Borage (Borago officinalis) is a wild herb that is often found in our countryside and also grows in vegetable gardens. However, we often read that borage is poisonous. Let’s clarify which parts of the plant are edible and in what quantities and delve into how they are used. Borage oil is also very interesting.
Where is Borretsch located?
Borage is a wild native annual plant often found in gardens, but also grows in the wild. Currently you can see the little blue flowers everywhere, which are also included in our bee pasture bloom mix at home. Borage is an important insect plant. The plant grows up to one meter tall and has thorny leaves. Borage begins to flower in May. The flowering period lasts until August. Borage thrives very well in a sunny or partially shaded location. However, the plant requires a lot of space as it grows not only in height but also in width.
How poisonous is borage?
Dried borage leaves contain various Pyrrolizidinalkaloid. Among other things, amabilin, intermedin, supine and lycopsamine, which are used as toxic apply to the liver. They are also contained in comfrey. Both plants belong to the rough-leaf family, easily recognized by their rough leaves. In fact, the leaves of comfrey and borage look a bit similar. Alkaloids are important for the plant to protect itself from predators. However, they are not recommended for us humans in larger quantities. For this reason, it is not recommended to consume borage leaves regularly or in large quantities. However, in small quantities (one or two chopped leaves in a salad) they don’t seem to cause any problems. It is recommended not to consume more than 3 g of borage per day. You should avoid it completely during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Children should also avoid eating borage leaves and stems. But flowers are not a problem.
Use as a culinary herb
The star-shaped blue flowers are suitable as a garnish in a salad. They are a perfect edible decoration because they are very tasty and have a very fine texture. However, they wilt very quickly, so you shouldn’t store them for too long. The leaves can also be consumed in small quantities. But you need to pay attention to the quantity, because they are toxic in high doses due to the alkaloids they contain. However, it is possible to consume the flowers and seeds as well as the pressed borage oil, since the mentioned alkaloids are not contained at all or are only contained in trace amounts. When you eat the flowers you only get a very small amount anyway. Borage is also rich in silica, mucilage and bitter substances, saponins, tannins and high-quality fatty acids in the oil of the pressed seeds.
Since borage grows abundantly in our garden, I also use the leaves in small quantities. They are a bit prickly and need to be cut relatively finely. We use one or two leaves in the salad. This gives a spicy taste. Of course, everyone has to decide for themselves how to deal with the situation. We definitely don’t recommend a salad made exclusively of borage leaves.
Use as a medicinal herb
Studies confirming the effectiveness of borage oil were first published in the 1990s. These are mainly gamma-linoleic acids (omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids) contained in the seeds, which can compensate for poor control of skin metabolism. It not only regulates cell metabolism, but also has an anti-inflammatory, decongestant effect and can relieve itching. In natural medicine, borage oil is both ingested and, if necessary, applied externally to the skin. What is important, however, is that the oil must be cold pressed. Unlike the leaves, the oil does not contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids as it is obtained from the seeds, which do not have them. Of course you can also buy the oil.
Interesting facts about wild herbs and medicinal plants
It is important to know which herbs you can eat and in what quantities you should use them. There is often uncertainty, especially among beginners. For this reason we have set ourselves the goal of providing you with many small tips and suggestions. On our YouTube channel, which you can subscribe to for free here, you can now find various videos on individual wild herbs and an online wild herb excursion.
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