Borage: More Than Just a Pretty Flower

Borage, or Borago officinalis, grows well in North America and Northern Europe. Its blue star-shaped flowers and dark green leaves make the plant one of the prettier herbs. The entire plant is edible, and the flowers themselves are often candied and used as cake decorations. The leaves and flowers also make great additions to many soups, salads, and dips. The leaves taste similar to cucumber, while the flowers are sweeter and honey-like.

The plant is also used medicinally because of its high mineral content. It is especially rich in potassium, and targets the adrenal glands. This makes it valuable to people who experience a lot of stress. Traditionally, borage tea was used to treat fevers and colds. The plant can also be used as a facial steam to soften very dry skin.

Many people also use borage oil (from the plant's seeds) to treat eczema or other itchy borage skin conditions, although the effectiveness has not been officially proven. The oil is also added to many moisturizers and cosmetics because it tends to soften the skin. Rheumatoid arthritis has also been shown to improve when treated with borage oil.

Borage as Part of Your Weight Loss Program

When combined with flax oil, borage seed oil becomes a rich source of essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which greatly increases your body's ability to manage weight. Even on its own, borage oil contains a large amount of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is similar to the active chemical in fish oil. This promotes health from the inside out, and tends to make weight loss easier.

As with any herbal supplements, you should check with your physician before taking borage. Herbs can interact with your current medications or result in side effects in some people.

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