My Herbal Wellbeing - Herbal Tea Database - Borage (Borago officinalis)

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Borage
Common Name	Borage
Scientific Name	Borago officinalis
Pronounced to rhyme with "porridge," borage is also commonly called Burrage and Common Bugloss. Borage grows wild in the Mediterranean countries. It once had a reputation for dispelling melancholy and giving courage, so the ancient Greeks put it into their wine. It is also believed to have some calming effects, useful for treatment of nervous conditions, and the leaves are said to stimulate lactation in nursing mothers. Borage is thought good for reducing fever and restoring vitality during recovery from illness. Because it enhances perspiration, it is also credited with some antidotal effect against poisons. Astrologers place borage under Jupiter's realm and under the zodiac sign of Leo, the lion.
Plant	Annual. Borage is a spreading, branched plant covered with sharp, whitish bristles. The leaves are oval or oblong, and blue flowers with dark anthers nod downward in leafy clusters at the tips of the stems. Borage is ideal planted in borders and in containers where its lovely flowers can be seen close up.
Height	1 to 3 feet.
Soil	Dry, somewhat poor.
Exposure	Sun or filtered shade.
Propagation	By seeds planted in spring during the first or second lunar phase. They germinate quickly. Borage selfseeds easily, and it can become a pest in mild climates.
Care	The plants take up a lot of room. Because they have a tap root, they don't transplant well. They should be placed at least 1 foot apart or thinned. Planting them near tomatoes is said to control tomato worms.
Part used for Tea	Leaves, flowers.
Taste	Pleasant, cucumber-like. Some say it is cooling, others that it's spicy hot. Try it yourself to judge.
How to Brew	BY INFUSION: 1 teaspoon of dried leaves and/or flowers or, preferably, 3 teaspoons of fresh herb gathered in the morning just after the dew is off the plants, when the oils are strongest. Crush the fresh herb with a clean cloth to help release aromatic oils. Add 1 cup of boiling water, and steep to taste.