BORAGE BORAGO OFFICINALIS

BORAGE (Borago officinalis L.) +

Activities (Borage):
- Adrenocorticostimulant (f; APA; CAN); Analgesic (f; PHR; PH2); Antiinflammatory (1; APA; CAN; FAD; PH2); Antipyretic (f; CRC; EFS; FAD; WO2); Antispasmodic (f; EFS); Aperient (f; CRC); Astringent (1; APA; PHR; PH2); Carcinogenic (1; APA; CAN); Cardiotonic (f; PHR; PH2); Collyrium (f; JFM); Demulcent (1; CAN; CRC; EFS); Depurative (f; CRC; EFS; PH2); Diaphoretic (f; CAN; CRC; EFS; JFM; PHR; PH2); Diuretic (1; APA; FAD; PNC); Emollient (f; CRC; EFA; HHB; PNC); Expectorant (f; CAN); Genotoxic (1; CAN); Hepatocarcinogenic (1; APA; PHR); Hepatotoxic (1; CRC; PHR); Hypotensive (1; CAN); Lactagogue (f; APA; CAN; CRC); Laxative (f; CRC; EFS; WO2); Nervine (f; CRC; EFS; WO2); Pectoral (f; CRC); Sedative (f; PHR; PH2); Tonic (f; CAN; CRC).

Indications (Borage):
- Alactea (f; APA; CAN); Alcoholism (1; LAF); Arthrosis (1; APA; PHR; PH2); Bladder Stone (f; CRC); Bronchosis (f; APA; CRC; PHR; PH2); Cancer, breast (f; CRC); Cancer, face (f; CRC); Cardiopathy (1; APA; CRC; JFM; LAF; PHR); Catarrh (f; CRC); Cholecystosis (f; PHR); Cold (1; APA); Conjunctivosis (f; CRC; JFM); Constipation (f; CRC; EFS; WO2); Corn (f; APA; CRC; JLH); Cough (f; CAN; CRC; HHB; JFM; PH2); Cramp (f; CRC; EFS); Cut (f; CRC); Cystosis (f; PH2); Dehydration (f; PH2); Depression (f; CAN); Dermatosis (1; APA; PH2); Diabetes (1; LAF); Diarrhea (1; APA; CRC; JFM); Eczema (f; CRC; LAF); Edema (f; CRC; JFM); Fever (f; CAN; CRC; EFS; FAD; JFM; PHR; PH2; WO2); Gas (f; JFM); Hepatosis (f; JFM); High Blood Pressure (1; CAN); Inflammation (1; APA; CAN; FAD; LAF; PH2); Insomnia (f; EFS;
PHR; PH2); Itch (f; CRC); Jaundice (f; CRC; FAD); Kidney Stone (f; APA; CRC); Lethargy (f; CAN); Menopause (1; PHR; PH2); Nephrosis (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Nervousness (f; PHR; PH2); Neurodermatosis (f; APA; PHR; PH2); Pain (f; CRC; PHR; PH2); Peritonosis (f; PH2); Pharyngosis (f; PH2); Phlebitis (f; PHR; PH2); PMS (1; APA; JAD; LAF; PHR); Pulmonosis (f; PH2); Rheumatism (1; APA; FAD; PHR; PH2); Ringworm (f; CRC); Sclerosis (f; CRC; JLH); Snakebite (f; CRC); Sore Throat (f; CRC; HHB; PHR; PH2); Stress (1; CAN); Stroke (1; LAF); Swelling (f; CRC; HHB); Syndrome-X (1; SYN); Tuberculosis (f; CRC); Tumor (f; CRC); Ulcer, mouth (f; CRC); Ulcer, throat (f; CRC); Water Retention (1; APA; FAD; PNC); Wound (f; FAD).

Dosages (Borage):
- 2 - 4 ml liquid leaf extract (APA; PNC); 1 (300 mg) softgel containing 24% GLA (APA); 2 (5 ml) spoonfuls dry herb/cup water 3 ×/day (CAN); 1 - 4 ml tincture 3 ×/day (CAN); 10 g leaf and/or flower/liter water for bronchosis and fever (JFM).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Borage):
- Class 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. Long-term use is not recommended (AHP). Not approved (KOM). Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages (PH2). Commission E reports borage contains hepatotoxic and carcinogenc pyrrolizidine alkaloids (AEH). Effective July 1996, the AHP Board of Trustees recommends that all products with botanical ingredient(s) 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. (AHP). Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) have genotoxic, carcinogenic, and hepatotoxic activity (CAN). 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 (CAN). Swiss researchers report at least seven PAs from the herb, at levels above those permitted in Germany (>1 ppm). Seeds reportedly contain even higher quantities of alkaloids (De Smet et al., 1993). Tannins have astringent activities (PHR). Mucilage acts as a sequestering agent (PHR). The GLA in the seed oil may have been positive effects if divorced from the potential of PA toxicity.