borage

1. a European boraginaceous plant, Borago officinalis, with star-shaped blue flowers. The young leaves have a cucumber-like flavour and are sometimes used in salads or as seasoning

2. any of several related plants

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

borage

A very hairy plant with brilliant blue star-shaped flowers that have a green star inside and a black cone in the middle. Flowers are edible and taste like cucumber, but don’t eat the leaves raw. Borage (hot) leaf tea and seed oil stimulates the adrenals and gives people a feeling of gladness, courage and confidence while reducing depression and melancholy. Tea can also be used as eyewash. Dried stems used to flavor beverages. Flowers can be used to make edible blue dye. High mucilage content makes it useful for respiratory and digestive system disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, bronchitis and coughs. Borage seed oil is very rich in polyunsaturated fats. Seeds are source of gamma linolenic acid, GLA, which regulates hormones and lowers blood pressure. Borage is a strong diuretic and helps the body detox through urine and skin (kidneys). Tea used for skin problems like boils, rashes, arthritis, rheumatism. The soothing feel-good effect also reduces heart palpitations, and adrenal stimulation helps women with menopause hormone switchover. Used in drinks, soups, dips etc. Don’t go crazy with this plant though because it has .001% pyrrolizidine, alkaloid. Don’t use if you have liver disease or problems. Plant best used fresh. Most of the benefits lost after 1 year of storage.

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References in periodicals archive

HPLC machine is also used to measure the degree of Rosmarinic acid of the borage.

The effect of vermicompost and biological phosphate on morphological characteristics and rosemarinic acid of Iranian borage (Echium amoenum Fisch and May.)

Borages play a big role but there are others that, from now until the first dark days of winter, will keep our bees buzzing – not to mention our hoverflies hovering and butterflies fluttering.

THE NECTAR POINTS; Befriend our butterflies and bees with these attractive plants and you'll create a real buzz with a fantastic show of flower power

borages, left, play an important role in feeding garden insects

Nectar points; Create a real buzz in your garden with flowers that bees love..

Brassicas - these include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, Brussels' sprouts and thrive in the company of geraniums, rosemary, borage, nasturtiums and alliums but loathe tomatoes, aubergines, capsicums and mustard.

Pakistan: Nature talk: Companion planting

Small studies have evaluated the efficacy of gamma-linoleic acid (GLA)--including borage oil (24% GLA) and evening primrose oil (7%-10% GLA).

Do nonmedicated topicals relieve childhood eczema?

Borage seed oil supplies omega-6 fats, which also reduce inflammation.

Can nutrient-laced cosmetics help you conquer aging skin? EN's 7 tips

One of our favorite summer blues is borage, whose sky-colored, star-shaped blooms don't just look cool--they also taste cool, with a flavor similar to cucumbers.

Borage

* Tamara Brewer Borage of Fulton, Mo., effective July 28, 2006.

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The products are available in a variety of formats, including: Flax Oil in an eight-ounce bottle, Salmon Oil in 120 softgels, Omega 3.6.9 in 50 softgels, Super Omega 3 in 50 softgels, and Borage 1000 Oil in 50 softgels.

Focus on the essentials

Annual Plants and Groundcovers: Mesclun Mixes, Radicchio, Borage, Teaberries

It's beautiful, it's edible, it's in your own backyard ... it's edible landscaping!

Shikai Products, which has provided natural skin care products through health food stores for the past 30 years, debuted its Borage DiabetiCare line earlier this year.

Diabetes care boom

Strawberries' other friends are beans, borage, onions, and lettuce.

Getting along in the garden: companion planting is good for your plants