Borage: Profile of the Herb Named Starflower

Borage (Borago Officialis), also know as starflower, is a delicious self seeding annual herb. It is native to Syria, but is grown and cultivated all over Europe and North America. This herb will grow to be 2-3 feet tall in height. Borage has stiff prickly stems and stunning masses of bright blue flowers. This plant is often times seen as a weed but it contains healing properties and is delicious to eat.

Borage is easy to grow in zones 3-10 and it will thrive pretty much anywhere. It tolerates poor conditions and is a great companion plant for strawberries and tomatoes. Borage helps repel tomato worms and promotes rapid strawberry growth.

Borage is prepared and eaten all over the globe. In India it is added in the production of Beer. In Jamaica it is used to prepare fish dishes. Borage is used in Germany's famous green frankfurter sauce and in France it is infused into fresh cream for use in soufflé's.

Borage seed oil is gaining in popularity due to the effects it has on PMS and menopause. Borage oil contains gommo linoleric acid (GLA) which is useful in treating these ailments as well as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and rheumatoid arthritis. The herb is also It is also used for many herbal preparations used for respiratory complaints and is an expectorant. Fresh borage juice applied to the skin will kill ringworm and it is also used to expel poisons in snake and insect bites and stings. Borage is a great galactogogue and increases the production of breast milk in nursing mother's. This herb is uplifting in nature and helps promote well being and courage. Borage is also a stimulant which supports the adrenal glands. The adrenals secrete the hormone adrenaline, which is responsible for our 'flight or fight' response within the parasympathetic nervous system.

Borage is rich in calcium. It is a diuretic, demulcent and emollient. It has been used to treat fevers and as a poultice for inflammation.