Sovereign plants to purge the veins
Of melancholy, and cheer the heart
Of those black fumes which make it smart"
- Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy
BORAGE Borago officinalis
FOLKLORE/COMMON NAMES Burrage, Bugloss, Herb of Gladness, Bee Plant
*Note: Borage was sometimes called Bugloss by the old herbalists, a name that properly belongs to Alkanet. Also, do not confuse this name of Bee Plant with Bee Balm, or the proper Monarda
PARTS USED Leaves and flowers.
HISTORICAL REFERENCES
Fresh Borage flowers and leaves have been added to wines and salads since ancient times, and several classical resources make reference to the flowers as a source of excellent honey. The Victorian era saw women including the herb in salads and drinks as a 'mood lifter' as it was known for raising the spirits; and the flowers were often candied and made into a conserve for those persons weakened by long illnesses or ladies prone to swooning.
Probably the most well known historic use of Borage, however, is its association with the virtues of courage and bravery. It is written that from as early as the ancient Celtic warriors and notably throughout the Roman soldiering class, those preparing for battle would drink Borage wine to give them courage. The Welsh call Borage llanwenlys meaning 'herb of gladness', and some sources claim that the name is derived from barrach, a Celtic word meaning 'a man of courage'.
According to Dioscorides and Pliny, Borage was the famous Nepenthe of Homer, which when drunk steeped in wine, brought absolute forgetfulness.
Folklore has it that Borage was occasionally snuck into the drink of prospective husbands whose bride's to be felt they needed a boost of courage to come forth with the marriage proposal!
MEDICINAL USES
Cautions: Borage is one of many plants containing Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid, once termed a Senecio alkaloid. Some of the pyrrolizidine group have been shown to cause several types of liver degeneration and blood vessel disorders with constant use. Not all PAs are toxic; but those that are can be dangerous to the liver. Still, the majority of Herbalists and Homeopathic practitioners maintain that Borage is safe to eat. If you are wildcrafting Borage, however, be very careful not to misidentify the herb, as it could be confused with more toxic members of the same plant family.
Constituents: Potassium and calcium, mineral acids, mucilage, tannin, pyrrolizioline alkaloids.
The early medicinal use of Borage was naturally as an antidepressant; but it was also widely used as a diuretic, a demulcent, and emollient. Modern evidence shows that the tannin in Borage does make it slightly astringent, while the mucilage acts as a mild expectorant. The acids and nitrates add to the diuretic effects. Older herbalists were right on target, and thus herbalists maintain these uses today.
