Borage (Borago officinalis): Harvesting, Uses, and Properties

The Borage, scientific name Borago officinalis, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the botanical family Boraginaceae. It is a wild plant found throughout the Italian territory. It has been used in cuisine for a long time, as it’s suitable for preparing numerous dishes from popular tradition and its cold-pressed seeds yield a highly renowned oil. Moreover, it has many useful properties in the medicinal field, just like many other flowers and plants we’ve seen before (for example, dandelion, St. John’s wort, mallow, lemon balm, turmeric or sage).

Let’s now get to know this plant better, its botanical characteristics, and its properties. But most importantly, let’s see the peculiarities of its oil, which is highly valued and considered a precious plant-based supplement. In recent years, it has been widely prescribed to naturally support the treatment of various health conditions.

Origins and Distribution of the Borage Plant

Borage plant

Borage is native to the East, but it is currently widespread in Europe and Central America. In Italy, it is found in all regions, at altitudes not exceeding 1,000 meters above sea level.
The origin of the name “borage” is somewhat uncertain. Some trace it back to the Arabic abu ‘arack = father of sweat, referring to the plant’s sweating properties. Others associate it with the word “burra”, derived from borus = shepherd’s cloak, which in the Medieval era referred to a rough woolen fabric with long fibers, alluding to the plant’s fuzziness. Still, others link borage to the Celtic term borrach = courage. As it is a widely used plant in regional cuisine, there are many common names that identify it. From North to South, it is called: borana, boracina, borazna, urrania, depending on the regions. Other names include: “erba pelosa”, “lingua rada”, “burraxi” and “burrane”.

Recognizing Borage

Borage flower

Borage grows wild in preferably calcareous soils. It prefers marginal areas, near ruins, but also uncultivated fields and home gardens. Due to its high commercial value resulting from borage oil production, it’s also cultivated on an industrial scale. It’s a plant that can reach up to a meter in height and has a stem from which numerous branches grow. The stem is both sturdy and soft due to its high mucilage content. Its interior is hollow and covered with dense white fuzz, which can be quite prickly.

Leaves

The leaves are large and oval-shaped with pointed ends, alternating on the branches and equipped with a long petiole. They are also covered with dense fuzz, have a reticulated appearance, and a gray-green color.

Flowers

Borage flowers are unmistakable, with a star-shaped form and a typical blue color.
Borage is a honey-producing plant, highly appreciated by beekeepers. The seeds, from which borage oil is extracted through cold-pressing, are very small achenes. Their color is brown, and they are contained within the flowers’ calyx.

Harvesting Borage

We can collect borage leaves between December and February, before flowering occurs. It’s advisable to harvest it just before use and to moderate the harvest to avoid damaging the plant too much, allowing it to flower and produce seeds. The seeds can be used to extract oil and, of course, to grow new plants for the following years. Additionally, during the flowering phase, the flowers can be collected for herbal teas or infusions.

Uses in Cooking

Borage leaves are used in cooked dishes to enrich soups and stews. They can also be the main ingredient in delicious omelets, rustic pizzas, or fritters. Each region has its characteristic dish. For example, in Liguria, it is used in Easter pies or as a filling for Genoese ravioli. In Tuscany, it is one of the ingredients in the famous “zuppa frantoiana”. In the Etna area, it’s used to prepare “paparotta”.
The flowers can be used, for instance, to garnish risottos or salads, or they can be frozen in ice cubes to decorate cocktails.

Warnings and Contraindications

Even in Roman times, borage was used not only to enrich dishes but also for therapeutic purposes. Greeks believed that it was a plant capable of bringing happiness. The Arabs, on the other hand, administered it to soldiers before battles to instill courage in them. The main properties attributed to this plant are emollient, expectorant, sudorific, anti-rheumatic, and purifying. For these purposes, the plant is used in cooking, mainly utilizing the young leaves. It is mainly used for regional dishes, while the flowers are used for decorative purposes. However, an important clarification must be made: the consumption of these parts of the plant must always occur after cooking, such as blanching. This is because, during certain vital stages of the plant, it contains hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. After cooking, these are naturally eliminated, nullifying the risk of toxicity.

Borage Oil

Borage oil is extracted through the cold-pressing of the plant’s seeds. It is a highly valued oil with a light yellow color. It has no particular taste, and its consumption has no contraindications. Its value comes from its composition. It contains, among other things, about 20% γ-linolenic acid (GLA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid of the ω-6 series. It also contains α-linolenic acid of the ω-3 series. The oil, usually sold in the form of pearls or capsules, is an excellent dietary supplement and can be found here. The GLA introduced through borage oil supplementation is transformed by the body into dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid. This is incorporated into triglycerides and is used for the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes following an inflammatory stimulus. These compounds act as modulators of various biological functions.

The Therapeutic Properties of Borage

There are many uses and therapeutic properties of borage oil. Firstly, this oil has shown therapeutic efficacy in treating rheumatoid arthritis and other arthropathies. Secondly, it has beneficial properties for various skin problems, such as seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. In this case, it can be administered both orally and transdermally, i.e., as skin oil.
In children with seborrheic dermatitis, topical application of the oil improved symptoms through rehydration and reduced evaporation. Therefore, γ-linolenic acid contained in borage oil, with its emollient, decongestant, and cell-regulating properties, has positive effects on the general condition of the skin. For example, it’s an excellent supplement for treating acne vulgaris.

Premenstrual Syndrome

Finally, a widespread use of borage oil is for the natural treatment of premenstrual syndrome, a very common female issue. This manifests itself in the days before the start of the menstrual cycle, with symptoms such as breast tenderness, irritability, tendency to depression, bloating, and headaches. It is widely believed that premenstrual syndrome is caused by excessive prolactin production and that prostaglandin E (PGE), produced from polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-6 series, helps alleviate the effects of hyperprolactinemia. For this reason, it is suggested for treating this syndrome.

Exploring Borage (Borago officinalis): Gathering, Applications, and Characteristics

Unveiling Borage Oil's Benefits: Extracted from the ubiquitous Borage wildflower, this vegetable oil holds exceptional attributes. Discover its broad range of applications.