Borage

Botanical name:
Borago officinalis
Family:
Boraginaceae, Borage family
Where to find this herb:
Fields, disturbed areas, ditches. Originally from the Mediterranean region.
Part(s) used:
whole herb and seeds
Special constituents:
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, choline. The seeds contain fatty acids and gamma-linolenic acid.
Correspondance:
21(Cunningham), 19/21 (Beyerl)
Uses:
Source of GLA. Magically: Protection, cooling

Description:
Medicinally borage can be used against fever, lung diseases and generally as a cooling agent. You can make tea of it or make a paste to use on swellings. In homopathic remedies it is used as a cardiac. From the seeds an oil is pressed; this contains up to 25% GLA, gamma-linolenic acid. This oil is great to add to creams, unfortunately it is rather expensive. If you can afford it, though, it works wonders against a range of skin problems, including acne, eczema, psoriasis etc.

GLA is a fatty acid that the body converts to a hormone-like substance called prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). PGE1 has anti-inflammatory properties and may also act as a blood thinner and blood vessel dilator. GLA should be formed naturally in the body from linoleic acid, but this doesn't always happen; a range of medications, the aging process, saturated fat, hydrogenated oils, blood sugar problems, as well as lack of vitamins and other factors, can interfere with the conversion. So it can be a good idea to supplement your diet with GLA, in one form or another.

Culinary, the herb can be added to salads and cold drinks. It has a cucumber-ish smell. Thus the Dutch name, Komkommerkruid (Cucumber-herb). Note that ingesting the herb does not mean that you ingest GLA, as this is in the seeds only.

The herb does contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are toxic to the liver. However, these toxins are only present in very small amounts. A cup of Borage-drink can do no harm, but you should not take large amounts of Borage internally for a long period of time. These harmful alkaloids are not found in the seeds, so you do not have to worry when using oil of Borage.

The herb is not much used in magic. Its name possibly comes from a celtic word for courage (according to Beyerl), and the herb has been said to give the bearer courage. Maybe its cooling properties make you "stay cool"!