Borage (Borago Officinalis) or Starflower is a wild flower which has been used in herbal medicine for hundreds of years. About 1500 years ago the historian Pliny wrote of it's virtues and in the middle ages Borage leaves were used as a dye and often brewed into a medicinal tea.
Borage is a tall plant that grows wild almost everywhere around the world. With its hairy stems and leaves and bright blue flowers it rapidly self seeds and can quickly take over a garden. For that reasons many people regard it as a weed. However, the flowers are glorious and attract bees. I've recently discovered that
Borage is a feature of Lingurian cuisine and, from a culinary point of view, there's much you can do with all parts of the plant - especially the new shoots and flowers.
Now Borage plants are cultivated and harvested commercially for the oil found in the seeds.
Borage oil is the richest known source of an essential fatty acid, Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA). GLA is naturally produced in the body but relies on the presence of linoleic acid (LA) which is not a naturally occurring body substance but is present in most vegetable oils. So, yet another good reason to tuck into your greens! The conversion process relies on the interaction of certain enzymes which can sometimes not function properly. Therefore, a supplement might be useful. I've been taking a Starflower Oil supplement for years now. Some of the
health benefits are disputed. However, there's a lot of other evidence out there that supports it's
benefits for women when it comes to skincare and adipose tissue control.
For me Borage is a gift from nature to be nurtured and appreciated by all. However, it's a particularly good herb for the older woman. So, if you're not already familiar with the plant, get acquainted with this delightful blue flower soon.
