Botanical Index No. 146

Borage

borago officinalis

Medicinal Actions

Adrenocorticostimulant, Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antipyretic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Carcinogenic, Cardiotonic, Demulgent, Depurative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Expectorant, Genotoxic, Hepatocarcinogenic, Hepatotoxic, Hypotensive, Lactagogue, Laxative, Sedative, Tonic

Primary Conditions Treated

Aperient Collyrium Emollient Nervine Pectoral Alactea Alcoholism Arthrosis Bladder Stone Bronchosis Cancer breast face Cardiopathy Catarrh Cholecystosis Cold Conjunctivosis Constipation Corn Cough Cramp Cut Cystosis Dehydration Depression Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Eczema Edema Fever Gas Hepatosis High Blood Pressure Inflammation Insomnia Itch Jaundice Kidney Stone Lethargy Menopause Nephrosis Nervousness Neurodermatosis Pain Peritonosis Pharyngosis Phlebitis PMS Pulmonosis Rheumatism Ringworm Sclerosis Snakebite Sore Throat Stress Stroke Swelling Syndrome-X Tuberculosis Tumor Ulcer mouth throat Water Retention Wound

General Dosage

2–4 ml liquid leaf extract; 1 softgel containing 24% GLA; 2 spoonfuls dry herb/cup water 3 ×/day; 1–4 ml tincture 3 ×/day; 10 g leaf and/or flower/liter water for bronchosis and fever. 2–4 ml liquid leaf extract; 1 softgel containing 24% GLA; 2 spoonfuls dry herb/cup water 3 ×/day; 1–4 ml tincture 3 ×/day; 10 g leaf and/or flower/liter water for bronchosis and fever.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. Long-term use is not recommended. Not approved. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Commission E reports borage contains hepatotoxic and carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. “Effective July 1996, the AHP Board of Trustees recommends that all products with botanical ingredient which contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, including Borago officinalis, display the following cautionary statement on the label: For external use only. Do not apply to broken or abraded skin. Do not use when nursing.”. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have genotoxic, carcinogenic, and hepatotoxic activity. Because of the PAs, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. Animal studies document placental transfer and secretion into breast milk of unsaturated PAs. Swiss researchers report at least seven PAs from the herb, at levels above those permitted in Germany. Seeds reportedly contain even higher quantities of alkaloids.

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