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 diarrhea. The content of liver-toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids can be high; medicinal use is not recommended.

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

Externally: 10-20% of the oil can be added 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