Other names:
starflower, Persian: گل گاوزبان
Description:
Borage leaves have been found to contain small amounts (10 ppm of dried herb) of the liver-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids: intermedine, lycopsamine, amabiline and supinine.
The flower, which contains the non-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid thesinine, has a sweet honey-like taste and is often used to decorate desserts and dishes.
Tea made from the dried flowers is a traditional calming drink in Iran. It has a rich purple color that amazingly turns into a bright pink by adding a few drops of lemon juice.
The oil that is extracted from the seeds (marketed as "starflower oil" or "borage oil") is a good source of
gamma-linolenic acid.
Borage is also rich in
oleic and
palmitic acid, conferring a
hypocholesterolemic effect. This oil, which has recently been commercialised, may regulate metabolism and the hormonal system, and is considered by many naturopathic practitioners to be a good remedy for
PMS and
menopause symptoms such as the hot flash.
Borage is also sometimes indicated to alleviate and heal
colds,
bronchitis, and respiratory infections in general for its
anti-inflammatory and balsamic properties. The flowers can be prepared in infusion to take advantage of its medicinal properties.
Cultivation:
Borage is an annual herb originating in Syria, but naturalized throughout the Mediterranean region, as well as most of Europe, North Africa, and Iran. It grows to a height of 60-100 cm (2-3 feet), and is bristly-hairy all over the stems and leaves; the leaves are alternate, simple, and 5-15 cm (2-6 in) long. The flowers are small, blue or pink, with five narrow, triangular-pointed petals. It produces plenty of seeds and thus continues to grow and spread prolifically from where it is first sown or planted. In milder climates, borage will bloom continuously for most of the year.
Plant info:
Boraginaceae
Plant Longevity:
Annual
Tags: herbs, alternative medicine, Borage, Borago officinalis ,
