Borage
The Courage and Strength Builder
A native of Europe and England, borage has rough, dark green leaves, blue star-shaped flowers, and small, brown, nutlike fruits. The fresh plant has a fragrance like cucumber, and the leaves have a cucumber taste.
An old adage says that borage is for courage, and its healing properties go straight for the seat of courage—the adrenal glands.
Courage. Borage stimulates the adrenal cortex—the “fight or flight” gland that responds to stress. In addition, borage is a tonic for kidney strength. Strong kidney energy, in Chinese medicine, can help to ease the emotion fear.
Strength. Borage strengthens the lungs and heart, and relieves congestion. The tea can help you recover from a period of prolonged fatigue, and fortify your energy reserves during a time of excessive stress or fearful-ness. It’s also an antidepressant to lift low spirits.
Special Feature: Natural Anti-inflammatory
For inflammatory conditions, borage works better as an iced tea. Borage is best when it is used fresh, not dried.
Caution: Borage contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids which have been linked to liver damage in rats in high doses.
Beneficent Parts: Leaves, flowers, seeds
Properties: Calcium, Potassium, Essential Oil, Mucilage, Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids, Tannins; Seeds Contain Gamma Linoleic Acid
Values: Antidepressant, Anti-inflammatory, Antitoxin, Blood Tonic, Decongestant, Demulcent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Galactagogue, Kidney Tonic, Nervine
