Latin: Borago officinalis
Also Known As: Starflower, Burrage, Bee Plant, Bee Bread, Bugloss, Herb of Gladness, Borak, Lisan selvi, Lesan-El-Tour, Star Flower, Cool Tankard, Euphrosinum
Family: Boraginaceae
Habitat and Description: Borage is a large growing annual that is propagated from seed. It grows up to around 1 metre tall and has the tendency to sprawl if not adequately supported. The leaves and stems are all quite hairy, with the leaves being large, oval in shape and a lovely mid green colour. The flowers are five petaled and a lovely sky blue in colour as can be seen in the picture, with prominent black stamens. They taste of cucumber and are a fairly well known addition to salads and drinks in the summer months. We're currently growing them alongside bean plants to encourage bees to pollinate the bean flowers. Being native to North Africa, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Europe, the plant likes a well drained soil and plenty of sun.
Parts Used: Aerial parts, including seeds for their oil. The aerial parts are used fresh wherever possible.
Constituents: The plant contains pyrollizidine alkaloids and choline, as well as mucilage, tannins and essential oils. The seeds contain fixed oils and EFAs such as gamma linolenic acid and linoleic acid, but do not contain the liver toxic alkaloids and are therefore safe.
Planetary Influence: Jupiter
Associated Deities and Heroes: Llew, Lugh, assorted Warrior Gods (probably Taranis and related Gods, as well as Aries.)
Festival: Lughnasadh
Constitution: Cool and moist
Actions and Indications: Personally speaking, I primarily use borage for nervous exhaustion and varying stages of adrenal depletion, with all its accompanying symptoms of depression, anxiety, inability to handle stress and general malaise. As the herb is cooling, it is particularly good for those with a generally hot constitution – those who tend to get head rushes when they stand up too fast, who generally do not allow themselves to express anger or frustration but for whom it tends to manifest quite strongly as a flushed face and high blood pressure. Borage is cooling and soothing but not trapping. Interestingly, it is generally used for those with a melancholic constitution although personally speaking I would not be inclined to use it for this particular constitution – the herb is cooling and moistening, and I really think it would need balancing by something temperate or even slightly warm and moist.
Borage has the old reputation as being able to strengthen the heart, although whether or not this is by physical or emotional means is a different matter entirely – not a great deal of research has been done concerning Borage's actions (which surprises me considering how extensively we used it in the training clinic I attended!)
Borage can also be used for lung complaints, in particular hot, dry, inflamed complaints such as bronchitis, chronic catarrh and related problems. This is another interesting one because I've noticed a connection between an inability to express anger and negative emotions and repeated, deep seated chest infections.
It can also be used to treat a few women's issues, ranging from postpartum exhaustion to menopausal hot flushes. It can also be used as a galactagogue, to increase milk production in nursing mothers.
As a mild diuretic, the plant is also sometimes used in the treatment of inflamed, hot urinary tract infections such as cystitis and nephritis.
The cooling, soothing properties of borage can also be of benefit in inflamed gastric conditions such as colitis, gastritis and gastric ulceration – I'm willing to bet especially where this is due to stress and anxiety. It is also a mild laxative and can be used to treat mild constipation – again, probably where this is in part due to anxiety and tension.
Both Culpeper and Gerard used it as a convalescent's medicine, for those who have suffered or are still suffering chronic long term illness.
Spiritual and Energetic Uses: Great for those who set themselves impossible standards and cause themselves exhaustion as a result, and probably also by extension for those who are extremely self critical and never give themselves a break. The old saying states that 'I, Borage, bring always courage' and it certainly does just that – I've used it for patients who are facing big decisions and major life changes, as well as for those who are just about scraping the bottom of the energy barrel, and have taken it myself for similar things. It always has a great effect and somehow manages to take the edge off panic, making for a cool head and rational decisions.
Magical Uses: Much in the same way as mentioned in the spiritual and energetic uses of the plant, Borage is used in spells and incenses to bring courage and strength of character, and to bring hope and lift the spirits in dark and difficult times. The herb is associated with the hierophant card in the tarot. I'd probably be inclined to use it in spells for strength of purpose as well. A tea of the herb can encourage psychic powers.
The herb can be used in rituals to explore the warrior's path, the masculine, linear side of the personality, and to make a tea or oil used to consecrate weapons. The incense can be used to invoke various warrior Gods.
Folklore: The name Borago quite possibly derives from the Latin 'corago', meaning 'to give heart' or courage. Apparently the herb may be the famed herbal wine mentioned by Homer, used to bring complete forgetfulness. The herb was held as sacred by the druids, and an alternate possibility concerning the name mentions that it may be derived from the celtic word 'borrach' meaning 'brave person'. The celts would steep the leaves of the plant in wine and drink it before going into battle or any other daring escapade (cattle raids spring to mind...) The herb has retained its popularity right up to the present time, and was very popular in the medieval era as a garden plant. These days, borage seed oil is taken by a number of people on a regular basis.
Dose: I generally find 20mls across a week's prescription is more than adequate. Opinion concerning the hepatotoxic pyrollizidine alkaloid content of the plant seems to be rather varied – some are of the opinion that it should be used in very small, drop doses, others feel that it is perfectly safe in larger doses. Personally I think it better to err on the side of caution and would not leave Borage in a prescription for more than about a month tops, before swapping it out with a different herb for adrenal depletion – maybe Liquorice, Rosemary or an adaptogen like Eleuthero. It all comes down to the constitution of the person involved which one you use.
Contraindications: Do not use the herb if you have any liver related problems as the liver toxic pyrollizidine alkaloid content could worsen them. The seed oil does not contain the alkaloids and is quite safe to use over long periods of time.