Borago officinalis
( Borage, member of the Boraginaceae Family )
Medicinal Preparation
Infusion: Standard 1 oz per pint of boiling
water poured over the herb and steeped for 10 to 20 minutes
Parts Used
Aerial parts, flowers, and seed oil
Active properties
- Mucilage
- Tannins
- Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in very small amounts
(care must be taken because this alkaloid is toxic to the liver),
only the plant contains the alkaloid, not the seeds
- GLA ( Gammalinolenic acid ), seeds
Medicinal Uses
- Demulcent
- Sooths respiratory problems
- Emollient
- Helpful for sore and inflammed skin
- Diuretic, leaves
- Diaphoretic, flowers
- Regulates hormonal systems and lowers blood pressure, seeds
- Rheumatisms
- Kidney stones
- Corns
- Diarrhea
Other
Note: People have been using Borage for centuries without suffering any noteable ill effects.