- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- Mediterranean; naturalised throughout Europe as a garden escape. Borago officinalis
Europe · Herb · № 67
Borago officinalis
Herb · Europe
Borage
Borago officinalis
The seed oil, rich in gamma-linolenic acid, has been studied for eczema and joint inflammation with mixed results. The leaf was traditionally used to reduce fever and as a tonic.
Safety notes
Leaves and flowers contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can damage the liver; avoid taking them internally. Choose oil certified free of these compounds. Avoid in pregnancy.
Cautions by tradition (3)
- Western herbalism: Not in pregnancy.
- Western herbs in Chinese medicine: Borage leaf contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can damage the liver: do not use often or for long periods, and not during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Kallawaya healing in Bolivia: Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids: not for long periods, not in pregnancy or with liver disease.
Preparation
Seed oil in capsules; flowers and young leaves formerly in salads and drinks. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
An old saying held that borage brings courage; knights were given its flowers in their wine. Ody also mentions it in Western herbalism as a tonic for the adrenal glands, which is unproven.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Stimulates the adrenal glands, promotes milk flow, diuretic, fever-reducing, antirheumatic, induces sweating, expectorant; juice antidepressant and relieves itching; seeds rich in essential fatty acids.
Preparation and amount
Leaf tincture 2–5 ml 3 times a day as a tonic after corticosteroids and for stress; tea for early lung conditions, fever and (with fennel) to stimulate milk production; juice 10 ml 3 times a day for depression and grief; diluted juice as a lotion for dry, itchy skin; seed oil 500 mg a day for eczema and rheumatoid arthritis.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Relaxing, soothing, tonic, promotes milk flow, fever-reducing; nourishes the hormonal and nervous systems (adrenal exhaustion, low mood), soothes throat and airways.
Preparation and amount
Tea: 1 tsp per cup, 8–10 min, 1 cup a day; syrup 1–3 tsp a day in acute illness; tincture 1 dropperful twice a day (short-term).
Caution: Not in pregnancy.
Natural skin and hair care
Attributed effects
Nourishing oil for sensitive skin.
Preparation and amount
External: borage oil as an alternative in a moisturising oil for sensitive skin.
Western herbs in Chinese medicine
Attributed effects
Cooling on warm summer days.
Caution: Borage leaf contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can damage the liver: do not use often or for long periods, and not during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Kallawaya healing in Bolivia
Attributed effects
For colds and congested airways, to sweat, after which one lies down warmly in bed.
Preparation and amount
Steep a few leaves for 10 minutes.
Caution: Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids: not for long periods, not in pregnancy or with liver disease.
Home, kitchen and folk use
Preparation and amount
Edible flower.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)TinctureSyrup, honey and oxymelPowder and kitchen
Tags
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- Owen Jackson, Chinese Herbal Medicine (2020)
- Penelope Ody, The Complete Medicinal Herbal (1993; 2017)
- Stacey Dugliss-Wesselman & Susan Gregg, Herbal Remedies Made Simple (2018)
- Joseph W. Bastien, Healers of the Andes: Kallawaya Herbalists and Their Medicinal Plants (1987)
- Louis Girault, Kallawaya. Guérisseurs itinérants des Andes (1984)