The bright blue, star-shaped flowers of borage make it one of the prettiest of herb plants, though the leaves, dark green, downy and with no fragrance, are unremarkable. It is a hardy annual, a native of northern Europe, and grows well in the tempera...
* Please Note: Traditional Use information is provided as a courtesy only. Although we have done our best to review the validity of these uses and we continue to revise this information as new data emerges, the traditional uses indicated on this page for this product may be wrong. This information is based on Traditional and Folklore Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA and is not necessarily based on scientific evidence from any source. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
The bright blue, star-shaped flowers of borage make it one of the prettiest of herb plants, though the leaves, dark green, downy and with no fragrance, are unremarkable. It is a hardy annual, a native of northern Europe, and grows well in the temperate regions of North America.
History
Borage has, over the centuries, been accredited with legendary powers. Pliny called it euphrosinum because it was said to bring happiness and joy wherever it grew. The ancient Greeks and Romans looked to it for comfort and courage, and this belief in its capabilities was revived in the Middle Ages.
Characteristics
The leaves have a flavor reminiscent of cucumber. The plant grows to a height of about 18 inches with a spread of 12 inches. It has an untidy, straggling habit, compensated for by the cloud of blue flowers that grow in arched clusters and persist throughout the summer months.
Growing Tips
Borage is easy to grow from seed sown outdoors in spring. It likes a sandy soil and sunny position, but will tolerate a heavier soil and partial shade. The plant self-sows seed freely and will, in this way, colonize a large area.
How to Use
Borage flowers and leaves are the traditional decoration for gin-based summer cocktails and may be set in ice cubes to garnish other drinks. The flowers may be used to garnish salads, and candied for cake decoration.
Medicinally, borage has mood-enhancing effects. The exact constituents of this plant have not been identified but its reputation for "lifting the spirits" dates back to 1 597 when John Gerard included it in his book The Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes. In this book borage was said to "drive away sorrow and increase the joy of the mind." During this time the leaves and flower were often made into wines and given to men and women to make them "glad and merry."
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Directions
As a dietary supplement, take 1 softgel 1-2 times daily, preferably with meals.
Ingredients
Other Ingredients: Gelatin, glycerin, water.
Potency: 1000 mg
Additional Information
NOW Foods is proud to announce the receipt of the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification from the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA). The NNFA GMP Certification Program is designed to verify compliance of member suppliers of dietary supplements with a standardized set of good manufacturing practices (GMPs) developed by NNFA. This program is based upon third party inspections of member suppliers and comprehensive audits of their GMP programs in the areas of Personnel, Plant and Grounds, Sanitation, Equipment, Quality Operations, Production and Process Controls, Warehouse, Distribution, and Post-Distribution Practices. This program ensures that all elements of the manufacturing process are reviewed to provide reasonable assurance that processes are sufficiently controlled so that products meet their purported quality.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
