Borage

Botanical Name: Borago officinalis

Unani Name: Gul-e-Gawzaban / Lisan al-Thur

Mizaj: Hot & Moist to the first degree

Taste: Slightly sweet

Properties/Actions:

• Nourishing Tonic (It provides essential nutrients and promotes strength).
• Diuretic (It increases urine production, promoting the elimination of excess fluids and salts from the body).
• Demulcent (It soothes and protects mucous membranes, typically by forming a protective film. Demulcents are often used to alleviate irritation and inflammation in the throat and digestive tract).
• Anti-inflammatory (Anti-inflammatory substances help alleviate swelling, pain, and redness).
• Emollient (it softens and soothes the skin, promoting hydration and reducing dryness).
• Expectorant (it promotes the expulsion of mucus from the respiratory tract, making it easier to clear the airways).
• Pectoral (It pertains to the chest and respiratory system. In herbal medicine, a pectoral remedy is beneficial for respiratory conditions).
• Galactagogue (it helps with the production of breast milk in women).
• Febrifuge (it helps reduce fever and lower body temperature).
• Diaphoretic (it promotes sweating, aiding in the body's natural cooling mechanism. Diaphoretics are commonly used to manage fevers and promote detoxification).
• Traditional Know to "maketh man merrier"

"Recently, interest in borage has been renewed because its seeds appear to be the richest known plant source of gamma linolenic..." (3)

Therapeutic Uses:

• Soothes and nourishes mucous membranes
• Supports respiratory health
• Alleviates inflammation
• Promotes diuresis
• Supports healthy skin
• May aid in hormonal balance
• Stimulate milk flow
• Counteract the lingering effects of steroid therapy
• Cancer (4)

“I, Borage, bring always courage,” (3)

Dosage (2):

• Infusion: 1-2 teaspoons of dried leaves per cup of boiling water, steep for 10-15 minutes. Drink up to three times daily.
• Tincture: 10ml three times daily for stress and countering steroid therapy
• Oil: Used topically as needed for skin health.
• Syrup: combines with mullein and marshmallow for coughs.
• Juice: Pulp the leaves, drink 10 ml for depression.

Popular Formulations (4):

• Khamira Gaozaban Sada (page 122): Cardiac tonic, cerebral tonic, eye tonic, tranquilizer, anti-melancholic.
• Khamira Gaozaban Ambari (page 123): Cardial tonic, cerebral tonic, tranquilizer, and eye tonic, benefit those engaged in mental work.
• Khamira Gaozaban Ambari Jawaharwala (page 123): Similar to above however stronger.
• Khamira Gaozaban Ambari Jadwar Ood Salibwala (page 124): Antiapoplectic, effective for apoplectic children, anti-hysterical agent, nervine, cerebral and cardiac tonic as well as a general tonic.
• Ruh-E-Gaozaban (page 139): Thirst quencher, cardiac stimulant, and anodyne (painkiller).
• Sharbat Gaozaban (page 184): Cardiac stimulant, cephalic tonic, refrigerant, and coolant.
• Arq Gaozaban (page 201): Cephalic tonic, cardiac stimulant and refrigerant.

Reference:

1. Culpeper, Nicholas. Culpeper's Complete Herbal: Consisting of a Comprehensive Description of Nearly All Herbs with Their Medicinal Properties and Directions for Compounding the Medicines Extracted from Them. W. Foulsham, 1952.
2. Ody, Penelope. The Complete Medicinal Herbal. Dorling Kindersley, 1993.
3. Gerard, J. The History of Plants; Woodward, M., Ed.; Senate, Studio Editions Ltd.: London, UK, 1927; pp. 185–186.
4. Edited by Hakim Mohammed Said. (1970). Hamdard pharmacopoeia of Eastern medicine. [Karachi],[publisher not identified.
   

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