Featured Herb

Fennel:
Drink fennel tea to soothe the stomach after a large meal or for use as a mild stimulant. Fennel's diuretic properties have been used to help with weight loss, but a more practical use is to encourage the passage of kidney stones.

Fennel

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Home Herbs A to Z Borage (Borago officinalis)
Borage (Borago officinalis) Print E-mail

cheers the Heart and raises drooping Spirits...

In the Garden | Culinary | Fragrance | Medicinal use

Popular garden varieties

Borage

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In the Garden

Growth Characteristics:

  • Annual, Half Hardy,
  • Bears star-shaped, bright blue flowers in summer,
  • Height: ±1 m; Spread: ±80 cm,

     

Cultivation:

  • Full sun; Well drained, composted soil,

     

Harvesting:

  • Pick fresh leaves and flowers throughout the year,
  • Flowers can also be frozen in ice cubes and crystallized,

     

Companion Planting:

  • Will attract Butterflies and Bees. A rich source of food for bees.
  • Vegetables: Plant with Beans, Tomatoes, Squash,
  • Herbs: Plant with Strawberries,

     

Repellant for:

  • Tomato hornworm,

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Culinary use
  • Use the Cucumber-flavoured Borage leaves and flowers with:
  • Salads, Cheese, Crystallize for cake decorations, Pickles, Sandwiches, Yoghurt, add to Ravioli stuffing,
  • Cook as a spinach or with spinach,
  • Add to Cold drinks for their cucumber flavour and cooling effect,
  • Candy the flowers for cake decoration and desserts.

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Fragrance
  • Add to a face pack for dry skin,
  • Add an infusion to bathwater to cleanse and soften the skin,

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Medicinal use

Borage may be beneficial in the following cases:

General
  • Topical in eye washes,
  • High Calcium, Potassium and mineral salt content. Use in a salt-free diet.
Nervous System
  • Stress, Mental exhaustion, Mild depression,
Endocrine System
  • Strengthen adrenal glands weakened by intake of steroids (cortisone, etc),
Skin
  • Dry skin conditions, Ringworm,
  • Also use as Poultice,
Respiratory System
  • Fevers, Bronchial infections (including pleurisy and tuberculosis),
  • Mouth and throat infections (gargle, mouthwash),
  • Chronic catarrh,
Liver
  • Cirrhosis,
Digestive system
  • Prevent inflammation of the stomach and intestines in cases of toxicity, allergy and infection,
  • Colitis, Gastritis, Gastric ulcer,
Urinary System
  • Chronic Nephrites,
Reproductive System
  • Premenstrual syndrome,
  • Increase breast milk in nursing mothers,
Musculo / Skeletal System
  • Rheumatic complaints,

 

Preparation and dosage:

TEA:

  • 1 cup three times per day,

TINCTURE:

  • 5 - 10 ml in water, three times per day,

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Daily Moon Phases

Planting by the Moon

New Moon:

  • The New Moon is all about new beginnings. Rather spend the day planning your gardening for the month ahead to ensure you get the most joy out of it.
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