Borage Borago officinalis Family: Boraginaceae CTFA name: Borage (Borago Officinalis) Seed Oil

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Photo © Steven Foster

Introduction

Native to Great Britain, Europe, and North Africa, borage has naturalized (grows wild) in North America.^1,2  Borage is a cucumber-flavored annual growing to 2 feet, with deep green leaves, and white, prickly hairs on the entire plant.³  The star-shaped flowers appear in summer, are blue or purple,^1,3  and are followed by a fruit that contains four brownish-black nutlets.

History and Cultural Significance

Traditionally used for fevers, coughs, and depression, borage oil has also been used to induce sweating, as an expectorant, and as an anti-inflammatory agent.⁴  

In Italy, borage was used as a remedy to increase breast milk in nursing mothers.⁵  Since the Middle Ages, Europeans claimed borage could cheer the heart and raise droopy spirits.^6,7  The early Greeks also claimed borage had a reputation for making people merry. In the days of Crusaders, “I, Borage, bring always Courage” was the basis for tradition when men marched off to battle leaving their sweethearts behind.^6,7  The motto possibly comes from the Latin word “corago” (courage), which rhymed with borago and fits accordingly with its reputation to bring about good spirits.⁶  

In addition to being used for colds, rheumatism, and bronchitis, borage can be utilized as a culinary plant. Borage leaves can be cooked like spinach, or eaten in pickles and salads. Flowers can be used as an edible decoration for salads⁸  or mixed with the leaves in wines and lemon juice to flavor beverages.⁶  

Modern Research

Borage seed oil contains 20-26% GLA (gamma-linolenic acid).⁹  Various diseases have been linked to a deficiency in GLA. Therefore, it is thought that GLA supplementation may help some of these ailments.

Preliminary research suggests that borage oil may be useful for soothing allergic inflammation of the skin and other skin irritations, as well as muscle problems.¹⁰  

Future Outlook

Borage prospers in most soils, and self sows (spreads its seed) freely,¹¹  although insect pollination is required for pollen transfer between plants in order to produce fertile seed.⁸  Production of seed oil has its limitations. The most significant drawback is the shattering of the seeds as they fall to the ground before they can be harvested.¹²  Another limitation is that crop yields can decrease by a third if sown a month late.¹³  Timing is crucial in seed production; the GLA content of seeds increase the later borage is harvested, however, the seeds tend to shatter upon late harvesting.

Currently, most borage oil comes from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Canada.²³  Increased interest in producing borage oil has led Canada to conduct field studies on borage and investigate its nitrogen fertility level, harvest index, and GLA content of the seed oil.⁸  Results of this study suggest the use of optimum nitrogen and early seeding for a profitable crop.