Borage Herb - Treatment and Medical use of Borage Oil Capsule

Latin description: Borago officinalis

Common Name: Bee bread, Bee Clover, Borrage, Burrage, Cool Tankard, False Bugloss, LLanwenlys (Welsh), Star flower, Talewort

Parts Used: Leaves, flowers, seed oil

Medcinal Uses and Benefits of Borage

• Fresh leaves have been used in salads to increase milk flow in nursing mothers.
• Seed oil has been used to lower blood pressure (stress related) and regulate hormonal system as well as for eczema, irritable bowel syndrome, hangover, and to regulate menses. Has also been rubbed into fingers for Raynaud's disease and been used as a substitute for Evening Primrose Oil.
• Leaves have been used as an adrenal tonic to counter the effects of steroid therapy.
• Plant has been used for fevers, bronchitis, cirrhosis, chronic nephritis, hysteria, palpitations of the heart, phlebitis, dry rasping cough, pleurisy, depression, diarrhea, menopausal problems, dry skin itch, ringworm, tetters, scabs, sores, ulcers, mouth and throat infections, as a calmative, and to relieve liver and kidney troubles. Has been used as an infusion in the early stages of fevers associated with the onset of pleurisy, feverish colds, and whooping cough. Has been used externally as cooled infusion as an eyewash (to strengthen), gargle, mouthwash, and poultice.
• Tea has been used in Central and South America for lung problems.
• Salty, aperient, analgesic, diuretic, diaphoretic, demulcent, emollient, refrigerant, febrifuge, mild sedative (since it was always mixed with wine, it casts doubt on its effectiveness), mild laxative, nervine, anti-rheumatic, expectorant, to purify blood, promotes lactation, leaves and flowers stimulate the adrenal glands (restorative to adrenal cortex); soothing to irritated or damaged tissue (pulped leaves have been used as poultice for bruises, inflammations, and swellings, as well as being base for salves and liniments); cleansing and stimulating to the kidneys and has been used in Europe as a tonic herb for convalescents. Said to affect lungs, heart (to strengthen), circulation, and skin.
• The juice has been used for depression, anxiety, grief, and as a lotion for dry, itchy skin. The juice in syrup form has been used for fevers, jaundice, itch and ringworm.
• The flowers have been made into a cough syrup which has also been used for kidney and bladder inflammations; candied flowers were once given to those recovering from long illnesses and those who easily swooned. The distilled flower water and conserve of the flowers was once used to "comfort the heart, relieve the faint, cheer the melancholy, and purify the blood" (Herbal of John Pechey 1695). Distilled water was also warmed and used as a gargle for sore throat.