Medical Borage as a Relaxant and Stimulant

Borage (lat. Borago officinalis) is a well-known medicinal herb and vegetable. It makes both men and women happy, suppresses melancholy and gives courage. With its strikingly blue flowers, it was a frequent motif on medieval tapestries. We also know its image from the pages of old herbals.

The borage plant belongs to the Boraginaceae family. It can be found growing wild along roads and fields in the Mediterranean and Central Asia. Its homeland is Spain. Later it spread to more northern regions, North Africa and Australia. In our country, we grow it in herb and ornamental gardens or in pots, where it reaches a lower height. Borage can also be found growing wild in fields and on compost. It is said: "once it gets somewhere, it will never leave."

The name borage comes from the Celtic word Borre, which means courage. Another source states that its name comes from the Latin or Spanish word Borre or Burr, which translates as prickly rough beard. Its calming effect was used as early as ancient times, for example Homer prepared a calming drink from it. It was also used by gladiators before their fights in arenas as a stimulant. Even wine made from it in those days was said to induce a state of complete forgetfulness. In the Middle Ages, an extract prepared from borage was added to wine for knights before duels or battle expeditions to give them courage. The Leipzig pharmacopoeia mentions that "it is a common herb with rough leaves." The borage plant creates good blood, has a beneficial effect on the heart, and also affects those who easily fall unconscious. This positive property of the borage plant is derived from its high content of calcium, potassium and other minerals. It was not until the Middle Ages that borage gained importance as a medicinal plant. Hildegard of Bingen also mentions it in her work Physik, where its areas of use include treatment of internal ulcers, breathless chest - a remedy for asthma and other respiratory problems, and at the same time a remedy "for foggy vision". In the 15th century, it was administered as a remedy for fainting and dizziness. In the 19th and 20th centuries, its popularity declined and it became less widespread. In our region, it is commonly called burák, brutnák, cucumber flower, heart's joy and atlacier. In Bohemia, it is known as borage.

Growing Borage in Your Herb Garden

Thanks to its beautiful blue flowers, borage is an ornament to any garden. Once we plant it in our garden, we have no problem with its further propagation, as after self-seeding in spring it germinates very easily. We grow borage from seeds, which we sow directly into the bed at 30 x 30 cm spacing, ideally between April and June (after the last spring frost). We sow borage seeds in their permanent location, as borage tolerates transplanting only at a young age. It spreads abundantly in width. The proximity of borage benefits tomatoes by enriching their flavor, as well as strawberries and roses. We can also sow borage in the bed in autumn - it will germinate within 3 weeks, and the plant then overwinters in the form of a ground rosette.

Borage is an annual herb with a fibrous root system. It grows to a height of 30 - 75 cm. We plant borage seeds in a sunny location in loamy-sandy soil enriched with calcium. They germinate within 1-3 weeks and their germination rate is 90 - 100%. The entire plant is rough-haired. Borage has two types of leaves - the rosette has stalked leaves, the stem has alternate and oblong-ovate leaves. During the growing season, it's necessary to regularly weed and hoe around it. Later, we can gently fertilize the plants with compost or nettle tea. If the borage stand is very dense, it may be attacked by aphids, which you can eliminate with a spray designed for sucking and chewing insects (insect spray). For example, the product Mospilan is available in a form with a mechanical sprayer. Borage blooms with magnificent, neat and drooping blue flowers that have a subtle fragrance. In contrast, borage leaves taste unusually refreshing. Their flavor resembles cucumbers with an onion taste. The fruits of borage are nutlets.

We harvest its flowers or herb at the beginning of flowering between June and September. We dry the harvested borage mixture in thin layers, as it takes a very long time to dry, maintaining a maximum temperature of 35°C. We store the dried mixture in well-sealed containers that protect it from light and moisture. An interesting fact is that borage herb contains potassium nitrate, which when burned creates sparks accompanied by slight explosive sounds.

Borage in the Kitchen and Cosmetics

The mixture obtained from the borage plant, or its fresh leaves, should never be boiled, only steamed in butter or with onion, or it can be prepared fresh like spinach. We use it to decorate or flavor dishes and mixed drinks. When pickling cucumbers, cabbage and other vegetables, we can add borage to the brine. In a low-salt diet, borage leaves can replace salt in dishes.

Borage leaves are added to face masks for dry skin in cosmetics. The juice from its leaves is added to preparations intended for skin cleansing.

Borage as a Medicine

Especially when grown at home, borage plant has anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and diuretic effects. It positively affects breathing, strengthens the heart muscle and protects blood vessels from hardening. Some scientists consider it the most effective natural heart medicine, as it works slowly but permanently. Borage is also used to treat external wounds, ulcers, chronic rashes and burns. Borage tea can be used for compresses on tired eyes.

I most commonly prepare tea and decoction from it. Borage tea is made by pouring 250 ml of boiling water over 2 tablespoons of the herbal mixture, letting it steep for 15 minutes and then straining it.

From its seeds we can obtain oil, which has a beneficial effect on hair and nail growth, stimulates metabolism in the body and, last but not least, has a positive effect on the treatment of atopic eczema, psoriasis and acne. At the same time, it helps the human body to produce anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic substances in the body. The oil contains 20 - 25% of the irreplaceable gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which the human body cannot produce on its own, so it must be taken as part of the diet.

In folk medicine, we prepare a decoction from young leaves and flowers, which is said to purify the blood, strengthen the heart and nerves, work on coughs and positively affect rheumatic pain.

It is not advisable to use it in any form if you regularly take antidepressants and anticoagulant medications. At the same time, its use is not suitable during pregnancy and by breastfeeding mothers. We do not recommend combining it with garlic and ginkgo biloba. Do not use it long-term.