Borage or bee plant is one of the chosen culinary herbs used by our grandmothers to make their meals look and taste better, be it to make popular green sauce, to garnish salads or to pamper children with candied flowers! This ancient garden herb exudes characteristic cucumber aroma to the recipes it added to...thus making it as one of the most sought after herb in the households.
Botanically, it belongs to the family of Borabinaceae, of the genus Borago and has scientific name: Borago officinalis. The herb is known also as starflower since it bears five petal deep blue colour star-shaped beautiful flowers in clusters. Some other common names include bee bread, burrage, common bugloss...etc.
Borage is annual hollow stemmed plant with bristly hairs and reaches about 75-90 cm in height. It grows in plentiful all over the wild highlands of Eastern Europe and Asia Minor regions.  

The plant features broad oval shaped dark green fuzzy leaves. In general, its leaves are harvested from the plant just after the flower buds form but before flowering. Younger leaves are used in salads while older leaves are used as greens. However, as the plant gets older, the leaves get tougher, larger, more fuzzy, and bitter in taste.

Health benefits

Borage is one of very popular culinary herb especially in Mediterranean countries. The herb contains many notable phyto-nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that are essential for optimum health and wellness.

The herb parts contain essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), typically in concentrations of 17-20%. Linolenic acid is omega-6 fatty acid that play vital role in restoration of joint health, immunity, healthy skin and mucus membranes.

Fresh burrage herb has high levels of vitamin C (ascorbic acid); provide 35 mcg or 60% of RDA per 100 g. Vitamin C is one of the powerful natural anti-oxidant help remove harmful free radicals from the body. Along with other anti-oxidants, it has immune booster, wound healing and anti-viral effects.

Burrage herb contains very high levels of vitamin A (140% of RDA) and carotenes. Both these compounds are powerful flavonoid anti-oxidants. Together, they act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease processes.

Vitamin A is known to have antioxidant properties and is essential for vision. It is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural foods rich in vitamin A and carotenes are known to help body protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

The herb has good amount of minerals like iron (41% of RDA), calcium, potassium, manganese, copper, zinc, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids, which helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is an important co-factor for cytochrome oxidase enzyme in the cellular metabolism. In addition, being a component of haemoglobin inside the red blood cells, it determines the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.

The herb is one of the good sources of B-complex vitamins, particularly rich in niacin (vitamin B-3). Niacin helps lower LDL cholesterol levels in the body. In addition, it has riboflavin, thiamin, pyridoxine, and folates in adequate levels. These vitamins function as co-factors in the enzymatic metabolism inside the body.

Respiratory health: The chewing of leaves of Borage helps to provide relief from sore throat, cold, painful sinuses and stuffy nose. The compound in this herb helps to wipe out the phlegm and mucus from the respiratory tracts and also clears sinuses. It also enhances the immune system by preventing the development of pathogens and bacteria in the tracts.

Skin conditions: Borage is used to treat the various skin conditions such as stings, bug bites, psoriasis and eczema. It possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce the swelling and redness by eliminating the irritation as well as itchiness.

Omega 6: The essential oil which is extracted from the borage leaves contains the omega 6 fatty acids such as gamma- linoleic acid which helps to reduce arthritis by increasing the regeneration of joints that is essential for the athletes or people with osteoporosis who has stress on bones and joints.

Vitamin A and C: Borage leaves possess high amount of ascorbic acid which helps to enhance the immune system. Vitamin A and carotenoids enhance the vision with the reduction of oxidative stress in eyes and also prevent the macular degeneration.

Prevent cancer: The research shows that Indian borage showed the positive results in the treatment of breast cancer but the studies are still going on. The antioxidants and omega-6 gamma-linoleic acids helps to slow down the breast cancer growth. It also has effect on the prostatitis which is the indicator of prostate cancer.

Reduce anxiety: The minerals and organic compounds contained in Indian borage possess the sedative properties. The tea made from Indian borage helps to reduce chronic stress or anxiety and promotes peace of mind, relaxation and sound sleep.

Kidney ailments: Borage possesses diuretic properties which clear out the toxins by promoting urination. It also lowers the excess fat, salt and water contained in the body. It enhances the function of lymphatic system and kidneys as well.

Reduce fever: Flu and cold are the common symptoms of fever. borage enhances sweat, clear toxin from the body and also speeds up the recovery process.

Relieves bowel syndrome: Traditionally, borage was used to soothe upset stomachs and provide relief from the bowel syndromes by soothing inflammation and regulating digestion. The effective way of getting benefit from the Indian borage leaves is to brew it as a tea.

Reduce arthritis: Borage oil contains GLA which acts as an aid for pain caused due to rheumatoid arthritis. It is mostly effective when used with anti-inflammatory medications or conventional painkilling. The evidence shows that some people experience reduction in joint pain, severity and swelling with the treatment of borage oil for six weeks daily.