According to the history books, borage is said to have given ancient travellers ‘courage, joy, and gladness! It comforts the heart to make merry and to give strength and fortitude’. The Crusaders took it with them on their journeys — along with yarrow to stop bleeding and to heal wounds. For these intrepid travellers who had to face famine, bandits and plagues, a ’stirrup cup‘ — a type of fortifying wine made of borage — was literally their equivalent of Dutch courage. Undoubtedly they would also have taken the dried herb in leather pouches for the journey. Borage flowers are used in the popular Pimms alcoholic drink.
A. CULTIVATION Borage does best in well-composted soil in full sun — my best specimens grow on the compost heap! It grows up to 60 cm in width — so allow plenty of space.
B. PROPAGATION Borage grows quickly and easily from seed. It is self-seeding and regenerate rapidly from one plant.
C. HARVESTING AND PROCESSING Leaves and flowers can be picked continuously, and are only used fresh.
D. COMPANION PLANTING Bees are attracted to borage flowers. I always have a few rows planted in the vegetable garden amongst the tomatoes, lettuce, chives and strawberries.
E. USES OF BORAGE
i. Culinary: With its unobtrusive, cucumber-like flavour, borage lends itself to soups, stews and fritters and makes an attractive addition to stuffings and stirfries. I add the exquisite blue flowers to salads and drinks.
ii. Medicinal: Borage contains a substantial amount of mineral salts, potassium, magnesium and calcium. It also has the ability to stimulate the adrenal gland to produce its own cortisone, thus opening up the way for further important research. The high quality gammo-linoleic acid present in the seeds — also found in evening primrose — is helpful for menopause changes, premenstrual tension and skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis and exceptionally dry skin. Borage poultice is probably my most frequently used treatment for bruises, varicose veins and inflamed itchy areas. Borage vinegar (see recipe section) soothes sprains, bruises, etc., or add to the bath and hair rinsing water for an itchy flaking scalp. Borage tea is good for bladder and kidney ailments and colds and flu. Use 1/4 cup fresh leaves in 1 cup boiling water. Stand 5 minutes. Strain and sip slowly. Sweeten with honey if liked. Take one cup a day until the condition clears then stop.
iii. Cosmetic: Borage can be used as a face pack or cream, smoothing dry winter skin. I add a tablespoon every now and then to the bath under the hot tap to disperse it, to keep my skin really soft. An excellent cleansing cream (see recipe section), I use it to remove heavy make-up after a TV session and find the skin is left soft and wrinkle-free!
iv. Other uses: To start off your spring compost, borage is a must as it breaks down immediately, and adds precious mineral salts to the soil. In France dried powdered borage leaves are dug into pot plants twice yearly to give them a boost in spring and in late summer, and often the powdered crumbled leaves are mixed with bonemeal for their potted lemon, orange and bay trees.
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