a good growing companion for other plants such as tomatoes while improving their flavor.
Flowers and very young leaves are edible, use quickly to prevent wilting.
How to Grow: Seeds or started plants. Self seeds freely. Full sun or light shade.
Safety: Leaf hairs may irritate skin. Use low doses, contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that may cause liver toxicity.
Harvest: June-September
Parts Used: Buds, flowers, leaves.
Preparations: Food (flowers, tender leaves), infusion, tincture, poultice, syrup (flowers).
Medicinal uses:
Strengthens and tones heart
Heart palpitations
Feeling of heavy-heartedness
“Gives Courage”
Bronchitis
Aids in mucus elimination
Colds, coughs, asthma, congestion, pleurisy
Insomnia
Nervousness
Exhaustion
Helps with grief, sadness and convalescence
Increases urine flow
Cleanses the body through removal of toxins through the skin and urine
For gastric disorders
Jaundice
Cools and soothes inflamed skin (leaf poultice, fresh juice or infusion), oozing sores and rashes.
For sore irritated eyes (eye wash or compress from tea)
Stimulates adrenal glands
Encourages sweating
Increases milk flow
Reduces fevers, hot flashes
Herbal Actions: Anti-depressant, Demulcent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emollient, Expectorant, Galactagogue, Tonic.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.