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Borage
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Family |
Boraginaceae |
Genus and specie |
Borago officinalis |
Borago, burrage, bugloss and bourrache. The oil expressed from the seeds is often called "starflower oil".
Borage has thick soft stems and large leaves, both of which are covered in fine bristly hairs. The flowers are star-shaped and a vivid sky blue, although an occasional pink bloom does appear (there is also a rare species with white flowers). The blooms are full of nectar and are a source of food for bees.
Borage flowers, leaves, seeds, and oil are used for culinary, medicinal and cosmetic purposes.
Borage is a cooling, saline, diuretic herb, which increases perspiration and has mild sedative and anti depressive properties.
The herb contains mucilages and trace amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (such as amabiline, supinidine, lycopsamine and intermedine) and the seed oil contains high levels of unsaturated y-linolenic acid (GLA) and essential fatty acid, as well as linoleic acid and oleic acid.
The GLA contained in borage seed oil is higher than the amount contained in evening primrose oil - 21% compared to that of 9%.
The GLA influences stress reactivity and has shown to increase cardiovascular reactivity and is also used to treat eczema and dermatitis.
GLA is required to maintain normal body functions, as it is a precursor of dihomo-y-linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, from which prostaglandins and leucotrienes are derived. Leucotrienes are hormone-like substances that positively affect cholesterol levels, the dilation of blood vessels, as well as inflammatory conditions.
The fresh herb can be a skin irritant and allergen and doubts have been expressed about the safety of the herb if large amounts of the leaves are consumed, due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (not present in the oil).
In large amounts the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) which are present in the herb (not the oil) can be be a liver toxin and is also seen as carcinogenic. The PA intake should not exceed 1 ug per day and prolonged use of borage herb - for instance as a tea - is not recommended.
The seed oil should however be used with care by people suffering from epilepsy and schizophrenia.
None.
To promote the interest and use of herbs and natural complementary health alternatives, we have included information on the following herbs.
Please note - although we discuss a wide variety of herbs, not all of them are used or sold by us. | |
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