Borage

History and Uses:
Borage is an annual plant that grows wild in the Mediterranean countries and has been cultivated elsewhere. The hollow, bristly, branched and spreading stem grows up to two feet in height. The flowers are collected between April and September, and the seeds when ripe in the autumn. The leaves should be gathered just as the plant is coming into flower, but can be harvested throughout the growing season. The word Borage is said to be a Celtic derivative from borrach, meaning "courage," and the herb has long been associated with courage. However, some assert that the name might be derived from the Latin, borra, which means "rough hair," due to the hairy leaves and stems of this plant. The parts of this plant used medicinally are the leaves, flowers and the oil from the seeds. The flowers were once embroidered on the mantles of knights and jousters to give them courage, and the flowers were also floated in drinks given to Crusaders as they took their leave. Borage has been valued as an herb that inspires happiness, brings comfort and lifts one's spirits. Growing Borage attracts bees to a garden and helps to repel tomato worms. The oil from Borage seeds is used for menstrual and menopausal problems, eczema, arthritis and rheumatism. The primary chemical constituents of Borage leaves and flowers include mucilage, tannin, saponins, essential oil, alkaloid (pyrrolizidine), vitamin C, calcium and potassium. The seeds contain essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid. Borage acts as a restorative agent on the adrenal cortex; in other words, it is believed to revive and renew the adrenal glands after a medical treatment of cortisone or steroids. There is a growing need for remedies that will aid this gland after exposure to stress, both externally and internally. Borage may also be used during fevers and especially during convalescence. It has a reputation as an anti-inflammatory herb, and may thus help to relieve rheumatism and arthritis. It is also thought to be helpful in cases of pleurisy. The leaves and seeds stimulate the flow or milk in nursing mothers, and Borage is also said to improve mood in menopausal depression. Clinical trials have shown that borage seed oil reduces cardiovascular reactivity to stress by reducing the systolic blood pressure and heart rate. Borage helps prevent inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa in cases of allergy and infection, and it may also assist in iron absorption. It can be used externally as a compress or poultice for inflammation, or as an eyewash to relieve irritation. A hot infusion of Borage is believed to have a diaphoretic effect in the treatment of colds and flu, and the presence of saponins is probably responsible for its expectorant action, while the mucilage in the leaves helps to soothe the respiratory tract in dry, rasping coughs. Borage is indicated in bronchitis, catarrh and congested membranes, and the flowers were a traditional ingredient in several cough syrups. Recently, the oil from the seeds has been found to be a rich source of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which is popularly used for a number of conditions including skin diseases, such as eczema, and also for premenstrual tension and painful breasts, as well as migraines. GLA is one of the two main types of essential fatty acids, the "good" fats that are as necessary for your health as vitamins. Specifically, GLA is an Omega-6 fatty acid. Many people in Western societies may be at least partially GLA-deficient as a result of ageing, glucose intolerance, dietary fat intake and other ailments, though the exact incidence of deficiency remains unknown. People with deficiencies are said to benefit from supplemental GLA intake from Borage.