Borage for Courage!
Started from seed, this plant is now 20 " tall and round, abounding with blooms that attracts not only bees, but we are daily picking off destructive Japanese Beetles.
Why Borage?
In 2022 I decided to plant Borage (Borage officinalis) for a number of reasons. For one, Borage oil shows up quite often in the bio-energetics scans I provide, especially for women. It shows up in my own scans for self, likely due to remaining neuropathy from an old sciatica injury. It is excellent to support a worn out nervous system as it is potent in nervines, and also gives a boost to worn out adrenals.
I have my first Borage tincture in process, and plan to make an oil infusion as well. It's also very pretty and the bees are loving it. Given good soil and space - the plant can become quite large first year. I began my Borage plants indoors from seed in late March - and frankly, looked quite weak and gangly when I put them in the ground. However, once there... the plants certainly took off when planted outdoors in May. Borage tincture is great for those who get the wintertime blues. You may dry Borage for use as a wintertime tea.
Borage tastes like cucumbers. If you like iced tea, try infusing Borage with a favorite mint - place fresh plant material in a quart jar, and add water to the top of the jar and close tightly. Borage blossoms are cooling and help lower your inside temperature on a hot summer day.
You may make a hot infusion, and you will have extracted the benefits of the plants overnight as boiling water draws out the polyphenols of the plants. In the morning place the jar in the refrigerator for another day if you prefer a more strong infusion. Strain and enjoy over ice, if preferred.
As a flower essence, Borage is for courage! Both Borage leaf infusion helps restore the nervous system when we become depleted and exhausted. The essence of the flowers instill courage, and at the same time takes the burden from our hearts, making one feel lighter when we experience heaviness and grief. It would have been nice to have known about Borage as a new widow. Which gives me a thought...the next time you are gifting a plant to a memorial service and a loved one has just become a widow, perhaps the gift of a Borage plant is more than appropriate. Be sure to include a note as to why...of course, the timing would have to be in season as it is the flower essences that provide this emotional support benefit.
To learn more about all the benefits of Borage, also known as Star Flower, check out this informational article.
In 2022 I decided to plant Borage (Borage officinalis) for a number of reasons. For one, Borage oil shows up quite often in the bio-energetics scans I provide, especially for women. It shows up in my own scans for self, likely due to remaining neuropathy from an old sciatica injury. It is excellent to support a worn out nervous system as it is potent in nervines, and also gives a boost to worn out adrenals.
I have my first Borage tincture in process, and plan to make an oil infusion as well. It's also very pretty and the bees are loving it. Given good soil and space - the plant can become quite large first year. I began my Borage plants indoors from seed in late March - and frankly, looked quite weak and gangly when I put them in the ground. However, once there... the plants certainly took off when planted outdoors in May. Borage tincture is great for those who get the wintertime blues. You may dry Borage for use as a wintertime tea.
Borage tastes like cucumbers. If you like iced tea, try infusing Borage with a favorite mint - place fresh plant material in a quart jar, and add water to the top of the jar and close tightly. Borage blossoms are cooling and help lower your inside temperature on a hot summer day.
You may make a hot infusion, and you will have extracted the benefits of the plants overnight as boiling water draws out the polyphenols of the plants. In the morning place the jar in the refrigerator for another day if you prefer a more strong infusion. Strain and enjoy over ice, if preferred.
As a flower essence, Borage is for courage! Both Borage leaf infusion helps restore the nervous system when we become depleted and exhausted. The essence of the flowers instill courage, and at the same time takes the burden from our hearts, making one feel lighter when we experience heaviness and grief. It would have been nice to have known about Borage as a new widow. Which gives me a thought...the next time you are gifting a plant to a memorial service and a loved one has just become a widow, perhaps the gift of a Borage plant is more than appropriate. Be sure to include a note as to why...of course, the timing would have to be in season as it is the flower essences that provide this emotional support benefit.
To learn more about all the benefits of Borage, also known as Star Flower, check out this informational article.