Borage

Question: Drying my own borage flowers to make tea? I have a borage plant so that I can make my own tea. Borage tea is really hard to get in Australia. The thing is that I am just a bit scared to dry it myself. I don't want to overdose on it. Has anyone ever dried their own borage flowers to make tea? if so how do I do it and how much should I use for one cup of tea?

Answer: Here are some sources on borage: http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=nutriti… When I looked through some of them, they indicate that it is the leaves of the plant that have harmful compounds. I have always heard that the flowers are safe for eating fresh. In general, you use about a teaspoon per cup of boiling water with making tisanes or herb tea. I have taken a pharmocognosy class, which is making drugs from plants. I think that the flowers are fine, but you can check. Another site: http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69148.cf… Remember it is the seeds that are mainly used medicinally for their oil and have the toxic compounds. The leaves have some too,but the flowers are OK.

Question: What is the purpose of borage as a companion crop? I can't be bothered to check but i think the Latin name is Borago officinalis? I assume it's for attracting predatory insects... am i right?

Answer: Yes and I think it also is preferred by aphids, thus keeping them off your main crop. Its edible too and is full of lovely vitamins and minerals and it also looks quite nice.

Question: How do I get rid of all the caterpillars which are eating my borage. Will it grow back?? Am based in the UK?

Answer: Treat with sevin. It eats up their insides and they die. The plant should survive.

Question: borage - when is the best time to plant in a tub on my balcony (south facing) In holland? I live on th e3rd floor have some borage seeds to plant and advice on how to look after it on a sunny balcony!

Answer: Borage is best grown from seed, started about now. sow 3 to a small pot, cover thinly with soil, water from below in a tray. It's a very easy plant to grow.

Question: What are the benefits of borage oil? I've been told that it can help you lose weight - what other benefits are there?

Answer: Marijuana/Hemp Oil is the best but the government won't let you have it.

Question: How do i germinate borage and milk thistle? can i use the wet cotton wool technique?

Answer: You could either plant seeds where they are to flower, or for a quicker start for both of them, put each seed in a separate 3in. pot of multipurpose compost, cover the top with plastic and put them in a propagator. Take the plastic off when they germinate and pot them on when necessary. Plant out when established, but if you've raised borage indoors, wait until the weather warms up a bit.

Question: How can I control borage in my garden? It seems to have seeded itself and is now rampantly taking over the lawn!

Answer: Vine borers? You can actually find their point of entry and manually remove them without (hopefully) doing too much damage to the plant, if you want an organic solution. Other things, like collaring the plant when it is young might work, or go all out and throw down some Sevin powder.

Question: The best halal restaurant in Atlanta is Borage Grill, it's a mediterranean restaurant, has anyone been there? I really enjoyed this place. There portions are decent and the price is the same as eating at mcdonalds. Quality of the food is excellent, service is good too. For entertainment, they have middle eastern music videos playing on flat screens, and that's always amusing. Can't help but stare.

Answer: I went to a Halal restaurant in Downtown Atlanta, it was nice and Mediterranean-themed.

Question: What is borage oil used for, and what side effect are there daily use? what is pure borage oil used for and what serious side effect are there if any ? 2000 mg daily.. tnx

Answer: Borage seed oil is derived from the seeds of the Borago officinalis - AKA the "starflower". It is an herbal remedy. It is used medicinally as an anti-inflammatory, for treating arthritis, as well as certain skin conditions (e.g. atopic dermatitis) and respiratory inflammation. It has NOT been evaluated by the FDA!! It has one of the highest amounts of gamma-linolenic acid (omega-6) of seed oils - higher than blackcurrant seed oil or evening primrose oil, to which it is considered similar. GLA makes up around 24% of the oil typically. A specific extraction process may offer purified products with 50%+ GLA content. SIDE EFFECTS: very unlikely but serious side effects include: stomach upset, stomach pain, yellowing eyes and skin, dark urine. PRECAUTIONS: Consult your doctor if you have liver disease - Borage oil may contain chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These chemicals may cause liver damage. Do not use while pregnant or breast feeding.

Question: Can I take Borage Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil and Black Cohosh all at the same time? I want to know if it is okay to take all of these together or if they are counter productive, or if I could /should just take a couple of them? I'm trying to take stuff to improve my system as well as counter the effects of peri-menopause without taking hormone replacement drugs.

Answer: It may be ok but I would recommend checking with your doctor as well to see what they say. In the mean time here's the link to a site that may help you find even more information: http://forums.obgyn.net/womens-health

Question: How do I use Borage Oil to relieve PMS? Do I digest it, or rub it on my skin?

Answer: I love Borage oil! You ingest in in a softgel capsule form. Usually 1-4 softgels a day. There also studies showing it helps you keep weight off. For m it definitely gives me an energy boost. I also take Omega 3s(fish oil) for balance.

Question: Can I plant borage outside in Michigan? Will it grow, how long will it last, and how do I harvest it? I live in Michigan (warm,wet springs and summers, but harsh, and drastically cold winters with tons of snow) and i would like to plant borage. (I think it looks really interesting) would it be able to grow here? How do I plant it? do's and don'ts? AND if it won't make it in MI soil, what type of house plant would it make... and on that note, is it poisonous to cats? Thanks!!!

Answer: You should have no problem with growing borage. It will even grow farther north than MI. http://www.ehow.com/how_16425_grow-borag… It's not poisonous to cats.

Question: What is Borage and why is it an ingredient in an Omega 3 supplement?

Answer: Borage SEED oil is an excellent source of Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and Linolenic acid. It is one of the essential fatty acids -- the body cannot create it but it must be obtained from food. It is an Omega 6 fatty acid. Some supplements contain Omega 3-6-9 because we are still learning how these may work together in the body. Read a concise article about the benefits of Borage here: http://www.naturesbounty.com/vf/healthno… Evening Primrose is another good source of GLA, but it's more expensive. There is some in Flax seed oil, but not as concentrated.

Question: Where do borage seeds come from? Mine is dying down, and I've examined the plant top to bottom, and I can't find seeds? When does borage start to seed, and where do I look? I have looked there, but they just shrivel up and fall off. It's flowered like mad! But still no seeds! None like the ones I used to grow it. weird!

Answer: The borage plant must first flower. The flower contains the reproductive organs. After the flower is pollinated seeds will develop. Borage is an annual. Mine has flowers right now. Look for seeds where the flowers were at the end of the growing season.

Question: Does anyone know where I can get seeds to grow borage? Or plants.?

Answer: If you live in the US, try pinetree garden seeds. They sell seed packets for the home gardener at great prices.Look under 'herbs'. This year they carry regular blue borage and the white variety. 100 seeds cost .95 cents.

Question: Where can I buy avocado and borage oil capsules. in the UK? When I lived in Scotland in the early 90's, I was part of a trial which was for the treatment of chronic dry skin conditions. The capsules worked a treat but ever since I have not been able to get them. It has been the only treatment that has worked for me.

Answer: That's interesting :) You can certainly buy borage (starflower) oil capsules in most health shops. I don't think the larger high street health stores like H&B stock advocado oil capsules or advocado oil itself...not as yet anyway. If you run a search for the UK it comes up with nothing in the way of links for shops selling advocado oil capsules either. But you can find advocado oil, but I could only find one for food grade Virgin(ie not carrier oil for use externally) it is expensive at £11.95 for 750ml: http://www.just-cook.co.uk/epages/whfh28… But you could just take a small amount a day, as if you were taking capsules and the 750ml should last you ages. You might have to take them this way: borage capsules and advocado oil by the tsp....or alternatively use in salad dressings. Though advocado oil is supposed to be a good source of vitamin E, I would also consider taking fish oil capsules and Vitamin E capsules (400iu) alongside the advocado oil and borage oil. That way you will get a good balance of fatty acids and Vitamin E to protect them (internally) from oxidation. You could contact this NZ advocado oil producer and ask if they have any agents/stockists in the UK as an alternative, to see if the price is more competitive: http://www.avocado-oil.co.nz/contact-us.… Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Question: Two herbs and how to use them: Salad Burnet and Borage, please? thank you for any input

Answer: Red, White and Blue Salad ¾ cup sour cream 1/4 tsp. Course black pepper 1 tsp. White sugar 1 tblsp. Rice wine vinegar 1 tsp. Fresh chopped dill 1/8 tsp. Fresh grated lemon peel 1/4 tsp. Finely grated red onion salt 1 english cucumber 3 garden fresh red tomatoes 10 borage flowers Combine all the ingredients except for the tomatoes and flowers. Slice tomatoes and arrange them, overlapping, around the edge of a serving platter. Mound the cucumber mixture in the center of the platter, just covering the inner edge of the tomatoes. Chill well, and place the borage flowers decoratively on the salad just before serving. Serves 4 to 6 Onion, Corn and Potato Soup with Salad Burnet Puree serves 4 This is a rich and comforting soup,with the Burnet puree adding a refreshing accent. 3 tbls butter 3 large yellow onion, chopped 3 1/2 cups chicken stock 1/4 tsp. mace 1 1/2-3/4 cups milk 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and diced 1/2 tsp. minced garlic kernels from 2 ears of yellow corn salt and pepper 1/3 cup Salad Burnet leaves Sprigs of Salad Burnet for garnish Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a soup pot. Slowly sautȠthe onion until golden. Add the chicken stock, mace and milk and potatoes. Raise the heat until the mixture simmers, cover and cook until the potatoes are soft. Add the garlic. Puree the soup until smooth. In another pan, sautȠthe corn kernels in the remaining tablespoon of butter. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt. In a separate container combine the Salad Burnet and 1/3 cup of the pureed soup. Puree this mixture until blended but there are still some flecks of green visible. Add the corn to the pot of soup and heat through. Adjust salt and pepper, and add more milk if the soup is too thick. Ladle the soup into individual bowls, and using a spoon, decorate each portion with the pureed green mixture: swirls, hearts, lettering -- whatever is fun. Garnish with sprigs of whole leaf Salad Burnet.

Question: Plectranthus amboinicus Cuban Oregano, Jamaican Broad leaf Thyme, Indian Borage plants for purchase? Plectranthus amboinicus aka Cuban Oregano, aka Jamaican Broad leaf Thyme, aka Indian Borage herb plant use to make green seasoning to marinate meats and put in cooking to flavour stews and all savoury dishes. I'm trying to buy the plant online to grow at home. UK Stockists please

Answer: www.mgonlinestore.com www.mysanantonio.com www.herballoveshop.com

Question: Is Borage and Chili a good combination for an apple jelly jam?

Answer: NO!

Question: I have been told that you can crystalise borage flowers. What does this mean and how would you do it?

Answer: Crystalizing most any flower can be done by coating the flower with slightly beaten egg whites and then dusting with XXX Superfine Sugar. Let them dry in a cool place that is not damp.