Borage - Benefits, Uses and Side Effects

Botanical Name of Borage: Borago officinalis L.

Other Common Names:
Burrage, beebread, star-flower, talewort, hjulkrone (Danish), bourrache (French), gurkenkraut (German), borraja (Spanish).

Habitat: Borago officinalis is endemic to the Mediterranean region but has spread from there to other parts of Europe and America. The herb has for ages been cultivated as a garden plant for its ornamental value, medical effects and as a source of nectar for bees. Borage thrives best in calcareous and nutrient-rich soil.

Description: Borage is an annual plant of the Boraginaceae family (the borage or forget-me-not family). The plant is covered with stiff coarse hairs and it can grow up to 70 cm high or 28 inches. The stem is erect with oval or lanceolate leaves that are rough and wrinkled. The large star-shaped flowers are in sparse clusters. They have five petals that are purple at first but then soon turn blue. Borage flowering period is from July to August. The flowers produce a lot of nectar which makes them very attractive to bees. The plant usually produces four seeds from each flower. The seeds contain around 30% oil that is used commercially. Unfortunately the seeds ripen over a long period of time and fall to the ground when they are mature, which makes it difficult to harvest large quantities of seeds.

Plant Parts Used: Leaves, flowers and the oil extracted from the seeds. The leaves and flowers are usually used fresh. The dried herb must not be stored for more than a year since it quickly loses its medicinal effect.

Borage Plant
(Borago officinalis)
(Click on image to enlarge)
Attribution:Jack Green

Borage Herb

Organic Borage Herb by Starwest Botanicals

Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of Borage

• Borage contains mucous substances, tannins, saponins, resins, essential oil, potassium, calcium, vitamin C and other substances. The borage leaves contain small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids found to be toxic to the liver. However the levels of those toxic alkaloids are extremely low.

The Herb Borage
(Borago officinalis)
Jacob Sturm, Johann Georg Sturma
Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen
1796.
• The oil from the seeds of borage is a rich of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid. Amount of GLA in the oil ranges from 20 to 27%. Borage oil also contains about 10% alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid.
• The borage oil may help regulate the hormonal system, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, strengthen the immune system, prevent allergies, premenstrual problems and prostate disorders.
• Borage has been used traditionally as an herbal remedy to treat urinary tract infections, cystitis, chronic kidney inflammation, catarrh, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome and depression.
• This herb has also its traditional external uses. It has been used and may be helpful as a treatment for itchy inflamed skin, wounds, eczema, rashes, arthritis and gout. As a mouthwash it can be used to treat mouth and throat infections, mouth ulcers and bleeding gums.
• The oil from the seeds can be used as an alternative to evening primrose oil for atherosclerosis, rheumatic pain, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menstrual problems, prostate disorders, allergies, arthritis, eczema and other skin problems.
• Herbal tea made from borage may be helpful to treat acne and to reduce fever. The tea can also act as an expectorant and clear the airways, therefore it could be a useful remedy for colds, coughs, flu, sore throat, bronchitis and respiratory tract infections.

Dosage and Administration

Herbal tea can be made by pouring a teacup of boiling water over one or two teaspoons of the dried herb and allow it to soak for 5-10 min. Some herbalist recommend drinking up to 3 cups a day and as a tincture three times a day.

Potential Side Effects and Interactions of Borage

The contents of pyrrolizidin alkaloids found in plants of the Boraginaceae family casts doubt on the safety of borage as a culinary and medicinal herb, especially if large amounts of the leaves are consumed. Borage contains small amounts pyrrolizidin alkaloids. In high concentrations, these alkaloids have been shown to cause liver damage and liver cancer. The oil from the seeds of borage contain no or very little of these compounds. Apart from the seed oil, various herbal preparations of borage are therefore subject to sales restrictions in many countries including Australia, New Zealand and Germany. Borage must be used with caution, both as food and medicine, and not taken over long period of time. The herb should not be used by pregnant women or lactating mothers.

It has been recommended that borage is used with caution in patients suffering from epilepsy, especially those suffering from schizophrenia and those taking the drug Phenothiazine. Some plants of the Boraginaceae family like borage may cause skin dermatitis and inflammation. Caution should be exercised when collecting and drying the plant. It is safe to say that this herb should only be used in consultation with trained health care professionals.

Supporting References

Leave a Comment or Tips on Borage

Please leave a comment if you have any additional information, advice, or if you want to share your experience using borage. This is not a forum so do not submit any questions or start any conversations.

Your name and email address are required. Your email address will not be displayed with the comment if you choose to keep it private. (Privacy Assured - We don't share your email address with anyone!)

"I go to a poison registry and I find that no one has died from any overdose of any vitamins, herbs, or amino acids.....But five thousand people end up dying from drug reactions in a single year."

Gary Null