Borage

• Spice and medicinal plant from the Boraginaceae family. Originally native to the Mediterranean region, borage has also been found in Central Europe since the late Middle Ages. An annual herbaceous plant that grows up to 70 centimetres high and has bristly hairs on its stems and leaves. The coarse lanceolate leaves are dark green and 10-15 cm long.
• Flowering time: May to September. The flowers are bright blue. Borage produces an oily seed about 0.5 cm long and dark brown in colour.
• see under Borage

Borage flowers and herb contain tannins, soluble silicic acid and mucilage; used in folk medicine for inflammation of the respiratory tract, urinary retention and diarrhoea. Content of liver-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids may be high; medicinal use is discouraged.

Internal: The oil obtained from the seeds is almost free from the alkaloids when cold pressed. The gamma-linolenic acid content is about 20% (higher than that of evening primrose oil). It is used as an open oil or in capsule form for atopic eczema.

Externally: The oil can be added 10-20% to appropriate ointment bases (e.g. Unguentum emulsificans). See under Borage seed oil cream. Indication: chronic eczema, atopic dermatitis.

The pyrrazolidine alkaloids in the herb have hepatotoxic and carcinogenic effects.

Borage seed oil cream