Borage (Borago officinalis) is a medicinal plant used to help treat urinary tract infections, cough, rheumatoid arthritis, menopause symptoms, and skin wounds. Its benefits are linked to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
This plant, also known as starflower, is often used in the form of borage oil, which contains higher concentrations of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids—responsible for its medicinal effects.
Borage can be found in health stores or pharmacies and should be used under the guidance of a doctor or herbal specialist.
Health benefits
The main benefits of borage include:
1. Easing asthma symptoms
Thanks to its omega-3 and omega-6 content with anti-inflammatory effects, borage may help ease asthma symptoms by reducing swelling and inflammation in the airways.
2. Relieving cough
Borage is rich in mucilage, which has expectorant properties. This makes it helpful for easing cough caused by bronchitis, flu, or the common cold.
3. Supporting urinary tract infection treatment
Borage may help in the treatment of UTIs, like cystitis or nephritis, due to compounds like malic acid and potassium nitrate, which have diuretic effects.
Its anti-inflammatory action may also help reduce inflammation in the urinary tract. However, borage should not replace conventional medical treatment with antibiotics.
4. Easing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
Borage seed oil has antirheumatic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce joint inflammation and oxidative stress on the cells. As a result, it can help relieve symptoms such as joint pain and swelling in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
5. Promoting wound healing
Borage contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a type of omega-6 that is an essential component of skin cells, helping maintain their structure and function. This supports the healing process of skin wounds.
Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties may also accelerate healing.
6. Improving skin conditions
Borage may help treat skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, eczema, neurodermatitis, acne, or seborrheic dermatitis by reducing redness and itching. It works by lowering skin inflammation and supporting the repair of the skin’s natural barrier.
7. Lowering cholesterol
Borage is high in unsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, which act as antioxidants. These compounds help prevent fat cell oxidation and reduce levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
8. Reducing inflammation in blood vessels
Borage’s anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce inflammation in blood vessels (phlebitis) and improve blood flow.
9. Preventing cardiovascular disease
By helping lower LDL cholesterol and improving circulation, borage may contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.
10. Stimulating breast milk production
Borage seed powder can be mixed into food to help stimulate breast milk production, thanks to its galactagogue properties. Using borage seeds is recommended because they do not contain alkaloids that could be harmful to the liver.
11. Easing menopause symptoms
Gamma-linolenic acid in borage may help balance female hormones, potentially easing menopause and PMS symptoms like irritability, breast tenderness, and bloating.
12. Supporting adrenal gland function
Borage may stimulate the adrenal glands and be used in cases of stress, burnout, adrenal fatigue, or after corticosteroid treatments. This use should only occur with an endocrinologist’s guidance and hormone level assessment.
How to use borage
The flowers, stems, leaves, and seeds of borage can be used to make tea, oil, or capsules. Borage should only be used for a maximum of 3 weeks or as directed by a healthcare provider.
1. Borage oil
Borage oil is extracted by cold-pressing the plant’s seeds. It can be found in health stores or pharmacies and is often used to treat skin inflammation.
Ingredients:
-
1 to 3 drops of borage oil
-
A carrier oil, such as coconut or almond oil
Instructions:
Mix the oils in a clean glass container and apply to the affected skin area, gently massaging until absorbed.
Before using borage oil on the skin, a patch test is recommended: mix 1 drop of borage oil with 1 teaspoon of carrier oil and apply it to the back of the hand or inner elbow. Wait 24 hours. If redness or irritation occurs, do not use the oil.
2. Borage tea
Borage tea may help with cough, bronchitis, flu, and colds.
Ingredients:
-
1 tablespoon of dried borage flowers
-
1 cup of water
Instructions:
Bring the water to a boil, then pour it over the dried flowers in a cup. Let steep for 10 minutes, strain, and drink up to 3 cups per day.
3. Borage capsules
Borage capsules contain the oil extracted from the plant’s seeds and can be used for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, or high cholesterol.
The typical adult dose is 500 mg per capsule, taken twice a day before main meals.
Possible side effects
The most common side effects of borage in tea or capsule form include excessive gas, belching, poor digestion, or bloating.
In high doses, borage may cause seizures.
Some parts of the plant contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are toxic to the liver and may increase cancer risk. Therefore, borage oil and capsules that are free of or contain only trace amounts of these compounds are preferred.
When applied to the skin, borage oil may cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people.
Who should not use borage
Borage is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
It should also be used with caution by people with liver conditions or those taking blood-thinning medications.