Characteristics:: Annual hispid plant of the Borage family - boraginaceae- up to 60 cm. Erect stems covered with stiff hairs. Lower leaves petiolated, ovate, in basal rosette; upper leaves sessile. Flowers grouped in pendulous cymes, with a blue corolla, till 2,5 cm wide; stamens forming a cuneate group, purple. |
Medicinal properties:
Internal Use
- Diuretic: It favours the removal of urine of the body, being very interesting to use it , not only in case of obesity, but when one must get rid of toxins through urine such as in the rheumatic, hepatic and cardiac diseases. It is very influential in this case the fact tha t the plant contains choline, an element which takes part in the vitamin B complex, essential in the fat metabolism, because the lack of it may produce cirrhosis, high blood pressure or renal dissorders..( Infusion for 30 minutes of 15 gr. of dry leaves. Drink a cup after the main meals)
- Sudorific : It increases sweat , so, besides the commented uses, it is particularly interesting to help fighting pectoral diseases: flu, , bronchitis, cold, etc. . ( Decoction of an ounce of dry leaves per litre of water. Drink 4 small cups a every day )
- Arthritis: Borage, besides being an excellent vegetable, with well proven diuretic powers, also stands out for its richness in essential fatty acids (EFAs) which are very useful in the treatment of arthritis. 1000 mg of borage oil contain about 240 mg of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which is the amount that is typically used in most treatments.
- Sedative : To balance the excess of adrenal hormones that occurs in a stressed situation, in case of anxiety or nervousness (Infusion of a spoonful of dried leaves per cup of water. Take a couple of glasses a day)
External use
Emollient and tonic : It is beneficial for skin affections l ( pimples, pustules, furuncles, herpes etc. ) and tonic effects which increases its strength and appearance. The presence of nicotinic-acid (niacin) must be fundamental here, to prevent skin maladies besides nervous and gastrointestinal disorders.( Plasters soaked in the infusion of a handful of dry leaves per litre of water.) (Washes with water where it has been added a couple of litres of the same infusion)
The borage contains large amounts of mucilages. Eating boiled borages helps to have the stomach healthy. Borage helps to increase food digestion, preventing stomach ache.
Another uses
Edible:
- Tender leaves can be eaten as a boiled vegetable, alone or mixed with another vegetables. In this case it is convenient to drink the broth , containing all the medicinal properties mentioned above. The leaves can also be eaten raw, in salads. fried, sauté , with cheese, and so on...( it is advised not to leave the cut leaves without cooking for too long since they tend to become rotten very soon)
- Flowers can be eaten alone or in salads , to provide them an exotic touch .
Toxicity : The presence of alkaloids seems to have a toxic effect in the liver, so it is not advised to use it during long treatments and when it is suspected the existence of a tumour or in case of pregnancy |
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