Borage, once planted in your garden, is sure to be there for a long, long time. Fortunately it is a very attractive plant with its deep blue, star- shaped, flowers that are always in bloom year round and are displayed on droopy stems held about 2 to 3 feet from the ground. On a wet morning the dew sparkles and glistens around the protruding buds appearing mystical and magical awaiting the drone of the bees.
How Borage obtained its name isn’t quite clear. The Welsh called it Llanwenlys meaning “Herb Of Gladness”. The ancient Celts called it “barrach” or “man of courage”. Today it is still associated with courage by herbalists. It is a very cheerful plant to have and it is not surprising to know that it was prescribed 400 years ago for melancholy.
Native to the Mediterranean region from Spain to Turkey it has become naturalized in most of Europe and many other parts of the world. It loves the sun and does not appear to be fussy about the soil. Growing near a patch of strawberries will help to stimulate the growth of each other and planted near tomatoes Borage will help to control tomato worm. It is definitely a beneficial plant to have in a garden but it does self – seed very easily.
The leaves and stem are rough and hairy yet quite edible in small quantities. Cutting open the stem reveals a hollow moist tube that smells and tastes like cucumber. The young leaves can be chopped finely in salads, yogurt, soft cheese and sandwiches. The flowers are edible and look incredible in salads and drinks and decorative on cakes.
The leaves used as a tea, will stimulate the circulation and soothe the throat. Due to the mucilage content it makes a mild expectorant and has been prescribed for many years to ease bronchial infections. Poultices of the leaves are helpful when applied to sore and inflamed skin. The flowers encourage sweating and the leaves are diuretic. The seed oil is rich in polyunsaturated fats (GLA) and is superior in this respect to Evening Primrose Oil. Borage seed oil is used to treat premenstrual complaints, rheumatic problems, eczema and other chronic skin conditions. Due to the presence of toxic alkaloids in Borage it might be wise not to eat or drink too much Borage but this does not apply to the Borage seed oil.
It has a high content of calcium, potassium and mineral salts which research has suggested works on the adrenal glands where “courage” begins. This is the essence of Borage.
[...] HERB OF THE MONTH: Borage (Borago officinalis) « Plant Speak [...]
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